Thierry Mugler

Thierry Mugler, born 1948 in Strasbourg, France is a fashion designer, photographer, and creator of a fashion design company of the same name.

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Biography

Mugler's early training was as a ballet dancer, but he also studied design and created garments for friends at the same time. He moved to Paris in 1970 and worked as a window-dresser, designing clothing as a side job. He launched his first line Café de Paris in 1973,^[1] and founded his own label for women two years later, to be followed by designs for men in 1978.

Mugler's work over the next two decades had a style that was very much of its time: it was strong, angular, sometimes almost cruel. Shoulders were wide and padded; waists were wasp-like. Prints were banished: Mugler's clothes came in solid, dominating colours. Collars had exaggerated points, or flamelike cutouts. The insect kingdom was a constant influence, as were the ladies and gentlemen of film noir. In his most extreme runway garments, PVC was often used, as were space and robot themes. Mugler's fashion house did not survive the 1990s, though vintage versions of his more wearable clothes are still popular on auction sites like eBay.

1997 saw the start of a lucrative partnership with the French cosmetics and skincare company Clarins, the most well-known Thierry Mugler fragrances being Angel (the most popular perfume in France) and A-men fragrances.^[1] The Thierry Mugler company is now known best for its perfume division: the couture division was closed in 2003, and all Thierry Mugler ready-to-wear is now produced under licence agreements, as is a line of eyewear.

Meanwhile, Mugler turned to other artistic interests. He published two books featuring his fashion designs and photography, controversially inspired by Stalinist propaganda:^[1] Thierry Mugler (1988) and Fashion Fetish Fantasy (1998). In 1992, Mugler directed the video for George Michael's "Too Funky," featuring a parade of Mugler fashions including the famous motorcycle dress.

More recently, Mugler collaborated with Cirque du Soleil on its 2003 show "Zumanity" at the New York New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Notably, this is Cirque du Soleil's first show for mature audiences.

The future

Some say that Mugler may be returning to fashion. In Spring 2007, the New York Times.^[2] noted that new fashion collections by Balenciaga, Dolce and Gabbana and Alexander McQueen seemed highly influenced by the Mugler style. The article quoted Mugler as saying he was working on a "capsule couture collection" to be sold at a new boutique in Paris set to open in autumn 2007, and that he was at work on theatrical extravaganzas for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Crazy Horse in Paris.^[2]

Recently, the inaugural Barcelona fashion week showcased over sixty of Mugler’s finest creations in a retrospective held at twilight by the Olympic pool complex in Montjuïc. And a Mugler exhibition is already being planned at the Musée de la Mode, Paris for 2008.^[1]

Thierry Mugler fragrances

Alongside his achievements as a fashion designer, Mugler is famous for his perfumes, which are summarised in the following table:

References