by John Downey '23 on February 10, 2022
A&E Co-Editor

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Arts & Entertainment

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The Legacy Thierry Mugler Leaves Behind

Remembering the Late Fashion Designer

Riley Coyne ’24

Manfred Thierry Mugler, the famous fashion designer who empowered people to dream big and pursue their passions, sadly passed away on Jan. 23 at 73 years old. The French creative director is the third visionary the fashion world has lost in a short period of time, the other two being Virgil Abloh and André Talley. In the days since his passing, Mugler has been remembered by his colleagues, clients, and fans for his astounding work.

Mugler’s runway shows were known for being extremely theatrical and entertaining. In addition to styling thousands of popular models, he has designed outfits for well-known celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox, Cardi B, and Beyonce. For instance, he dressed Beyonce for her 2009 world tour and designed Kim Kardashian’s iconic “wet” dress that she wore to the Met Gala in 2019. This dress apparently took eight months for him to create, proving his dedication to his craft. 

Moreover, the fashion icon embraced queer culture, dressing men and women in exactly the same clothes. He also devoted himself to costume design for the popular entertainment company, Cirque Du Soleil, and even launched his own perfume line called “Angel.” Mugler was truly a jack of all trades.

Although Mugler was seen as an outlier in the fashion industry early on in his career, being an underdog benefited him in the long run, as it made him all the hungrier for success. Indeed, throughout his career, Mugler often said that he wanted to help people find what they were truly passionate about so they could not only pursue it but make a difference in their society. 

 The icon himself was also passionate about the ethical treatment of animals: he never used any animal skins, feathers, or fur in his work. When asked to explain the reason behind this choice, he said, “I don’t want to torture animals for that.” Notably, his stance has inspired other big names in fashion to stop using animal products, such as Dolce & Gabbana, who recently announced that they will stop using animal fur in their products and transition to faux fur, instead.

Thierry Mugler’s good nature, pursuit of beauty, and remarkable influence on the fashion world will not be forgotten.