Legendary French designer Thierry Mugler dies at 73

January 23, 2022 6:14 PM

Manfred Thierry Mugler, the French designer known for his precision cuts and sense of theatricality, has died at age 73. Born Dec. 21, 1948, in Strasbourg, France, Mugler began designing in the 1970s. He eventually became known for his dramatic, avant-garde designs.

He retired from fashion in 2002 before Clarins shuttered his ready-to-wear brand the next year, yet the iconic designer remained a staple in the world of fashion. His well-known perfume Angel, with its famous star-shaped bottle, is still a best seller. His fashion brand was relaunched in 2010 as Mugler, which is currently under the creative direction of designer Casey Cadwallader, said People magazine. The cause of death has not yet been stated.

The word "visionary" gets thrown around a lot and not always for deserving people, but Mugler was truly one of those rare artists who was.

posted by kitten kaboodle (14 comments total)

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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 6:35 PM on January 23, 2022

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Thank you for posting, kitten kaboodle.
posted by moonbeam at 7:04 PM on January 23, 2022

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posted by foxtongue at 7:22 PM on January 23, 2022

A giant. I’ll remember him not for his clothes, but for his perfume, Angel. When I was in Florida, another exchange student wore it. It was his signature. That a man should wear a woman’s perfume, and not giving a fuck about what anyone thought — it was a big lesson about the baggage of gender norms, of comformity, the determinism of marketing. Mostly, it was a life lesson in the value of self- realization. He lived his life as he wanted. And dammit if it didn’t totally work.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:31 PM on January 23, 2022 [5 favorites]

Like Capt. Renault, I would also like to praise his fragrances as well. They dispensed with assumptions about what was appropriate for perfumes and colognes to delightful results.

The Angel perfume has already been mentioned, but I particularly adore his long-running Angel cologne, which is thick and chocolatey and like no other men’s scent on the market.
posted by Ian A.T. at 7:51 PM on January 23, 2022

Mugler 1995 Fall Couture
Thierry Mugler in 9 Collections
Mugler Spring 1997

posted by putzface_dickman at 8:36 PM on January 23, 2022

. I’ve really loved watching Kollin Carter style Cardi B in vintage Mugler.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:55 AM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]

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posted by trip and a half at 12:59 AM on January 24, 2022

Love that 1995 slide show, putzface_dickman. Julie Newmar modelling in it is choice, and a good reminder of Mugler's influence on the drag/gay worlds. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar came out that year. In '92, Mugler designer the costumes for George Michael's Too Funky video. I clearly wasn't the only young teen impressed by these images (the motorcycle bustier, I mean wow, the ladytron get up, amazing) because the current trends in drag in the cities where I've lived for the last 20 years all share Mugler as a clear influence. Saying that as a dude who wears the same tee shirt and jeans just about every day, I think that's impressive--I know more of Mugler's vision than I do of most fashion designers' work because it's so distinct and compelling to my eyes.

This Vogue article on the "Too Funky" video is a treat.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 5:07 AM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]

More drag/Mugler crossover for those who want it: Violet Chachki and Naomi Smalls reviewing Mugler S/S 1992.

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posted by youarenothere at 6:34 AM on January 24, 2022

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posted by ikahime at 7:50 AM on January 24, 2022

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posted by mcbeth at 6:02 PM on January 25, 2022

Lypsinka slays on the catwalk in Thierry Mugler’s fashion show
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:33 AM on January 26, 2022 [1 favorite]

Dragoness Lola von Flame was the only one at his funeral who served a LOOK.
Respect.
posted by adamvasco at 6:40 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]