Miguel Castro Freitas made his much-anticipated debut for Mugler with the Spring/Summer 2026 collection Aphrodite Stardust, signalling a new chapter for the house. Taking the reins after Casey Cadwallader, Freitas approached Mugler with reverence for its legacy but also with a clear intent to redefine its codes.
The collection sought to reconcile Mugler’s iconic past with a modern sense of glamour. Where his predecessor leaned into viral spectacle and unabashed sex appeal, Freitas offered something more measured; still bold and theatrical, but sharper, sleeker, and ultimately more refined. This debut marked a careful recalibration of the house’s identity. Rather than chasing spectacle for its own sake, the collection focused on what has always made Mugler extraordinary: craftsmanship, tailoring, and the art of performance.
What stands out is Freitas’s instinct for knowing when to channel drama and when to pull it back. There were nods to Mugler’s fetishistic roots—latex, corsetry, even nipple rings—but these moments were interspersed with sophistication: high-neck dresses, tailored suits, and muted tones of black, beige, and camel, contrasted with flashes of colour and feathers in soft pastels. It was less about shock and more about using Mugler’s spectacle to serve a cohesive silhouette. The clothes carried Mugler’s DNA—as corsetry, sharp tailoring, and dramatic shoulders—but with a fresher, almost cinematic delivery. Sensuality remained central, though expressed differently: cut-outs and nude panels appeared purposeful rather than performative, a reminder that Mugler can seduce with quiet authority as powerfully as with shock.
With Aphrodite Stardust, Freitas established a new voice for Mugler. His debut makes clear that he is not chasing the brand’s past glories but building on them, crafting a future that is still bold but also glamorous and grounded. This was not just a change of creative direction; it was a recalibration, one that positions Mugler for an exciting new chapter
