Fashion Wire Daily
LA May 8, 2003 - Time to free your mind. And your wardrobe. The cast of "The Matrix Reloaded" did just that on Wednesday night at the premiere of the most anticipated sequel since Lord of the Rings: Two Towers.
And true to the film's dark scenes, there was no color for these futuristic film stars. Star Keanu Reeves was somber in a black Nehru jacket, shirt and pants. Haute Matrix mamas Jada Pinkett-Smith and Carrie-Anne Moss were also a bit funereal, in respectively a black mid-calf dress with a leather jacket and a sexy strappy gown. Even Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) went casually dark in an open-collar black shirt and slim trousers. Only Italian bombshell Monica Bellucci added a slight splash to the scene, with her decidedly snug, pale mauve satin gown.
But Laurence Fishburne and the film's dreadlocked albino twins, Neal and Adrian Rayment, brightened the black carpet, thanks to their sexy and impeccably tailored, cream-and-white Ozwald Boateng custom-made suits.
Boateng, a renowned tailor of cutting edge classics in Europe for 20 years, was in town for the big cinematic event. He had previously dressed Will Smith for the Oscars and Daniel Day-Lewis for the Berlin Film Festival, the Screen Actors Guild (remember that cool purple suit?), the BAFTA Awards and the Oscars.
Unlike most designers who sent boxes of free duds to stars, the famous folk are happy to pay for Boateng's talents. Day-Lewis, who is obviously a huge fan of Boateng's Savile Row tailoring, personally requested him. "He [Day-Lewis] is such a craftsman and he really appreciates the process," Boateng said. "I respect him as an artist and a man."
While it usually takes 12 to 16 weeks in his London shop to make a suit from start to finish, Boateng's process was considerably faster for the "Matrix Reloaded" press appearances. He had only a month to make 12 suits for the three actors for the "Reloaded" premieres in L.A., New York, Cannes and London.
Boateng is a close pal of Fishburne's and even designed his suit for his wedding last year. It was at the wedding that the handsome designer, who himself looks like a model, met and bonded with the Rayment twins. "I was like, 'Brits! Great!' Those guys are absolutely amazing. There are completely unique but like one person."
His new menswear collection, shown in January in Paris, is even "Matrix" themed. "It was the best show I have ever done." Luckily, it's all available at his London Savile Row studio, Selfridges in London and Galeries Lafayette in Paris, and will soon be available in his new Manhattan store. "I'm checking out Madison and Park Avenue, but I have to decide next week. I'm really excited about coming to the States."
But he's no newcomer to Hollywood. As well as dressing such actors as Samuel Jackson, Graham Norton, Russell Crowe and Will Smith, he's also done custom suits for Anthony Hopkins in "Hannibal," the British gangsters in Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," and a few of the bad guys in "Tomorrow Never Dies."
Now Boateng has his eye on Bond. James Bond. "Traditionally Bond wears Savile Row suits," Boateng said. "But Pierce [Brosnan] has been wearing Italian suits (Brioni or Armani) and we need to get him back to Savile Row. But I'm optimistic."
