Honoring Thierry Mugler and What He Did For Fashion
COURTESY OF DANIEL SIMON
Thierry Mugler was a French fashion designer that created many fashions we adore to this day. He was a man of particular, artistic taste, and produced pieces never seen before. Mugler’s goal was to empower women to wear what gave them confidence. After launching his label in 1974, he proceeded with this goal to create a new culture for different types of women of all ages, sizes, and colors. He also had a strong focus on the female silhouette. Everyone looked forward to his theatrical, eccentric shows. His hyperfeminine approach to fashion was so revolutionary. Mugler was one of the first designers to include transgender models walk in his shows and changed the fashion industry forever.
Mugler was born in Strasbourg France in 1948, and has always loved the arts since he was young. He went to the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts for interior design training, and then later began work in Paris designing apparel for Gudule, a Parisian store. He took his talents to many prêt-a-porter fashion stores around the world.
COURTESY OF CONDÉ NAST ARCHIVE
His first ever fashion show was open to the public in 1984 showing designs with sheer fabrics and crystals to which are seen in his most recent designs as well. His couture show in 1998 as pictured above further demonstrates the wet look by using sheer, draped fabrics. Many of his recent designs reflect on his visions from the past. Fast forward to 2020, he designed a dress for Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala camp look. This dress pulled him out of retirement for 8 months to achieve the perfect wet look, which looked absolutely stunning on Kim. The latex dress clung to her body with beaded crystals hanging from the edges as if they were drops of water. It got a lot of press that year and the look is still vivid in my own mind.
Mugler collaborated with many artists such as Diana Ross, George Michael, David Bowie, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga as a lot of his creations were for performers.
INSTAGRAM @DUALIPA
Dua Lipa has most recently been wearing Mugler while on tour this year and everyone is freaking out about that one black jumpsuit. The custom, dimensional, skin-tight jumpsuit has sheer and opaque panels of black fabric and mesh while silver embroidery shimmers along the edges. The crystals that hang off the trim reflect beautifully off the stage lights while she performs.
COURTESY OF VIJAT MOHINDRA/MTV VMAS 2020
An iconic outfit we cannot forget about is Miley’s Mugler dress at the MTV VMAs in 2020. The chic sheer strapless dress with large gemstones sewn on accentuates Miley’s silhouette stunningly. The dress is paired with matching sheer gloves to top off the look. Mugler did it again, making women feel confident in such timeless pieces.
COURTESY OF MARC PIASECKI/GETTY IMAGES
Cardi B also wore a Mugler design on the red carpet for the “Thierry Mugler, Couturissime” in Paris to honor his past designs during Paris Fashion Week September 2021. It was one of his archives from the haute couture Fall/Winter 1995 collection. The plunging crimson gown embellished with sequins fit Cardi like a glove. She paired the look with opera gloves and a hooded coat with feathers pulling the entire ensemble together.
While many admire Mugler for his designs and vision, Mugler retired in 2002 from fashion and focused on fragrances and costume design. His first iconic fragrance, Angel, in 1992 quickly gained popularity. The architecture behind his fragrances stood out just as much as his unique fashion designs. Mugler’s vision of inclusivity has paved the way for other designers in the industry. We will always remember Mugler and his incredible talent.
