The must-see exhibition Thierry Mugler: Couturissime

Brand A-ZCultureJune 02, 2020

Design and fashion lovers cannot miss the exhibition Thierry Mugler: Couturissime, showing more than 150 outfits from the visionary couturier at the Kunsthalle München in Germany. David Bowie, Diana Ross, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga are some of the stars who’ve worn Thierry Mugler. More recently, we saw Cardi B and Kim Kardashian in his theatrical gowns at red carpet events.

Lady Gaga in the video for the song “Telephone” (The Fame Monster album), 2010.

Besides haute couture and prêt-à-porter garments, the retrospective also presents fantastic stage costumes and accessories. Additionally, it showcases videos the designer directed and around 100 photographs taken by himself and the likes of Helmut Newton and David LaChapelle. And finally, you’ll also see design sketches and archival material created by Mugler between 1977 and 2014. It is the first life-work exhibition of the French creator who abandoned the fashion world almost 20 years ago and now goes under his first name, Manfred.

Superheroines

Going counterflow against the bohemian fashion of the ‘70s, Mugler’s created sculptural outfits using unusual materials such as latex, metal, glass LEDs lights and even car parts. With exaggerated form-fitting silhouettes, the futuristic and super feminine creations manage to be elegant too. His concept of power-dressing transformed women into strong superheroines. In fact, Mugler explained, “my only measure is excess.

Metamorphoses

Mugler was responsible for putting the Parisian haute couture on the cool map again, mainly with two collections in the late ’90s. In Les Insectes, the fashion rebel created gowns that are real works of art inspired by butterflies, birds and insects. And Les Atlantes turned women into fantastical water nymphs with articulated armours and scales decorated with feathers, crystals and horsehair.

Cyborgs

Inspired by Sci-fi, medieval armours and futuristic cars, Mugler created robotic looks for his cyborgs and chassis-outfitted heroines. He directed in 1992, George Michael’s video clip “Too Funky”, featuring all the supermodels of that era dressed in Mugler outfits, including the iconic motorcycle corset.

Spectacular shows

Having a penchant for theatre, Thierry Mugler knew how to stage the most spectacular fashion shows. Supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelist and Cindy Crawford used to walk for him. Additionally, he was the first one to invite Hollywood stars and singers to model his creations on the runway. Mugler also made costumes for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Le Cirque du Soleil. But that’s not all. He created his own revues as for example, the Mugler Follies in Paris. As a film director, he directed Isabelle Hupert and Juliette Binoche in short movies. And the progressive designer also worked in photography, shooting some of his campaigns.

The multimedia exhibition Thierry Mugler: Couturissime will run until the 30th of August. Do not miss it!

Get here your Thierry Mugler looks. If you purchase something through the links in this post, Notorious-mag will get a commission.

All photos courtesy of Kunsthalle München.


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