Lifestyle Mirror

The Moncler story began in 1952, when René Ramillon founded the company in a village in the French Alps, producing sleeping bags and tents designed for extreme weather. The brand’s first quilted jacket was introduced two years later and Moncler quickly became synonymous with winter sportswear—soon becoming the official supplier of the French national downhill skiing team during the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics and Alaskan wilderness expeditions. Over the years, Moncler’s duvet jacket has become a classic, managing to make a mark on contemporary fashion while staying true to the label’s roots. 

In 1999, Moncler presented its first runway collection but it wasn’t until Remo Ruffini acquired the brand in 2003 that it proved to be much more than ski jackets. He sparked collaborations with designers such as Nicolas Ghesquière, Junya Watanabe, Giambattista Valli, Thom Browne, and Pharrell Williams, all of whom injected the brand with urban appeal. 

While the iconic quilted jacket still remains a staple for Moncler, Ruffini continues to evolve the brand with theatrical runway shows for Moncler Gamme Rouge and Gamme Bleu in Paris and Milan. Bruce Weber also began shooting the brand’s ad campaigns, further branding Moncler as a fashion label.

Today, the Moncler’s reach extends across the globe with boutiques in Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, London, and New York. Resort destinations such as St. Moritz, Aspen, and Gstaad are also home to Moncler boutiques. Celebrity fans include everyone from Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Charlotte Casiraghi to Sarah Jessica Parker and Madonna. To commemorate 60 years, the brand hosted several celebratory parties, including one at next week’s Art Basel Miami Beach. Click through the slideshow to shop our favorite look.

As Moncler celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, we pay tribute to the brand with a selection of our favorites images from the last six decades. —Megan Hayes (@_mshayes)