For this season, creative director Casey Cadwallader takes us on a Hollywood-inspired trip through time and space featuring muses Chloë Sevigny, Megan Thee Stallion, Eartheater, and more
The new Mugler collection has just dropped in a jaw-dropping, instantly viral moment. Having the ‘breakneck speed of life’ at the core of its essence, Mugler Spring Summer 2022 engages the public in a cinematic adventure — the third one directed by Torso Solutions for the house — starring icons Chloë Sevigny, Bella Hadid, Eartheater, Amber Valletta, and Megan Thee Stallion to name a handful.
Launched on June 8, the new line is the emblem of pop-star fashion; a niche creative director Casey Cadwallader has learned to master having repeatedly dressed the likes of Dua Lipa, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus, and many more with his bespoke creations. Only last week, the American fashion designer appeared as the co-director of Megan Thee Stallion’s hypnotic new single videoclip, Plan B. Yesterday the head of Mugler returned with yet another mind-bending dose of content meant to take over our social media feeds.
Set against a slightly surreal rendition of America’s East and West Coast, Mugler Spring Summer 2022 Collection celebrates identity and self-expression “in a world of counterfeits and clones”. Having an all-star cast as its protagonists, the short film presents viewers with micro-narratives that transcend chronological time as doppelgangers and star-crossed lovers contend for screen time in a chaotic urban jungle.
Chloë Sevigny fearlessly makes her way through New York’s ersatz streets filmed by an exceptional camera crew composed of Shalom Harlow and Amber Valletta. Elsewhere, Bella Hadid turns the hood of a glossy limousine into her runway while Megan Thee Stallion is shown posing like a true goddess in a virtual billboard. In homage to the late Manfred Mugler, prima ballerina Maria Kochetkova and vogueing superstar Barbie Swaee engage in a graceful, contrasting sequence of dancing styles inspired by the fascinating duality of the house’s legacy.
In Mugler Spring Summer 22 Collection, Cadwallader relies on the performing skills of his muses to showcase the versatility of the Maison across shapewear silhouettes, denim, eveningwear, and tailoring, all worn by a diverse array of bodies. Sand-like, earthy tones meet monochromes and denim, embracing the models’ curves through optic effects that appear to reveal portions of skin. This game of transparencies is further accentuated by Mugler’s illusion tulle — a new house trademark — which completes bodysuits drawing sharp necklines and adding a touch of lightness to corset denim designs.
The past meets the future as Manfred Mugler’s archival pieces are referenced through loops and hooks used to suspend draped tops, trousers, and skirts throughout the collection. Playing with the concept of asymmetry, new dégradé ‘Hoochie’ dresses challenge the viewer with unexpected designs and colours while cutout bodies and corsets are embellished with lycra panels, structured busts, and gloved sleeves. Tailoring is reinvented with a focus on a hyperfeminine vision of womanhood: wool jackets are cut wide open to unveil the models’ décolleté as they march intrepidly on the severe pointed pumps and stiletto sandals from the latest Mugler shoe collection.
