January 23rd 2022, will forever be remembered as a day that shook the world of fashion to its core, as the death of Manfred Thierry Mugler was announced. The visionary French designer, whose remarkable career helped define nearly two decades of fashion, was revealed to have sadly passed away via Instagram on Monday. Known for his visually daring runway shows and bold, iconic pieces such as the motorcycle corset of Mugler Spring/Summer ’92 and the Venus dress of Autumn/Winter ’95 — reworn by Cardi B at the 2019 Grammy’s — Mugler’s audacious eccentricity was one-of-a-kind. His charisma and creativity left a statement on the runway whose presence will be sorely missed.

"His dramatically cinched silhouettes and sci-fi visions captured the heat and fluidity of self-expression, flouting gender norms left, right and centre"

Born in Strasbourg on 21st December 1948, Mugler trained as a ballet dancer at the Rhin Opera for much of his adolescence, before moving to Paris in his twenties to found his first collection, Café de Paris, in 1973. One year later, he founded the eponymous label that shot him to mainstream fame in the 1980s. His dramatically cinched silhouettes and sci-fi visions captured the heat and fluidity of self-expression, flouting gender norms left, right and centre. Though Mugler retired from the label in 2002, he continued creating custom pieces for the likes of Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé. In honour of his profound influence on high fashion, Varsity looks back at some of Mugler’s greatest achievements — which helped enshrine his legacy as a fashion titan.

Connie Fleming for Spring/Summer ’92

The really beautiful thing about Mugler’s artistic vision was that his runways fostered a genuine space to celebrate diversity, and allow it to flourish. In 1992, Connie Fleming, a Black transgender female artist, walked for Mugler’s Spring/Summer ’92 collection as the ultimate high-fashion cowgirl. She donned a dramatic pair of bedazzled chaps, a matching corset and, of course, a bejewelled cowboy hat. Unapologetically sexy in its transcendent glamour, somehow I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a number replicated by the costume designers for HBO’s original series, Euphoria.

Haute Couture Spring/Summer ’98

If this daring take on the little black dress looks familiar, it’s because Megan Fox brought it back to life at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. Her slight alterations, opting for a mesh skirt as opposed to the high slit, nonetheless illustrate Mugler’s generational appeal and his innovative thinking. If anything, this dress was the blueprint for barely-there red carpet attire, injecting futuristic sensuality into the classic LBD that was sure to appeal to the likes of fashion-forward celebrities such as Megan Fox and Bella Hadid.

Kim Kardashian at the 2019 Met Gala

Undoubtedly one of his best career highlights, Mugler briefly emerged from retirement to work with Kim Kardashian to create her incredible custom gown for the 2019 Met Gala, leaving the world utterly stunned. An abundance of beaded crystals atop the impeccably cinched latex fabric created the perfect illusion of dripping water — as if the reality star had stepped right out of the ocean and onto the red carpet. Mugler’s show-stopping number arguably left Kim at the top of the Gala’s best-dressed list; his status as a great with a talent to continuously surprise will no doubt be missed but never forgotten.