Thierry Mugler

 

Thierry Mugler, best known for his spectacular runway shows and fetishistic fashions, began his career in fashion design through dance and photography. Born in 1948 in Strasbourg, France, he attended the Lycée Fustel de Coulange from 1960 to 1965 and the School of Fine Arts from 1966 to 1967. In the 1965-1966 season, he danced with the Rhine Opera Ballet. He relocated to Paris and began working as a professional photographer while also working as an assistant designer for several fashion houses in Paris, London, and Milan. Mugler debuted his first ready-to-wear collection (under the brand Café de Paris) in 1973 and received financial backing in 1974 to launch his own company, Thierry Mugler. In 1986, he bought out his investors to gain complete control of the company. In 1990, he founded a fragrance company and achieved considerable success with the perfume Angel in 1992. He debuted his first couture collection the same year.

Style

Mugler's signature style draws heavily on sexual fetishism iconography, and his models frequently resemble dominatrixes, from their towering high-heeled boots and corseted curves to accessories like neck corsets and riding crops. Among his most famous outfits are a hot-red "cowboy" ensemble consisting of hat, corset, chaps, and heels worn by a black transvestite, and his famous motorcycle bustier inspired by 1950s Detroit car styles. Mugler frequently created garments out of leather and rubber, some of which resemble giant insects from science fiction. His less dramatic outfits, such as his colorful and sharply tailored suits, were extremely popular, particularly in the 1980s. Mugler stopped designing couture and ready-to-wear in 2004, but he continued to create special costumes.