Bob Mackie, the acclaimed American costume designer celebrated for his glittering creations for some of pop music’s most iconic stars, has died at the age of 87. The US fashion industry veteran, widely referred to as the ‘Sultan of Sequins,’ leaves behind a legacy marked by a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards, and three Academy Award nominations.
A statement posted to his Instagram account on Monday confirmed the news: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr Bob Mackie passed away today.’ The post highlighted that he had ‘lived his 87 years to the fullest,’ fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a fashion and costume designer. ‘His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world,’ the statement added.
Mackie’s name is inextricably linked to Cher, whose career he significantly shaped. He designed her legendary 1986 Oscars ensemble, a showgirl-inspired look featuring a plumed mohawk headdress and a bare midriff. The outfit became famous as her ‘revenge’ dress after she was snubbed for an Oscar nomination for her role in Mask. In the 2024 documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, Cher explained that she dressed for ‘a kind of revenge’ because expectations of a win were not met. Mackie himself noted in 2010 that when Cher began her career, she possessed a unique quality that allowed her to wear anything and capture everyone’s attention.
His influence extended beyond Cher. Mackie crafted several costumes for Sir Elton John, including the bedazzled Dodgers baseball outfit worn during the singer’s 1975 performances at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Sir Elton honored Mackie on Instagram, writing, ‘Every time I put something on that Bob made, I felt very, very special. His costumes were works of art, and he will go down as one of the most legendary designers ever in Hollywood.’
Other major artists who wore Mackie’s designs include Tina Turner, Pink, and Sabrina Carpenter. Pink, who wore numerous Mackie pieces during her 2009 Funhouse Tour, paid tribute on social media: ‘I was so lucky to be dressed by him for so long. He was loving, wickedly funny and an absolute genius. There are going to be some fabulously dressed angels.’
Mackie remained active in the industry well into the 2020s. Miley Cyrus wore one of his silver, glittering dresses during her performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where she won for her hit song ‘Flowers.’ Last year, Sabrina Carpenter donned a Mackie design while accepting an award at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Robert Gordon Mackie was born in Monterey Park, California, in 1939. He began his professional journey as a sketch artist for French-American costume designer Jean Louis. Among his early assignments was sketching the sheer dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ to John F. Kennedy in 1962.
In his personal life, Mackie married singer and actress Lulu Porter in 1960; the couple divorced three years later. They had a son, Robin, who died in his early thirties from an AIDS-related illness. From 1963 until his partner Ray Aghayan’s death in 2011, Mackie was in a relationship with the Iranian fashion designer. Despite his passing, Mackie had expressed a desire to continue working, telling The Guardian in 2018 that he hoped never to retire.
Leave a Reply