Mugler’s Muses www.mbam.qc.ca/en
Few fashion designers have shaken the status quo in the way Thierry Mugler has. During his runway reign in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, the French couturier created a much-needed seismic shift in style. His sartorial mission was to dispense with overdone opulence and, instead, prioritize art and innovation. To celebrate his work, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is presenting Thierry Mugler: Couturissime, an exhibition of 150 of his outfits, many of which reveal his ambitions. Reflecting on his favored materials, which are prominently featured at the MMFA until September 8, Mugler feels his unconventional preferences are what sets him apart: “Aside from incredible human beings and nature, fake fur, latex, rubber, vinyl, metal and plexiglass are my main muses.” A far cry from his shoulder pad-obsessed, grunge-manic and gown-beguiled contemporaries, Mugler’s sleek, hyper-modern clothing aims to avoid defining an era—or being defined by one. “I am proud to say that I never created anything for a quote unquote market or to be in any zeitgeist,” Mugler insists. “I create for people, real women or men. I propose to them an everyday mise en scène, a show, a picture or a fragrance that will make their lives hopefully a bit lighter.” For notable fans such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and the late George Michael (whose video, “Too Funky,” famously featured Mugler’s collections on a bevy of supermodels), Mugler’s designs were catalysts for their very public career highs. Looking back at the breadth of his output, which has influenced a new decade of fashion (most recently with Grammy Award-winner Cardi B), Mugler is proud of the impact his garments have made. “Creating an aesthetic that challenges the norm is, above all things, a true accomplishment.”
Pop Goes the World It takes about 20 years to create a bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée (including at least seven in the dimly lit cellars of Reims). Every year, for more than 167 years, the famous Champagne house has created its prestige bottle from scratch. Distinguished by its deep golden color and elegant bubbles, the Grande Cuvée is the result of a unique process of blending at least 150 reserve wines, each harvested from a single plot of land, across numerous vineyards and spanning at least 12 vintages. This assemblage fulfills the dream of founder Joseph Krug to create the fullest expression of Champagne in any given year (regardless of climate variations). In a glass, you might taste notes of toasted bread, hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar and jellied fruits—an orchestra of flavors to delight the palate. It’s no wonder then that the house now also works with musicians to create dedicated playlists for each of its new bottles (accessible through the Krug ID code on the back label), believing that music can change the way your brain appreciates the taste. 16
EXPERIENCE
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS • KRUG
www.krug.com