‘I wanted to create the female version of a man’s suit’: how Roland Mouret’s Galaxy dress took over the world

Roland Mouret, the designer renowned for his influence on fashion and as a former mentor to Victoria Beckham, created the iconic Galaxy dress, a garment that became one of the most famous and copied dresses of this century. Launched in 1998 after his debut at London Fashion Week, Mouret's design was born from a pivotal realization about cost-effective garment production: that a longer seam doesn't increase production cost. This insight allowed him to extend a top into a full dress, creating a signature piece at an accessible price point, which significantly boosted his career and established his name in the fashion world. The dress gained widespread popularity in the 2000s, embraced by royalty and A-list celebrities, and more recently, has been adopted by Maga women. Mouret's goal was to create "the female version of a man's suit," emphasizing structure and power in women's wear, which the Galaxy dress achieved through its distinctive design and strategic use of a simple zip.