Thierry Mugler

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Thierry Mugler, born 1948 in Strasbourg, France is a fashion designer, photographer, and creator of a fashion design company of the same name. While he was trained as a ballet dancer, he also studied design and created garments for friends. He moved to Paris in 1970 and worked as a window-dresser, designing clothing as a side job. He founded his label for women in 1974, and began designing for men four years later.

Mugler's work over the next two decades had a unique 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.

Thierry 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. Owned since 1997 by the French cosmetics and skincare company Clarins, Thierry Mugler is now mostly known for its perfume division. The couture division was closed in 2003 due to increasing losses, and all Thierry Mugler ready-to-wear is now produced under license agreements, as is a line of eyewear.

Mugler himself has turned to other artistic interests. He has published two books featuring his fashion designs and photography, Thierry Mugler (1988) and Fashion Fetish Fantasy (1998). He also dabbles in film and video - he directed the video for George Michael's "Too Funky," featuring a parade of Mugler fashions, including the famous motorcycle dress - and collaborated with Cirque de Soleil on its 2003 "Zumanity" show.

In Spring 2007, the New York Times 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.


[edit] Thierry Mugler fragrances

Fragrance name Launch year Gender Notes
Angel 1992 Women The first oriental gourmand fragrance; the #1 perfume in France and among the top 5 perfumes in the US
A*Men 1996 Men Known as "Angel Men" in US/Canada and Middle East due to trademark issues
Innocent 1998 Women Known as "Angel Innocent" until 2004
Mugler Cologne 2001 Unisex Inspired by a soap; contains proprietary "S-molecule"
B*Men 2004 Men Currently being phased out
Angel Garden of Stars 2005-06 Women Floral versions of Angel (peony, violet, lily, and rose)
Alien 2005 Women First new Thierry Mugler women's fragrance not based on the Angel concept; modeled by Tina Baltzer
A*Men Summer Flash 2006 Men Limited-edition men's fragrance based on A*Men
Mugler Cologne Summer Flash 2006 Unisex Limited-edition; adds a cooling ingredient to Mugler Cologne
Innocent Summer Flash 2006 Women Limited-edition women's fragrance based on Innocent
Innocent Secret 2006 Women Made for Victoria's Secret stores
Perfume: The Coffret 2006 Unisex Limited-edition movie tie-in to Perfume: The Story of a Murderer; consists of 15 fragrances; cost $700 US
ICE*Men 2007 Men New men's fragrance faced by Greg Plitt; launches worldwide in April 2007 (September 2007 in US)
Eau de Star 2007 Women New women's fragrance; launches worldwide in April 2007 (September 2007 in US)


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