Fashion as sculpture, as avant-garde expression, as spectacle: Thierry Mugler’s career pushed the boundaries of what fashion design and clothing could mean.
Mugler, who went by Manfred in later years, founded his brand in 1973 with his first personal collection. By the late 1990s, he was more famous for his fragrances, thanks to the brand’s best seller Angel. But vintage Mugler dresses and gowns have recently returned to red carpets, worn by stars like Kim Kardashian, Cardi B and Hailey Bieber.
Mugler’s penchant for performance, drama and costuming came from his background in ballet, having danced as a teenager with the Opéra national du Rhin in his hometown of Strasbourg, France. In the 1980s and ’90s, his couture shows were theatrical and futuristic, similar to those of his contemporaries Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix.
In one of Mugler’s shows, the then-pregnant legendary supermodel Pat Cleveland (part of the coterie of glamorous muses associated with designer Halston) was suspended from the ceiling and then glided down the runway surrounded by clouds of smoke.
Mugler would become known for his immaculate tailoring as well as for his increasingly avant-garde designs that featured sharp cuts, sexy and fetishistic elements, an integration of metal and uniquely treated materials like PVC and leather. Recent years have seen Mugler’s archival designs, especially from his 1995 haute couture show, take center stage, coinciding with the resurgence of camp in fashion and the return of bodycon dresses.
The French cosmetics company Clarins SA acquired Mugler’s brand in 1997, and its founder stepped back from the label in 2002. The house’s roster of clients has included some of the most visionary figures in fashion, from David Bowie and Diana Ross to Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, and the founder’s influence on over-the-top fashion can be seen in the work of designers such as Jeremy Scott and Alexander McQueen.
Find vintage Thierry Mugler corset tops, suits, sunglasses and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
Thierry Mugler Rare Silver Metal Barbed Wire Brooch Pin
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Thierry Mugler silver tone metal barbed wire brooch. Thierry Mugler’s creations have always stood as iconic statements of bold innovation and avant-garde ...
THIERRY MUGLER Vintage Jewelled Claw Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Nice, FR
THIERRY MUGLER vintage gold tone claw brooch embellished with multicolored crystals. Embossed THIERRY MUGLER. Indicative measurements : max. length approx. 6.3 cm (2.48 inches) / m...
Gilt Metal
THIERRY MUGLER Vintage Jewelled Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Nice, FR
THIERRY MUGLER vintage rare silver tone brooch embellished with blue crystals. From a French private collection. Embossed TM. Indicative measurements : width approx. 7 cm (2.76 in...
THIERRY MUGLER Vintage Black Barbed Wire Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Nice, FR
THIERRY MUGLER vintage black tone metal barbed wire brooch. Embossed TM (see on the last picture / difficult to photograph). Indicative measurements : le...
14K Yellow Gold Rose Brooch with Diamond Accents
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
This elegant 14K yellow gold rose brooch features a beautifully sculpted bloom adorned with four round diamonds totaling approximately 0.042 carats. Weighing 25.5 grams and measuring...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Iconic 18 Karat Yellow Gold Elephant Brooch, by Cartier
By Cartier
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
Brooch around 1980, esigned as a family of elephants walking along a bamboo path, of polished and brushed design in soid 18 K yellow Gold, all elephants with a circular-cut emerald e...
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ciner Swarovski Crystal Sea Shell Brooch Pin Never Worn -1980s
By Ciner
Located in Wallkill, NY
Multi-Colored Swarovski Crystals set in this massive Ciner Brooch. Measuring 2.89 inches or 73.54 mm wide x 2.27 inches or 57.77 mm top to bottom. We have more Ciner items on our sto...
Crystal, Gilt Metal
Ciner Conch Shell Enamel Brooch Pin Swarovski Crystals New, Never Worn 1980s
By Ciner
Located in Wallkill, NY
Ciner Conch Shell Enamel Brooch set with Swarovski Crystals. Large Fabulous Shell Brooch. Has Salmon colored enamel inside the shell with Pave set Swarovski Crystals all over this pi...
Crystal, Gilt Metal, Enamel
Swarovski Bee Brooch "Jeweler's Collection" Crystal Gold Bumble Bee Pin 1980s
By Swarovski
Located in Wallkill, NY
New, Never Worn Swarovski Amber, Black and Clear Swarovski Crystals are set through out this Big Bumble Bee. She measures 2.33 inches or / 59.39 mm top to bottom 2.63 inches or/ 66.9...
Crystal, Gilt Metal
$880
W 1.86 in L 2.13 in
Christian Dior GROSSE 1961 Vintage Leaf Large Textured Five Swirl Wavy Brooch
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior GROSSE 1961 Vintage Unisex Large Textured Vivid Swirl Wavy Five Leaf Modernist Elegant Brooch, Gold Tone Very good condition. Maybe light scratches or colour loss. Ra...
Gold Plate
Chanel Faux-Pearl Embellished CC Brooch
By Chanel
Located in Paris, FR
Chanel faux-pearl embellished CC brooch featuring a white-gold signature interlocking “CC” with faux-pearls embellishment, white-gold side stars with faux-pearls embellishment, a ba...
Valentino Starfish Brooch Crystal Pearl New Old Stock 1990s
By Valentino
Located in Wallkill, NY
Massive Valentino Star Fish Adorned with Crystal and faux pearls. A new, Never worn piece from the 1990s. Measuring 4 inches. This is out of a massive collection of New Old Stock ite...
Crystal, Pearl, Gilt Metal
SWAROVSKI Crystal Deer Gold Gilt Brooch Pin Never Worn 1990s
By Swarovski
Located in Wallkill, NY
This is precious, a Swarovski Crystal Deer Brooch. Approximate Measurements 2.10 in / 53.55mm x 1.80 in / 46.00mm. This is out of a massive collection of...
Crystal, Gold, Gilt Metal
18K Yellow Gold and Enamel and Diamond Leaf Brooch
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A beautifully crafted mid-century brooch designed as a cascading leaf, featuring intricate green and amber-toned enamel work over richly textured yellow gold. The organic form is ele...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Large Antique Etruscan Revival 14K Yellow Gold Cabochon Garnet Disc Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Superb quality antique Etruscan Revival gold and cabochon garnet Greek key motif disk brooch. Centered by a substantial 16mm round deep red cabochon garnet set in a rope twist frame ...
Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Stephen Dweck Bronze Wash Silver Large Brooch New, Never Worn
By Stephen Dweck
Located in Wallkill, NY
Stunning Dweck Brooch with Bezel set stones from the Early 1990s. Hallmarked Stephen Dweck 3.46 wide x 3.46 top to bottom. This is out of a massive collection of Hopi, Zuni, Navajo, ...
Sterling Silver
Spectacular Thierry Mugler Prototype Brooch Crystal Arrow Drop
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
DAZZLING THIERRY MUGLER RUNWAY PROTOTYPE BROOCH This extraordinary unique brooch - an archival prototype created for the legendary Thierry Mugler Runway Show, a lightning strike of ...
Rare Thierry Mugler FW1986 Les Milteuses ETOILE Brooch Silver Star
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Radiating with celestial allure, this rare Thierry Mugler star brooch from the 1986 Fall/Winter collection "Les Milteuses" encapsulates the visionary grandeur synonymous with Mugler’...
THIERRY MUGLER Vintage Jewelled Silver Tone Iconic Star Lapel Pin
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Nice, FR
THIERRY MUGLER vintage silver tone iconic star lapel pin embellished with clear crystals. Embossed TM. Indicative measurements : max. height approx. 8.9 cm (3.50 inches) / max. wid...
THIERRY MUGLER Vintage Jewelled Star Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Nice, FR
THIERRY MUGLER vintage rare stylized silver tone star brooch embellished with clear crystals and teardrops. Embossed THIERRY MUGLER. Indicative measurements : max. height approx. 1...
Thierry Mugler Blue Jewel Paved Space Age Pin Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Atlanta, GA
Stunning and rare Thierry Mugler couture pin brooch. Features a dimensional oversized infinity symbol shape with dangling charms in silvered metal framing all paved with tiny crystal...
THIERRY MUGLER Wing Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Paris, FR
THIERRY MUGLER wing brooch in silver metal. Never worn. The dimensions are: 8 x2.5 cm Delivered in his Thierry MUGLER pouch
Base Metal
C.1990 Thierry Mugler Modernist Bolo Tie Longhorn Brooch
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Atlanta, GA
French designer Thierry Mugler is a master of the innovative suit incorporating strong shoulders and wasp waist silhouettes to create a feminine elegance with a healthy dose of sex appeal. This combination of a chromed base metal longhorn brooch and black silk bolo tie with silver tips would add a modernist avant garde accessory...
Silver