Rare Thierry Mugler SS 1988 Été Africain dramatic Dress Black

Name: Rare Thierry Mugler SS 1988 Été Africain dramatic Dress Black
Brand: Thierry Mugler
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

$5,317.29

£3,928.55

€5,670VAT Included

CA$7,397.68

A$7,419.13

CHF 4,304.12

MX$90,577.87

NOK 49,853.83

SEK 51,022.04

DKK 34,314.59

About the Item

There is something almost ceremonial about this Thierry Mugler Spring/Summer 1988 Été Africain Collection dress - a piece that doesn’t merely clothe the body, but consecrates it. Cut in inky black, the silhouette is unmistakably Mugler: a razor-sharp hourglass that feels less tailored than engineered. The waist pulls inward with a precision that borders on anatomical obsession. It is the architecture of power, controlled, deliberate, and utterly hypnotic. But it is in the detailing that the dress begins to whisper its story. Shiny insets slice across the torso and hips like markings through a futuristic lens. They catch the light in flashes evoking the heat shimmer of a distant landscape. These accents guide the eye, contour the body, and create a sense of movement even in stillness. The neckline is subverted by the sensual curvature of the back and the subtle slit that releases the figure into motion. It is this tension, between discipline and desire, that defines Mugler at his most compelling. An iconic dress that feels both timeless and distinctly of its moment. A dress that doesn’t follow the body, but commands it. Thierry Mugler Made in France No size tag left measurements: length mid shoulder to hem ca.105cm underarm to underarm lying flat ca.47/48cm waist lying flat ca.38cm please note that any pictures of documentation like runway shows are meant to show the style of the collcetion and vibe and do not show the actual piece for sale.

Designer:
Thierry Mugler
Brand:
Thierry Mugler
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1980-1989
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. One of the buttons has some light wear, please see last image.
Seller Location:
Berlin, DE
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2727217585492

Shop All Thierry Mugler

Thierry Mugler

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.