Together with the pioneering eyewear label Gentle Monster, Mugler has reached back into its storied archives and taken inspiration from an iconic fashion show: the Mugler 1997 ‘Les Insectes’ haute couture collection.
The pincers, wings, and hard-shelled bodies of insects were reinterpreted into spectacular gowns in the couture collection which, in some looks, were accentuated by unconventional pieces of insect-themed eyewear.
The bug-eye-shaped glasses from that collection have become pieces of fashion history, housed in museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Palais Galliera in Paris, and inspired Mugler’s new collaboration with Gentle Monster.
The eyewear capsule collection consists of two models titled Spiral 01 and Spiral 02 (both are offered in three colors, making this a six-piece drop).
The Spiral 01 takes inspiration from the glasses in the 1997 couture collection, featuring a similar oversized shape but with added spikes protruding from the frame.
The Spiral 01 is the more eccentric of the two sunglasses, a document released by both brands says that it “conveys an intense energy from its geometric design.” Meanwhile, the Spiral 02 has a sleeker, more sporty shape making it less of a head-turner.
The Mugler x Gentle Monster collection is set for release on July 18, arriving at select retailers including the Highsnobiety Shop retailing for $385 and $485 (the Spiral 01 is the more expensive of the two).
From its cutesy jelly collection to its sci-fi-inspired Maison Margiela collaboration (both of which sold out instantly), Gentle Monster’s outlandish sunglasses have made it a marketing machine. And this collaboration is one of its most striking yet.