Mugler SS21 Part 02: Fashion Show or Video Phenomena?
This past week, we got another installment of Casey Cadwallader’s revival of the House of Mugler. The designer gave us what could only be described as the second half of his SS21 collection, which originally debuted earlier this year. This time, Cadwallader presented the collection in video format, co-directed by himself. The video was seven minutes worth of high fashion and managed to deliver several notable moments.
The collection itself was a continuation of the new look that Cadwallader is bringing to the already iconic house: skin-tight catsuits with cutouts that don’t leave much to the imagination, sharp blazers with geometric cuts, lots of lycra, and an occasional bare-body moment. Cadwallader has perfected a sensual dance with both the house codes that make Mugler legendary and his own creative influences.
“It’s important to do the jaw-dropping scandalous stuff; that’s what this house is built on. But it’s also about trying to address an interesting day-to-day wardrobe too,” Cadwallader said when talking to Vogue about the collection. “A lot of young people want to buy Mugler now,” he continued, explaining that for him it's been very important to give the audience what they’re looking for when they think of Mugler. But also combining elements that make the collections wearable, such as sportswear and denim.
Bella Hadid wore a look that was composed of a super-stretchy mesh top that sculpts and smooths the body and conveniently disappears into a pair of graphic, body-shaping jeans. Cadwallader told Vogue that “the idea of shape-wear is built into these garments; there is a lot of attention on fabric technology.”
The video was just as breathtaking as the collection as well. Fully stacked with visual effects such as slow-motion shots and scenes that seemed to be moving in reverse, the collection was presented marvelously. There were elements included that gave the audience an almost behind-the-scenes look at a Mugler runway show.
There were plenty of production crew members throughout the video and models could be seen getting final touches on hair, makeup, and looks, right before they strutted down the runway, which was star-studded with some of the biggest names in entertainment right now. Bella Hadid, Irina Shayk, Alek Wek, and Sooj Mooj, just to mention a few, all walked as fiercely as possible.
Possibly the biggest moments from the video were courtesy of trans representation. Mugler debuted the video on Instagram on March 31st, which is International Transgender Day of Visibility. Cadwallader, most likely having this in mind, cast both Dominique Jackson and Hunter Schafer to walk in the show.
Dominique Jackson is both a transgender force to be reckoned with and a community veteran. Her latest work gave us Elektra Abundance on FX’s hit show, Pose, which champions the LGBTQIA+ community as well as Ballroom culture in the ’80s.
Hunter Schafer, a transgender actress and model, took the world by storm as Jules Vaughn in HBO’s Euphoria. Although trans visibility is a growing norm in the fashion industry, Mugler championed both of these women, not specifically for being transgender, but also because the beauty, strength, and overall fire that they embody is very representative of the Mugler brand.
Jackson took to social media to share her experience with working with the brand and Cadwallader saying, “Mugler made me feel like I was a part of something. They highlighted me not only because I’m trans. They highlighted my work. They highlighted me as a human being, an individual, as a person that can kill a catwalk.” Both women walked two separate looks each, and Schafer was also showered in a waterfall during the video.
With another conversation-inducing collection and a video to match, Cadwallader is definitely making waves in the fashion industry. His fresh take on such a solidified brand as Mugler leaves us wanting more every time. Watch the entire video for Mugler SS21 Part 02 down below.