Mugler

Thierry (1948). French tailor. Having worked in 1965-1966 for the Opera de Rhin in his native Strasbourg, he moved from dance to fashion in 1967. In 1970 he designed the collection “Café de Paris,” and by 1974, his boutique Gudule had become the most fashionable in Paris. He founded a fashion house in his own name, and became its owner in 1986. Since 1990 he has also created perfumes. Eclectic and curious, he finds his influences in history, automobile bodies (particularly American cars of the 1970s), and cinema (the Hollywood of Busby Berkeley and Edith Head). He creates corsets for Madonna and mini-dresses for Sharon Stone. Celebrated for his ironic and post-modern style, he is also a photographer, and is well-known for his shots of his own clothes in the baroque heart of Prague. In 1988 he published a book, Thierry Mugler Photograph, in which fashion experts underline his explosive glamour. His clothes have a defined structure, despite some theatrical and deliberate “body conscious” exaggerations of proportion (wide shoulders, slim waist). He was tailor to Daniel Mitterand.
&Quad;2000. Thierry Mugler decided to abandon his work as a fashion designer and devoted himself completely to the creation of perfumes, among the most famous of which is Angel. Created in 1992 in collaboration with Clarins, it fought for pole position with the mythical Chanel No. 5.
&Quad;2002, December. The Clarins Group was on the point of giving up Mugler’s prêt-à-porter and haute couture ranges, the company having registered losses of 476,000 euros in the first half of the year. The perfume sector, however, remained safe.
&Quad;2003, June. Thierry Mugler Couture closes down. Clarins confirmed that the Maison Balmain has taken over 4 of the 7 boutiques, as well as the factory in Saint Barthélemy d’Anjou, near Angers. Clarins maintained ownership of the Mugler label and of perfume production.
&Quad;2003, July. The Clarins Group stated that the factory in Saint-Denis La Plaine had ceased production, but that Thierry Mugler Couture, and Mugler leather goods, glasses, and jewelry would continued to be produced under license. The 5-year license for menswear with Tombolini was renewed, while a decision on the license of prêt-à-porter womenswear was still awaited. Tombolini planed to take over the Paris store Thierry Mugler Homme and the two in-store shops at Galeries Lafayette and Madelios.