If there was a high-fashion reboot of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, this circa 1992 Thierry Mugler deep red velvet blazer would be an apt choice to grace the shoulders of Martha May Whovier — inarguably Whoville’s chicest resident — as she holds court at a glittering holiday soiree. With its bold swerving lines, rich color and mid-century-inspired adornments, the garment strikes the perfect whimsical balance between retro and modern glamour.
Offered on 1stDibs by Berlin-based REALMS Vintage, the jacket exemplifies some of Mugler’s most famous signatures, notably in its dramatic, hyper-feminine shape and virtuosic construction and tailoring, making it instantly recognizable to lovers of vintage couture.
The showstopping curves are a hallmark of the late French couturier, who died in 2022 and dominated the fashion industry’s attention as a titan of the avant-garde in the 1980s and ‘90s. His performative runway presentations were spectacles in their own right, and the clothes were no less revolutionary. Mugler deployed a mastery of textiles and unconventional materials like plastic, sculpted metal and even rubber car tires in establishing his quintessential extreme silhouette of exaggerated shoulders and hips with a cinched waist.
His designs were paraded down the runway by such legendary supermodels as Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell, and more recently, key pieces from his archive have been worn by celebrities known for their bold sartorial statements, like Cardi B and Lady Gaga. The designer even emerged from retirement to create Kim Kardashian’s 2019 Met Gala dress: a beaded latex number designed to make her look like she was dripping wet. The Gala’s theme, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” played directly to Mugler’s theatrical, illusionistic strengths, later showcased in his major retrospective, “Couturissime,” which concluded a three-year tour at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2022.
While Mugler’s early work often featured fantastical sci-fi forms and unabashedly crossed over into the realm of costume, this jacket is elegantly restrained while maintaining an enticing edge. Its impressive construction creates a body-hugging silhouette with a powerful structure that is softened by the plush velvet material, sublimely balancing form and texture.
And, of course, there’s the star — that familiar symbol of the holidays. The iconic Mugler star eschews the traditional five-point shape and is often asymmetrical, playfully echoing the designer’s irreverence. The blazer features three opulent silver North Stars bursting from central accents of vibrant blue crystals — one on each cuff and a larger one with a hanging drop pendant at the waist. A nostalgic nod to 1950s retrofuturism that embodies its designer’s fascination with the otherworldly, it’s perfect for a holiday party in Whoville, or any gathering in need of a bit of extra sparkle.
