Words and visuals by Josephine Choe.

In the realm of sartorial excellence, the Brooklyn Museum presents Thierry Mugler: Couturissime (November 18, 2022 – May 7, 2023), a mesmerizing retrospective that delves into the universe of the French designer and visionary creator of perfumes, Thierry Mugler.

Renowned for his daring ingenuity and uncompromising artistry, Mugler emerged as a trailblazer, leaving a mark on late twentieth-century fashion. Through his exploration of silhouettes and employment of materials like glass, Plexiglas, vinyl, latex, and chrome, Mugler reshaped the course of fashion history.

In the era of the 1970s, Mugler’s creative genius birthed the acclaimed “glamazon,” a symbol of chic modernity that transcended the lingering echoes of the 1960s hippie fashion. Throughout the decades of the 1980s and ’90s, Mugler revitalized haute couture, breathing life into it through his provocative collections and theatrical fashion shows that took place amidst grandiose settings, featuring the era’s most iconic models. And even today, as Mugler’s designs continue to influence a new generation of couturiers, celebrities grace red carpets adorned in his pieces.

This exhibition showcases over one hundred ensembles, spanning the gamut from haute couture garments to stage costumes. The installations mirror Mugler’s futuristic and innovative approach to artistry. More importantly, these ensembles have continually bestowed upon women a profound sense of empowerment.