[THIERRY MUGLER: COUTURISSIME]

The Brooklyn Museum in New York hosted its first retrospective of French designer, perfumer and published author Manfred Thierry Mugler. The exhibition featured over eight dozen looks, from haute couture to stage wear, sketches, videos, editorials, images from his photography book, even an installation. Entitled Thierry Mugler: Couturissime,  the term “couturissme” is best described by the museum’s Senior Curator of Fashion & Material Culture, Matthew Yokobosky, as “extreme couture,” which he states Manfred is a master of.

Known to the fashion world as the most fascinating mind of the late 20th century. He was audacious, innovative and visionary. Manfred handmade sculptural, avant-garde, masterpieces out of latex, vinyl, chrome and plexiglass. Collection themes entertained and inspired, from elevated Old Hollywood Glamour inspired gowns to bold silhouette tailored suits and other worldly looks. A pioneer at diversifying his runway shows, Manfred rejected racism, ageism and homophobia. His models weren’t clothes hangers, they were walking representations of his designs. Manfred’s fashion shows were such a success, they had to be held in massive spaces to accommodate thousands of attendees.

In 1992, Manfred directed and designed looks for George Michael’s “Too Funky” music video, where a robot bodysuit and motorcycle bustier made an everlasting impression. That same year Manfred launched his first perfume “Angel” which is still one of the most sought after fragrances.

In 2002, Manfred retired from his brand to pursue other goals. In 2009, he worked as an advisor and designer to Beyonce’s world tour. Then returned to his brand in 2013 as a creative advisor. For the 2019 Met Gala, Manfred created a wet couture dress for Kim Kardashian. Cardi B has been seen on the red carpet in vintage Manfred designs, which maintain a cult following among Gen Z. In January 2022, Manfred said good-bye to the world, but his vintage pieces continue to live on in the hearts and minds of his global fan base.

“[Manfred] is so much about transformation, about metamorphosis, how he wanted to give people the feel of power, that they were stronger than they really were, [Manfred] has been so much about self-expression; this philosophy, that you could be something more. Fashion helps to define and describe ourselves to the public. Looking back for inspiration in order to look forward, [Manfred] didn’t do exactly Joan Crawford, he gave us a silhouette.” – Matthew Yokobosky, Brooklyn Museum’s Senior Curator of Fashion & Material Culture

“[Manfred] enabled you to dream your best self and make you feel comfortable to express what you really were inside or wanted to be. Fashion is an unspoken language. [The Joan Crawford’s era] is a very specific time in its claiming of femininity, and [Manfred] sensed that and gave us a powerful woman like Joan Crawford, but sculpted it more. He was about pushing the envelope.” – Connie Fleming, Mugler Muse  

[AQUATIC: DEEP SEA]

[BLACK AND WHITE]

[EDITORIAL]

[HEAVENLY]

[METAMORPHOSIS]

[BECOME A SUPPORTER]