01of 10Thierry Mugler’s Early LifeImages/Getty ImagesBorn on Dec. 21, 1948, in Strasbourg, France, Manfred Thierry Mugler actually got his start in dance, joining the Ballet du Rhin before picking up design in the 1970s.Dance “showed me that there are no limits,” he said in a 2019chat with Tippi Hedren forInterviewmagazine.“I never say I’m a fashion designer. I’ve always felt like a director, and the clothes I did were a direction of the every day.”
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Thierry Mugler’s Early Life
Images/Getty Images
Born on Dec. 21, 1948, in Strasbourg, France, Manfred Thierry Mugler actually got his start in dance, joining the Ballet du Rhin before picking up design in the 1970s.
Dance “showed me that there are no limits,” he said in a 2019chat with Tippi Hedren forInterviewmagazine.“I never say I’m a fashion designer. I’ve always felt like a director, and the clothes I did were a direction of the every day.”
02of 10Thierry Mugler and ImanRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesMugler’s clothes were buzzy, though: the designer (here with friend and supermodel Iman in New York City in 1989) had a flair for the avant garde and architectural, and a vision for a future beyond the runway.“Why would anyone only want fashion?” he said inhis 2019Interviewpiece. “There are the costumes, but there’s also the environment, the lights, the movement. The music, the sets, the light, the attitudes — it all helped to tell my story.”
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Thierry Mugler and Iman
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Mugler’s clothes were buzzy, though: the designer (here with friend and supermodel Iman in New York City in 1989) had a flair for the avant garde and architectural, and a vision for a future beyond the runway.
“Why would anyone only want fashion?” he said inhis 2019Interviewpiece. “There are the costumes, but there’s also the environment, the lights, the movement. The music, the sets, the light, the attitudes — it all helped to tell my story.”
03of 10Thierry Mugler’s Changing LooksRon Galella Collection via Getty ImagesWith model and designer Dianne Brill in New York City in 1989.Later in life, Mugler suffered a series of accidents that permanently changed the look of his face. He “destroyed” his nose in a Jeep crash, he recalled toInterview,and had bone from his hip put into his chin after a motorcycle accident.“I wanted my face to represent progress,“he toldInterview,“because after years of being a thin, charming dancer, I wanted to be a warrior. I’ve done so much in my life. I’ve fought so much. I’m a superhero, so it’s normal to have the face of one.”
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Thierry Mugler’s Changing Looks
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
With model and designer Dianne Brill in New York City in 1989.
Later in life, Mugler suffered a series of accidents that permanently changed the look of his face. He “destroyed” his nose in a Jeep crash, he recalled toInterview,and had bone from his hip put into his chin after a motorcycle accident.
“I wanted my face to represent progress,“he toldInterview,“because after years of being a thin, charming dancer, I wanted to be a warrior. I’ve done so much in my life. I’ve fought so much. I’m a superhero, so it’s normal to have the face of one.”
04of 10Thierry Mugler and Jerry HallEvan Agostini/LiaisonWith Jerry Hall at the 1995 VH1 Fashion and Music Awards in N.Y.C.“I was looking for something that didn’t exist,“he saidof his one-of-a-kind designs in a 2008 interview withT Magazine.“I have to try to create my own world.”
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Thierry Mugler and Jerry Hall
Evan Agostini/Liaison
With Jerry Hall at the 1995 VH1 Fashion and Music Awards in N.Y.C.
“I was looking for something that didn’t exist,“he saidof his one-of-a-kind designs in a 2008 interview withT Magazine.“I have to try to create my own world.”
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Thierry Mugler’s Fashion Shows
Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
“His runway shows were the most legendary and iconic runway shows ever,“Kim Kardashiantold PEOPLE in 2019. Here, Mugler poses during the finale of a January 1999 show.
Model Violeta Sanchez, who was among the models who showcased 300 stunning looks, called it “the Woodstock of fashion"to theNew York Times.
In 2002, Mugler retired from fashion, though revived his brand as Mugler in 2010, with Nicola Formichetti at the helm.
06of 10Thierry Mugler and Diana RossRose Hartman/Getty ImagesMugler’s famous friendships and relationships ran deep: aside from creating for models like Iman and superstars like Diana Ross (pictured), he came out of retirement once in a while to design for Beyoncé’s 2009 I Am … world tour, several Lady Gaga videos and Kim Kardashian’s iconic 2019 Met Gala moment. He also opened his fashion archives,most notably to Cardi Bin recent years.“It’s a full vision from, you know, hair to nails to everything,” Kardashian told PEOPLE of his red carpet mentality.
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Thierry Mugler and Diana Ross
Rose Hartman/Getty Images
Mugler’s famous friendships and relationships ran deep: aside from creating for models like Iman and superstars like Diana Ross (pictured), he came out of retirement once in a while to design for Beyoncé’s 2009 I Am … world tour, several Lady Gaga videos and Kim Kardashian’s iconic 2019 Met Gala moment. He also opened his fashion archives,most notably to Cardi Bin recent years.
“It’s a full vision from, you know, hair to nails to everything,” Kardashian told PEOPLE of his red carpet mentality.
07of 10Thierry Mugler FragrancesRob Kim/FilmMagicHe also expanded his brand into beauty in 1992, with ever-growing lines of men’s and women’s fragrances (Angel, Alien, A*Men and Aura among them). Naomi Watts and Eva Mendes, pictured, were among the celebs who served as faces of the campaigns.Global president of Mugler Fashion & Fragrance, Sandrine Groslier, remembered Mugler as a “genius” in a Jan. 24 statement. “[He] revolutionized the world of fashion, fragrances, photography and staging. An artist for whom the limit was no limit. An exceptionally talented, visionary and inclusive genius,” Groslier wrote. “Beyond being a creator with infinite energy and a boundless sense of creativity, I wish above all to pay tribute to the sensitive, generous and sincere man.”
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Thierry Mugler Fragrances
Rob Kim/FilmMagic
He also expanded his brand into beauty in 1992, with ever-growing lines of men’s and women’s fragrances (Angel, Alien, A*Men and Aura among them). Naomi Watts and Eva Mendes, pictured, were among the celebs who served as faces of the campaigns.
Global president of Mugler Fashion & Fragrance, Sandrine Groslier, remembered Mugler as a “genius” in a Jan. 24 statement. “[He] revolutionized the world of fashion, fragrances, photography and staging. An artist for whom the limit was no limit. An exceptionally talented, visionary and inclusive genius,” Groslier wrote. “Beyond being a creator with infinite energy and a boundless sense of creativity, I wish above all to pay tribute to the sensitive, generous and sincere man.”
08of 10Thierry Mugler’s Fashion BalletRobbie Jack/Corbis via Getty ImagesIn 2019, Mugler joined forces with choreographer Wayne McGregor (left) to direct something he’d dreamed of: a dance-fashion fusion presentation calledMcGregor and Muglerat The London Coliseum.
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Thierry Mugler’s Fashion Ballet
Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images
In 2019, Mugler joined forces with choreographer Wayne McGregor (left) to direct something he’d dreamed of: a dance-fashion fusion presentation calledMcGregor and Muglerat The London Coliseum.
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Thierry Mugler and Kim Kardashian
Manfred Thierry Mugler/Facebook
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Thierry Mugler’s Later Years
Richard Bord/WireImage
In his later years,before his deathon Jan. 23 at 73 years old, Mugler was at work transforming his body,he toldInterview.
source: people.com
