Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Couture ThierryMugler 1990s CorsetStyle SilkLined Denim WideShoulder Power Dress

About the Item

In the 1990s, French Thierry Mugler designed this haute-couture labeled and numbered corset-style topstitched zigzag-panel ecru 100%-cotton-denim cocktail dress, which is fully lined in ecru 100% silk. It suits the revolutionary glamazon power-dressing that defined his bold collections since the early 1970s, which was in sync with the women's movement that championed equal executive pay. Similar versatile day-to-evening dressing for divas by Mugler has garnered auction sales topping US$20,000 dating back to a royal-blue skirt suit in 2011. The one-of-a-kind hourglass-shaped dress is in excellent condition. The blue tag "Thierry Mugler Couture" is sewn over the slightly worn specification tag noting "Made In France" in size FR40 (US6-8). Featuring Mugler's distinct sharply exaggerated feminine proportions to bring drama to body consciousness, this double v-neck below-the-knee dress is unusually wearable given its angelic pale color and durable construction with angled panels in the shape of a corset topstitched by 18 horizontal rows. The linear cap sleeves sleekly extend the shoulder-line by inches on each side remarkably without pads, while offering glimpses of the contrasting shiny silk lining. The wide shoulders make the zigzag bust panels, multi-seamed bodice, and angular waist panels appear tightly corseted, although there is only an invisible zip and hook-and-eye fastening on the side. While a ready-to-wear designer who had branded his own collections since 1973, Mugler was one of the few to go on to launch his namesake couture brand, which he debuted in Paris in the 1990s under the auspices of the French Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Since his theatrical fashion shows quickly increased the audience for couture, Mugler became the first designer to receive an invitation to show regularly on the haute-couture calendar. From the turn-of-the-century to his death (1948-2022), Mugler shifted his creativity from producing clothing collections for empowered women to designing theatrical one-offs for celebrities and performers from Elizabeth Taylor to Lady Gaga, along with developing additional perfumes since his 1992 trailblazing best-seller Angel. Recently, the multidisciplinary designer's first retrospective, "Thierry Mugler: Couturissime", was exhibited at NYC's Brooklyn Museum, which had been initiated, produced and circulated by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with Maison Mugler.
  • Designer:
  • Brand:
  • Dimensions:
    Marked Size: FR40 (EU)
  • Style:
    power dressing (In the Style Of)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Material Notes:
    Topstitching of 9 horizontal rows on each angled panel structures the bust and waist into a corset shape, while shoulders are widely extended by horizontal cap sleeves without pads.
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. A shoulder measurement is irrelevant as there is no arm-seam restriction due to the horizontally extending cap sleeves, while the dress will flatter a trim waist for those accustom to sizes FR38-40, US6-8, or IT42-44.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3244218117992
More From This SellerView All
  • S/S1999 Galliano ChristianDiorBoutiqueParis CoutureSilkWoolCrepe HipAccentDress
    By John Galliano, Christian Dior Haute Couture
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Acquired from the French flagship Christian Dior Boutique in Paris when John Galliano was its artistic director of both haute couture and ready-to-wear, he designed this hip-accentua...
    Category

    1990s French Sheath Dresses

  • Antique NativeAmerican LeatherBraidedSeamsStrapsNeckline Sleeveless Hide Dress
    Located in Chicago, IL
    This antique Native American brown chamois suede leather sleeveless chemise dress, which was handmade during the "reservation era" between 1870-1930, is made from two soft supple ani...
    Category

    Early 20th Century American Chemises

  • StellaMcCartney 2003 SilkSatin Print OffShoulder Disco MiniDress or BomberJacket
    By Stella McCartney
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Arguable the most significant design in the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2003 collection since it debuted in several colors on the runway and was worn by the British designer to take her fashion-show bow, this pink-printed dark-grey silk-blend zip-front mini-dress with white satin stripes and pink piping was a favorite of the Vogue critic and her father Beatles co-founder Paul McCarthy. Vogue wrote: "Her hippest new idea came in the form of puffy satin bombers--she transformed one, a fusion of sport and chinoiserie print, into an off-the-shoulder bubble dress. McCartney is so into the glam-bomber idea, in fact, that she bounded onto the runway wearing a black version herself." The garment's voluminous batwing sleeves and stretch-cotton ribbed neckline and hem, plus custom golden-charm two-way zipper, enable it to have two different necklines and lengths to convert to a shorter puffier bomber jacket. Notably, the versatile piece that is subtly printed with mock-Beatles lyrics seems to have been the first tribute fashion-design that McCartney created to reference her father. Prior, she had credited her stylish mother Linda for instilling her with a love of fashion and inspiration for her initial namesake collections, which followed her first commercial collections with Phoebe Philo for Chloe. For background, when McCartney was a young girl in 1978, the mock-rock band The Rutles parodied a Beatles song, which was recorded by EMI as "Ging, Gang, Goolie". Given its lyrics, the chinoiserie-style dragon motifs were substituted by McCartney with bird skeletons...
    Category

    Early 2000s British Mini Dress

  • 1950s LingerieLike Ruched CrepeSilk & SemiTransparentOrganzaNetSkirt MiniDress
    Located in Chicago, IL
    This unusual mid-century lingerie-style black semi-transparent mini dress that conjures a historic pinup-girl like Bettie Page is suitable as a cocktail dress as part of an evening ensemble. It was probably meant by its New York designer to be paired with slim cropped pants, which became popular in The States after worn by Hollywood-movie actresses Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. The A-line dress was most likely made by the former ready-to-wear fashion company following the revolutionary debut by French Christian Dior of his couture cinched-waist-voluminous-skirt "New Look" collection, whereafter German Sonja de Lennart introduced "Capris" in 1949, and American Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine in 1953. The complex hourglass-shaped garment features a double v-neck four-seamed ruched lined bodice in a crepe silky woven fabric. Its defined gathered bust extends from the chest seams at two angles to form short dolman sleeves only in the front, while there are arm seams in back. The gathered see-through black faux-lace organza flared skirt reveals a black velvet-textured scalloped floral pattern with a net underlayer. With beige lining, the self-trim band at the waist enables the folded scalloped-lace pattern to continue to stand out on the opaque black torso. The edges of the peplum and sleeves are further cut in a scallop shape to resemble more delicate eyelash-lace trim. The brand label of the obsolete line is the only interior tag that remains. Camouflaging the midsection, the flattering dress will best suit a U.S.-size 6. It can also be worn by larger sizes with a relatively slim waist and small or large bust as there is no restriction at the hips or wide armholes. At the waistline, a hook and looped cord fasten over the bypass zipper to better conceal it. Notably, the steel-tab-and-teeth zipper is an original U.S-made Murlen model, which was used in new clothes from the 1940s to 1960s and helps to date the mid-century dress.
    Category

    1950s American Mini Dress

  • CommeDesGarcons 1999 RunwayLook12 BiasCut TranslucentSatin SalmonPink MaxiDress
    By Rei Kawakubo Comme Des Garcons, Comme des Garçons
    Located in Chicago, IL
    In an atypical Japanese-dye color for Rei Kawakubo, in 1999 she designed this translucent salmon-pink bias-cut satin sleeveless maxi dress evening gown for her brand Comme des Garcons, which debuted on a model walking the Paris runway that Fall as "Look 12" among the Vogue photo-coverage of her Spring/Summer 2000 collection. The unusual V-neck shape creates a central drape in the front of the unlined dress that prevents the synthetic semi-transparent fabric from clinging to the torso, while still enabling the lower part to swoosh while walking. With the exception of the brand tag, all others were removed by the sole owner to eliminate bulk and visibility through the dress. If the buyer would prefer, the fabric can be made shinier and completely smooth with professional pressing. Please notice that In a couple of our photos the white drapery next to or below the dress was converted by 1stDibs auto-editing to appear like trailing elements. Also, as we used a backless mannequin, the rear side of the dress at the top is draping inward--not outward--in our photo. We have other items from this same Spring/Summer 2000 collection if the buyer may want to layer pieces for a look similar to the fashion show. This is such a beautiful minimal dress...
    Category

    Early 2000s Japanese Evening Gowns

  • AlexanderMcQueen 2002 "Supercalifragilistic" Wool SilkChiffon Black Evening Gown
    By Alexander McQueen
    Located in Chicago, IL
    British Alexander McQueen designed this curvaceous uniquely-draped black evening gown for his "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" collection for Autumn/Winter 2002-2003, which set a ready-to-wear $37,500 auction record in 2020 for its complimentary "parachute" silk coat, while a 1stDibs listing in only "good condition" for a later similar raw-edge-finished silk chiffon red midi dress for Spring/Summer 2003 sold for $10,144. In very good condition, the intricate ruched semi-transparent silk chiffon and sleek lined wool hourglass below-the-knee dress is tagged size "38" as a French size (US4-6)--not an Italian size although other tags note "Made In Italy". Like the 2020-auctioned coat from Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, the gown is also among the few that encapsulate this collection according to Alexander McQueen, who was quoted by magazine Numero: "This collection was inspired by Tim Burton. It started out dark and then got more romantic as it went along." This is why The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute showcased a runway ensemble including the romantic black coat in its Alexander McQueen retrospective, "Savage Beauty", a year after the designer died...
    Category

    Early 2000s British Evening Dresses and Gowns

You May Also Like
  • F/W 1994 Chanel Black & White Faux Fur Mini Dress by Karl Lagerfeld
    By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
    Located in Concord, NC
    Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld black and white faux fur mini dress from the Fall Winter 1994 collection and as seen on the runway on Naomi Campbell. Ultra rare faux fur dress from the F/W...
    Category

    1990s European Day Dresses

  • Dolce & Gabbana Red Satin Silk Embellished Draped Strapless Dress M
    By Dolce & Gabbana
    Located in London, GB
    A beautiful red silk midi sleeveless dress from Dolce & Gabbana presenting a boned corset top for extra support and an embellished waistband. This dress has been made in Italy and is...
    Category

    2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses

  • Jean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Golden Eagle Hawk Kendall Jenner Skirt Top Set
    By Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil, Jean Paul Gaultier
    Located in PARIS, FR
    Jean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Vintage Japanese Golden Eagle Koi Fish Kendall Jenner Wave Yellow Mesh Sheer Transparent Wrap T-shirt Skirt Top Dress Golden Japanese Eagle...
    Category

    1990s Maxi Dresses

  • Lanvin long velvet dress 60s/70s
    By Lanvin Paris
    Located in Rubiera, RE
    LANVIN 22. Faubourg St. Honoré _ PARIS 60s/70s Long printed velvet dress with large shocking pink and ruby red roses on a brown and gray background Round ne...
    Category

    1970s French Evening Dresses and Gowns

  • Chanel champagne sequins dress F/W 2001 FR 40
    By Chanel
    Located in Rubiera, RE
    CHANEL dress F/W 2001 collection A-line dress in beige melange tweed and champagne sequins; on the front martingale belt with logo buttons; short sleeve; zip on the back. Size Fr 40...
    Category

    Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns

  • Albert Nipon Silk Pencil Dress with Multicolour Dots 1980s
    By Albert Nipon
    Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
    ITEM DESCRIPTION Vintage silk pencil dress with multicolour dots by Albert Nipon from the 1980s. Features an above knee length, round neckline and button details on the sleeves. It i...
    Category

    1980s Hong Kong Shift Cocktail Dresses

Recently Viewed

View All