Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 7 - A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness

27 | Lyric Opera of Chicago When Billy Corgan and Lyric Opera of Chicago first began to envision what A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness might look like, live onstage, it wasn’t just about the music: There was scenic and costume design to consider, too. They’d need an overall vision, of course, and garments to dress Billy and the four opera singers accompanying him. Their attire needed to reflect and respect the music, but also the occasion, the circumstance, and, of course, Billy himself. And so Billy turned to a regular creative collaborator, one who knows him and his music maybe better than he knows himself: his wife, Chloé Mendel Corgan, an esteemed couture designer in her own right. She began designing Billy’s Smashing Pumpkins tour looks in 2011, and they started dating the next year. Together, they run a North Shore tea shop and music venue, Madame ZuZu’s, and are raising three children in Highland Park. And, oh — with her father, Gilles Mendel, she designed the statement skirted tuxedo Billy wore to marry her at their home in 2023, an event that was covered in Vogue . They are, in short, partners in every sense. It’s under her fashion label, House of Gilles, which she runs with Gilles, that Chloé is producing the haute couture garments for this world premiere production. Their label is known for its fashion-forward bridal gowns and bespoke occasionwear; their pieces have been worn on red carpets by celebrities from Mariah Carey and Blue Ivy Carter to Nina Dobrev, Allison Janney, and Sydney Sweeney. For Mellon Collie , she and Gilles began with 100 different sketches of Billy to try and capture a vibe. There were a few obvious directions to choose from — To dress the lead artists for this world premiere, Chloé Mendel Corgan is bringing couture to the stage. UTE CK Photo by Andrew Cioffi by Elle Cashin To dress the lead artists for this world premiere, Chloé Mendel Corgan is bringing couture to the stage. UTE Photo by Andrew Cioffi by Elle Cashin