His showstopping designs have been worn by a lengthy list of famous folk from Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears to Lady Gaga and Naomi Campbell. This month, Dubai-based couturier Michael Cinco scored another celebrity home-run when images were released of Mila Kunis wearing one of his gowns in her upcoming film Jupiter Ascending. Read Cinco’s take on his first creative collaboration with Hollywood and discover why he didn’t agree to meet the 31-year-old for a fitting.
Michael, describe the dress we see Kunis wearing in the trailer for the film.
It was an altogether unique and fun experience working for Jupiter Ascending. The sci-fi movie is a potential blockbuster and being part of it was just amazing. As the premise of the film is outer space - with Mila Kunis a reincarnation of a queen - the challenge was immense. I was inspired by heavenly goddesses and came up with a beautifully surreal bride in Mila Kunis. The gown is nude mesh, silver lace and embellished with red ceramics and Swarovski crystals. The headdress was made by the costume designer.
How did you become involved in the project?
I was on a holiday in Paris, in the Fall of 2012, when I received an email from Hollywood costume designer Kym Barrett. She told me that she had seen one of my gowns in Swarovski’s SALT Magazine. She said she was interested in collaborating with her on some costumes for Mila Kunis in Jupiter Ascending, the new project of Lana and Andy Wachowski. She then asked for some dresses, that she had seen in my previous collection, to be sent to London while they started filming for test shoots. I sent over the samples and they sent me back a confidential agreement with, not only the measurements but, specific details of what they wanted on the film’s dresses. They asked me to go to London and meet the stars while filming, in particular to do a personal fitting with Mila. However, I declined because at that time I was making two wedding dresses for the niece of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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