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Manfred Thierry Mugler
1978 at the legendary Parisian club Le Palace.
The designer was born in Strasbourg on December 21, 1948. His father was a doctor and his mother was "the most elegant woman in town" - that's how Mugler described her.
At the age of fourteen he completed his training at the Ballet de l'Opéra du Rhin - where he discovered his love for the stage and costumes.
In 1967 Mugler left Strasbourg for Paris.
There he earned his living by selling drawings and sketches that he made for textile manufacturers.
Photo: Guy Marineau/Starface / imago images/Starface
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In 1970, Mugler opened his first Parisian boutique »Gudule« on Rue de Buci and designed fashion for French brands such as Dorothée Bis and Cacharel.
In 1973 he brought out his first women's collection »Café de Paris«.
The body-hugging silhouette was his trademark.
Soon after, he also designed a men's collection under his own name.
In the 1980s he made his international breakthrough;
From then on, the designer was seen as someone who was miles ahead of his time.
He is pictured with model, singer and actress Grace Jones in New York in 1980.
Photo: Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images
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In 1984, French President François Mitterrand gave a speech honoring famous people at the Élysée Palace.
From right to left: First Lady Danielle Mitterrand, Pierre Bergé, Secretary of Culture Jack Lang, designer Thierry Mugler, actresses Isabelle Huppert and Anouk Aimée, designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, actress Carole Bouquet, designer Alix Gres.
Photo: PIERRE GUILLAUD / AFP
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Latex, vinyl, metal, big shoulders, short skirts and spectacular backs: Mugler designed fashion that was glamorous, exciting and scandalous at the same time.
The wearers of his outfits became superheroes.
His shows were also legendary, with a large number of stars - here the singer Diana Ross, 1991.
Photo: Guy Marineau/Starface / imago images/Starface
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Mugler with drag queens at the AIDS charity »Life-Ball« in Vienna, 1993. The fashion designer always used his success to give the queer community visibility.
In 1992, the famous drag performer Lypsinka opened his show.
But he also hired queer talents outside of his shows, such as the corset maker Mr Pearl.
Mugler also directed George Michael's video Too Funky.
Photo: (c) Leopold Nekula/VIENNAERPORT / imago images / Viennareport
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Fashion show by Mugler at the ready-to-wear shows in Paris in the fall of 1993.
Photo: Pool ARNAL/PAT / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
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From the same collection: Supermodel Naomi Campbell and a colleague present Thierry Mugler - the summer collection, definitely.
Photo: Guy Marineau/Starface / imago images/Starface
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Mugler's shows have always been unique: in 1995, for example, James Brown had an appearance with him.
Photo: PIERRE VERDY / AFP
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In the late 1990s, Mugler reinvented itself and enjoyed success with its perfume creations.
In 1998, more bottles were sold of his fragrance »Angel« (1993) than »Chanel No.
5".
In 1997 Mugler's company was bought 100 percent by the cosmetics group Clarins.
He is pictured with actress Estelle Lefébure (left) and Ivana Trump (right) during one of his shows in the '90s.
Photo: FOC KAN© / WireImage
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2001 at the presentation of his autumn/winter collection.
Shortly thereafter, Mugler retired from the fashion world to devote himself full-time to directing stage productions.
The designer also began to change his body thanks to plastic surgeries and hard bodybuilding, and he went by the name of Manfred.
In a »Stern« interview, he once said: »My appearance is a constant development.
I've been training my body and sculpting myself for a long time. You know, judging by everything I've accomplished in my life, I'm basically a superhero.«
Photo: Remy De La Mauviniere / dpa
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In September 2010, Nicola Formichetti (pictured left with Lady Gaga) was appointed creative director of the Thierry Mugler brand.
Photo: Briquet-Guibbaud-Nebinger-Orban / picture alliance / abaca
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Also an award: Barbie released a doll in Thierry Mugler.
Photo: Pierre VAUTHEY / Sygma via Getty Images
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Kim Kardashian (middle) in Mugler between her sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner at the 2019 Met Gala.
Photo: KEVIN TACHMAN / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
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Rapper Cardi B. at the opening of the exhibition »Thierry Mugler: Couturissime«, which is currently on view at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
Photo: Ampilhac Mireille/ABACA / picture alliance / abaca
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Thierry Mugler died unexpectedly on January 23, 2022 at the age of 73.
Photo: Jens Kalaene / picture alliance / dpa
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