Fashion icon of France Thierry Mugler dies
PARIS
French designer Thierry Mugler, who reigned over fashion in the 1980s and died on Jan. 23, was as famous for his fantastical couture as for his blockbuster fashion shows. He was 73.
Mugler’s daring collections came to define the decade’s power dressing, with his clothes noted for their structured and sophisticated silhouettes, showcased by his extravagant shows.
“I always thought that fashion was not enough on its own and that it had to be shown in its musical and theatrical environment,” he once said.
In later years, he dressed Beyonce and Lady Gaga and in 2019 came out of retirement to create Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala look.
His agent Jean-Baptiste Rougeot, who said the designer had died of “natural causes”, added he had been due to announce new collaborations early this week.
Born in Strasbourg in December 1948, he created his own clothes, adapting items bought at nearby flea markets. He moved to Paris aged 20, initially to work with another ballet company but was more successful with his
own wardrobe.
Mugler soon became a freelance stylist and worked for various fashion houses in Paris, London and Milan.
In 1973, he took the plunge and created his own label “Café de Paris,” before founding “Thierry Mugler” a year later.
His designs exacerbated and celebrated women’s forms: shoulders accentuated by padding, plunging necklines, constricted waists and rounded hips.
For the 10th anniversary of his label in 1984, he organized the first public fashion show in Europe with 6,000 attending the rock concert-like show.
But nothing compared to the 20th anniversary celebration in 1995, staged at the Cirque d’Hiver. Models including Jerry Hall, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Kate Moss paraded alongside stars such as Tippi Hedren and Julie Newmar with the spectacle culminating in a performance from James Brown.
The 1992 launch of his company’s first perfume “Angel” -- in collaboration with Clarins, which acquired a stake in the company before taking control in 1997 -- was a runaway success.
Despite seemingly retiring from fashion’s frontlines in the early 2000s, Mugler continued to impact culture and worked with Beyonce on her “I am...” world tour.
In later years the designer suffered a series of accidents requiring facial surgery, and rebuilt his body with intensive bodybuilding while engaging in meditation and yoga.
