Spring/Summer 1985

Ahead of his time, Manfred gave off Cleopatra vibes with this metallic colour palette and sharp silhouette.

Spring/Summer 1986

Combining goddess with space will give you a Thierry Mugler creation.

Fall 1990 Couture

Rocked by supermodel Cindy Crawford, this black embellished bodysuit is a great glimpse into Mugler’s designs. Futuristic, feminine and fierce.

Spring/Summer 1992

This is a look for the history books. Showcased in 1992 as part of Mugler’s Western collection, this bejewelled cowboy look is an iconic moment for Manfred’s career.

George Michael ‘Too Funky’ Music Video 1992

Manfred worked with a whole host of musical icons during his career, including the late George Michael. This video is filled with supermodels and inventive designs, but, the look that caught everyone’s eyes is Emma Sjoberg’s vibrant western outfit.

Demi Moore Indecent Proposal dress 1993

This dress got everyone talking back in the 90s, with the futuristic cut out detailing accentuating the already steamy nature of this film. The design has since inspired dresses worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian.

1995 Couture

This show was a career defining moment for Manfred, as he celebrated the 20 year anniversary of his brand. He enlisted the help of a diverse group of supermodels to rock his designs, including the venus dress which was then picked up again in 2019 by Cardi B.

After parting ways with the brand ‘Thierry Mugler’ in 2003, Manfred made his comeback with none other than Beyonce in 2009. From here, he started creating designs for other musicians and stage productions.

Beyonce Sweet Dreams video 2009

Beyoncé first collaborated with Manfred for her ‘Sweet Dreams’ music video, in which she wore a corset originally showcased in Fall 1995.

Beyoncé I Am Sasha Fierce World Tour

Manfred also went on to create the costumes for Beyoncé’s 2009-2010 world tour, designing some of the outfits she has become most well known for.

Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2019

Love it or hate it, this look caught everyone’s eye back in 2019. Speaking on the look, Kim said

“He envisioned me as this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping.” 

Cardi B At The 2019 Grammys

Showing her love to Manfred, Cardi wore three of his past designs during her Grammy appearance back in 2019. This included the iconic Venus dress from Mugler’s 1995 archive.

Thierry Mugler, Couturissme

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collaborated with Mugler in 2021 to initiate an exhibition which restored Manfred’s heritage couture and ready-to-wear pieces. The opening night was attended by guests such as Cardi B, Irina Shayk and Manfred himself.

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Gerasim Kutsarov}

The post Exploring Thierry Mugler’s Everlasting Impact On Fashion appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Voir shares some of our favourite looks and quotes from the legend himself.

“So far, it’s been a bleak streak over here in America! You know what? It’s a famine of beauty. The famine of beauty, honey! My eyes are starving for beauty!” – September Issue 2009

“I used to shellac my Vuitton bags on the weekends for fun.”

“If you come to my house and sit in the wrong position on my sofa, I will tell you to get off. I’ve had people who end up sitting on the floor because they sat down in my chairs the wrong way.”

“I once was a park ranger at Fort Washington. I loved the outfit.”

Although André was well-loved for his abundance of sass, it’s important to note that he strived for greatness in everything he did, paving the way for many creatives who didn’t think their dreams would have been possible. Through championing diversity in the industry, he made a great deal of change and we will forever be grateful to him.

“The greatest luxury is to be a kind, good person and to impart to humanity something that will enrich their lives, to have a moment with someone that you’ve imparted richness.”

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: André Leon Talley Instagram}

The post André Leon Talley’s Lifetime of Iconic Quotes appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The show had a magical touch from its opening, as Virgil’s voice was heard speaking on the subject of adults having the ability to return to “childhood wonderment” when allowing their imagination to be set free. This speech was matched with a hot air balloon ascending into the air, perhaps as a symbol of Virgil’s high achievements and the positive mark he left on the world. 

At the forefront of the show was the impeccable designs Abloh created, a vocation he dedicated his life to perfecting and delivering. Many designs were the creations we previously saw in June at LV’s Paris Fashion show, however, this didn’t take away from the star-quality and individualism of the designs, that only Virgil could have pulled off. 

Back in June, Virgil spoke about his collection saying;

“I’ve started to let my imagination run wild. I try to create the world as I would like to see it in real life. Having something that’s pop culture and fashion, that’s an education and maybe opens minds. To me, that’s the North Star.”

The show had a huge turnout, with friends and supporters amongst the crowd such as Pharrel Williams, Rihanna, ASAP Rocky, Kim Kardashian and Virgil’s lifelong friend and collaborator Kanye West. 

Louis Vuitton’s CEO Michael Burke was also in attendance, delivering a poignant heartfelt speech moments before the models took to the runway. 

“The deeply moving show we are about to see is born out of an idea Virgil and I first discussed three years ago. It is based around the traditional coming of age narrative, but of course, being Virgil, he spun and recontextualized the concept for the 21st century, and in doing so expressed his own unique talents and vision. This idea of coming of age was important to Virgil because inspiring and empowering younger generations defined who he was. He used the platform he had to break boundaries, to open doors, to shed light on his creative passions, art, design, music, and of course, fashion, so that everybody could see inside—not only to dream of being part of that world, but to also find ways to make that dream a reality.”

Speaking in June, Abloh said that he wanted “to keep diversity at the forefront of how I think about what fashion is today.” There is no doubting the fact that he achieved this goal, with his final showcase offering styles that represented and expressed different cultures and walks of life. Virgil’s legacy cannot be erased, having touched so many of us with his remarkable talent, and in turn, empowering a generation to make their dreams a reality.

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Jerry Lorenzo Instagram}

The post Virgil Was Here – Louis Vuitton Showcases Virgil Abloh’s Final Collection appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Rise to success 

After graduating from university in 2009, Abloh started making serious moves on his fashion journey when he interned at Fendi in Rome with Kanye West. Later that year, in a now well-circulated photo, Kanye and Virgil appeared at Paris Fashion Week. They caught the attention of many, creating excitement on what was next to come.

By 2010, Abloh was appointed creative director of ‘Donda’ (Kanye’s creative agency). Keeping relationships tight, Abloh also went on to art direct for Jay-Z and Kanye’s album ‘Watch The Throne’ in 2011, which earned him a Grammy nomination. 

Pyrex Vision 

Abloh’s first brand titled ‘Pyrex Vision’ was launched in 2012 as an artistic experiment centred around the importance of youth culture. The endeavour saw Virgil purchase deadstock Ralph Lauren flannel shirts for around $40, and screen print designs consisting of ‘Pyrex’ and the number ‘23’ to pay homage to his childhood hero Michael Jordan. The newly-designed shirts were sold from prices of $550 upwards. 

Off-White

After shutting Pyrex Vision, Abloh founded Off-White. The brand was based in Milan, Italy and saw Abloh combine luxury with streetwear to devise a company that acts as “the grey area between black and white as the colour Off-White” in Abloh’s own words. By 2014, the company’s womenswear line was launched, with collections showcased on the runways of Paris Fashion Week. The brand’s popularity continued to grow, equating to Off-White surpassing Gucci as the hottest brand in the world in 2018. 

Louis Vuitton 

On March 25th 2018, Virgil was appointed artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear line. This made him the first person of African descent to lead the brand’s menswear line, and he was one of the first black designers in the integral french fashion designer brands.  

Speaking on his position at Louis Vuitton, Abloh said;

“It is an honour for me to accept this position. I find the heritage and creative integrity of the house are key inspirations and will look to reference them both while drawing parallels to modern times.”

Abloh’s first Louis Vuitton show saw him merge his love for music with high fashion, as artists such as Kid Cudi and Playboi Carti walked the runway for the Spring 2019 menswear collection. 

Abloh’s position at Louis Vuitton marked a new chapter for fashion, as his artistic vision took the brand in a new exciting direction, subsequently inspiring other brands to be more diverse and take the same route. 

This year, Abloh presented LVHM’s Fall/Winter 2021 Menswear Collection entitled ‘Tourist vs Purist’ that took the internet by storm. A true reflection of his visions, Abloh’s collection mirrored craftsmanship synchronised with functionality, centred around performance and spoken word evoking Black consciousness.

Ikea Collaboration

Virgil put his architecture skills to use when he collaborated with IKEA in 2019 to create the ‘MARKERAD’ limited collection. The collaboration resulted in everyday items being rejuvenated into striking new styles, adding art to anonymous objects. 

Met Gala 2021

The Designer even caught everyone’s attention at the Met Gala 2021 with his otherworldly head accessory along with an asymmetric warp around his Off-White flared trouser. His suit with ‘Modernism’ written on it stole the moment encapsulating his beliefs.

Virgil Abloh believed in accelerating change by disputing the fashion industry through unconventional approaches. His long enduring battle with cancer echoed in privacy but the dedication to his craft went unwavered. He sent waves across the industry as he spread his creativity and passion across both the labels, collaborations, and runways.

Tributes 

It feels only right to end this article with some touching tributes to Virgil, honouring his everlasting legacy. 

Rest in Power and Peace, Virgil!

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Kendall Jenner Instagram}

The post Voir Honours The Legacy Of Virgil Abloh appeared first on Voir Fashion.