The power-suit
A two-piece by Mugler epitomises the revival of the tailored suit in the 1980s as a new form of female empowerment. Women were no longer just part of the workforce, but also began to occupy executive positions in companies, giving rise to ‘Power Dressing’ that integrated masculine shoulder pads, more colours, and bolder silhouettes and cuts.
A curious fact about Thierry Mugler is that, in addition to being an iconic fashion designer, he also directed and produced theatrical shows and music videos. In 1992, he directed the music video for George Michael’s ‘Too Funky’, where he once again showed his love of extravagance and theatricality with models dressed in his iconic futuristic and structured designs.
Thierry Mugler (1948-2022) was a French fashion designer known for his theatrical and avant-garde approach to haute couture. He began his design career in the late 1960s and, in 1973, founded his own fashion house. His style was characterised by structured silhouettes, architectural lines and a bold use of unconventional materials. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mugler revolutionised fashion with his futuristic and powerful aesthetic, defining a vision of the woman as a strong and dominant figure, with garments with angular cuts, exaggerated shoulders and corsetry that evoked a modern sensuality.
