Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

Manfred Thierry Mugler, founder and longtime creative director of French fashion house Mugler, died on January 23 at age 73.

The news was confirmed by a post on the designer's official Instagram and Twitter, sparking an outpouring of condolences and reverent disbelief.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

An arbiter of '80s fashion, Mugler was known for his theatrical designs and extravagant runway shows, spectacles in and of themselves. Sharp tailoring and exaggerated, wide-shouldered silhouettes were the designer's specialties, two hallmarks that helped define '80s power dressing.

Mugler embraced drama and camp — in fact, the quintessential Mugler woman resembled a sort of superhero-meets-dominatrix, a character embodied by the designer's eclectic cast of models including Grace Jones, Traci Lords, and Tippi Hedren.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

In 2002, Mugler departed his eponymous house to pursue other creative avenues, including film and photography. Most notably, he worked as Beyoncé's artistic director and designed the costumes for her I Am... world tour in 2009.

In 2019, Mugler came out of retirement to design Kim Kardashian's "wet" Met Gala dress, a look that sparked interest with young consumers — i.e. Gen Z — who began rediscovering the designer's archival creations and boosting demand for vintage Mugler.

In fact, The RealReal reported a 70% surge in resale value for Thierry Mugler pieces by 2022.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

The death of Mugler follows the recent passing of several high-profile fashion figures, including André Leon TalleyGaspard Ulliel, and Nino Cerruti.

"Manfred, I am so honored to have known you and to work within your beautiful world," wrote Casey Cadwallader, Mugler's current creative director. "You changed our perception of beauty, of confidence, of representation and self empowerment."

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

"Thierry Mugler was a defining force in fashion... he designed for a future where women were in charge and on top," said Tracee Ellis Ross, who modeled for the designer in 1991 and 1992. "I remember him as joyous and beautiful."

"You started as a hero, my deepest inspiration, and the one that showed the world how to be inclusive in every sense throughout your art and genius," Burberry designer Riccardo Tisci wrote.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.
Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.
Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.
Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.
We Recommend
  • LAFW: You Just Had to Be There (But If You Weren’t, Read This)
    • Style
  • It's a White Tank Top Kind of Summer
    • Style
  • At Fashion Week, Nara Smith Cooks Up a New Kind of Celebrity
    • Style
  • Under Armour's Sickest Dad Shoe Yet Came From The Museum
    • Sneakers
  • Mugler & Gentle Monster's Bug-Eyed Sunglasses Have ‘Intense Energy’
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • Birkenstock’s New Luxury Clog Is Off the Scales
    • Sneakers
  • From the Screen to the Scene: Bumble Takes Things IRL for Not in Miami
    • Culture
    • sponsored
  • Finally, It's Confirmed! Matthieu Blazy Joins Chanel
    • Style
  • Miu Miu Made The Ultimate Miu Miu x New Balance Alternative
    • Sneakers
  • You've Never Heard of New York's Coolest New Fragrance Store (EXCLUSIVE)
    • Beauty
  • Is Louise Trotter’s Carven Departure the Start of a Great Designer Reshuffle?
    • Style