Laverne Cox Stuns in Vintage Mugler Couture on NYC Streets
Emmy nominee shares prominent fashion history with iconic designer attire.
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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A few nights ago, the streets of New York City witnessed a rare fashion moment as Laverne Cox stepped out wearing a piece of fashion history – a design from Thierry Mugler’s Fall/Winter 1995 20th anniversary collection, “Le Cirque.” The Emmy-nominated actress shared images of herself in the archival piece on Instagram, giving followers a glimpse into both the beauty and challenges of wearing vintage couture.
“I’ve been obsessed with this look from Mr. Mugler’s f/w 1995 20th anniversary collection, Le Cirque for nearly 30 years,” Cox revealed in her caption. The images show Cox in a structured, architectural design characteristic of Mugler’s innovative approach to fashion. The outfit features dramatic angles and precise tailoring that showcase why Mugler’s work continues to be celebrated decades later.
In her post, Cox highlighted both the garment’s gorgeous fabric and the inevitable challenges that come with wearing a 30-year-old couture piece. “This fabric is gorgeous. But the moment one sits in the car, it wrinkles. Also, the fabric changes after 30 years of steaming,” she explained.
The actress’s appreciation for the craftsmanship remained evident despite these challenges. “But even through the wrinkles, one can see the mind-boggling construction, Mr. Mugler’s expert tailoring, his innovative yet timeless artist’s scalpel,” she wrote.
Cox noted that the same design was originally worn by supermodel Kate Moss on the runway, and even then showed some wrinkles – a reminder that fashion perfection often exists more in photographs than in real-world wearing.
The images capture Cox from multiple angles, showcasing the architectural elements of the design. What makes this fashion moment particularly special is Cox’s dedication to bringing museum-worthy pieces into everyday life. “It’s the interesting challenge of wanting to take delicate archival pieces off the mannequin and into the wild,” she reflected.
In addition to modeling the historic piece, Cox revealed she did her own hair and makeup for the occasion. “I’m never as good as the incredible professionals I work with. But I think I’m getting better. Right?” she asked her followers.
Broadway And Beyond
This fashion moment comes amid a busy time for Cox, who was recently spotted attending Broadway’s “The Great Gatsby” musical. Several posts from the production’s Instagram account show Cox visiting the cast backstage, with one caption reading, “The icon herself has stopped by!”
The production’s social media team shared photos of Cox with cast members, describing the atmosphere as absolutely electric. These appearances underscore Cox’s continued presence in New York’s cultural scene.
Balancing Advocacy And Art
Cox has long maintained a delicate balance between her artistic pursuits and advocacy work. In recent Instagram posts, she has shared content about democratic values, human rights, and social justice issues alongside her fashion and entertainment content.
In one particularly reflective post about balancing difficult news with moments of joy, Cox explained how fashion serves as both creative expression and mental health support during challenging times.
Recently, Cox also addressed the cancellation of her show “Clean Slate,” which won’t be returning for a second season. In a heartfelt post, she thanked fans for their support and called for her co-creator and co-star George Wallace to be recognized with an Emmy nomination.
Fashion As Artistic Expression
Cox’s appreciation for high fashion has been documented throughout her career. In another recent post, she shared a clip of herself in Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture from Fall/Winter 2012, describing fashion as “escapist fantasy” that provides balance to difficult realities.
As a trailblazing actress who became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy in an acting category for her role in “Orange Is the New Black,” Cox continues to use fashion as both personal expression and a form of visibility.
This latest Mugler moment reinforces her status not just as a performer and activist, but as someone who appreciates and preserves fashion history by bringing archival pieces “into the wild” – wrinkles and all.
Trivia
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