Iconic designer Thierry Mugler, known for his fantastical fashion creations that pushed the boundaries of couture and exemplified sex appeal, died on Sunday at the age of 73.
A longtime celebrity favorite, the French creative launched his label in the early 1970s and dressed stars and supermodels including David Bowie, Ivana Trump, Grace Jones and Carla Bruni early in his career.
And while Mugler may have stepped away from his namesake fashion house in 2002, that didn’t stop A-listers from raiding his archives; Cardi B, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian are all major fans of vintage Mugler.
David Bowie donned a slinky long-sleeved nude dress by Mugler in his 1979 “Boys Keep Swinging” music video, also sporting a red perm and dramatic makeup.
YouTube
Mugler directed George Michael’s catwalk-themed “Too Funky” music video, dressing superstar models like Linda Evangelista (pictured) and Tyra Banks in his own designs.
georgemichael/Instagram
Diana Ross was one of Mugler’s biggest supporters, seen here in one of his daring designs at his fashion show in 1990.
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
In 1991, none other than Ivana Trump walked the runway for Thierry Mugler in a sculptural silver gown.
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
In 1992, Thierry invited a then-19-year-old Tracee Ellis Ross to walk her second runway show for him. She had modeled the year before alongside mom Diana Ross, who was one of Mugler’s muses and collaborators.
traceeellisross/Instagram
Who could forget the strappy black dress Mugler designed for Demi Moore in 1993’s “Indecent Proposal?”
Paramount
Mugler left his namesake fashion brand in 2002 to focus on the more profitable beauty sector. In 2010, Lady Gaga’s then-stylist and creative director, Nicola Formichetti, was named creative director of the house, changing its name simply to “Mugler.” At the 2011 Grammys — shortly after exiting her infamous egg — Gaga donned a slew of Mugler looks, including this black minidress paired with thigh-high boots.
WireImage
Some of Gaga’s most memorable looks from the start of her career were, in fact, Formachetti’s Mugler.
Dimitrios Kambouris
Thierry Mugler may have “quit fashion” in the early aughts, but he did continue creating custom work. In 2009, Beyoncé tapped him to create all of the stage costumes for her “I Am … Sasha Fierce” tour, including this dazzling gold bodysuit with his signature sculptural shoulders and hips.
WireImage
Mugler kicked off 2019 with a bang, dressing Cardi B in this archival look inspired by Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” from the brand’s 1995 couture collection, originally modeled on the runway by Andy Warhol muse Dianne Brill.
Getty Images
Later in 2019, it was none other than Kim Kardashian who broke Mugler’s decade-long design drought. His first new creation in years was this “dripping wet” latex dress for the camp-themed Met Gala, inspired by Sophia Loren in 1957’s “Boy on a Dolphin.”
Getty Images
One of two Mugler-designed afterparty looks was this blue latex minidress with an extreme plunging neckline and silver tinsel wig — inspired by one of Kardashian’s fashion idols, Cher.
GC Images
In September 2021, Cardi B showed up to the opening of the “Thierry Mugler: Couturissime” exhibit in Paris wearing a dazzling red sequin and feather gown from the designer’s archives — less than a month after giving birth to her second child. Tons of other models and celebrities gathered to celebrate Mugler’s work in the retrospective as well.
Thierry Mugler, pictured here at the opening of his “Thierry Mugler : Couturissime” exhibit in Paris in September 2021, died January 23 at the age of 73.WireImage
