One would assume that Bob Mackie had to have worked with latex a time or two. The amazing fashion designer and costumier, arguably best known for working with Cher and Carol Burnett, died yesterday at the age of 87.
Known by the monikers “Sultan of Sequins,” “Rajah of Rhinestones,” and the “Guru of Glitter,” Mackie became well-known, as much from the famous women who wore his designs and spoke so often of him, as from appearing often on broadcast television and talk shows about his designing. Born and raised in California, attending both Pasadena City College and Chouinard Art Institute, although not staying to earn a degree from either, Mackie began working as an assistant and sketch artist under famous costume designers at Paramount Studios, first Frank Thompson, then Ray Aghayan. While at that famous studio, legendary costumer Edith Head engaged Mackie to work on films.
Mackie famously said that Head didn’t actually teach him so much about designing as she did about actors, directors, and producers.
Mackie would go on to work as a sketch artist for haute couturier Jean Louis. As one of his first assignments for Louis, Mackie drew the original sketch of Marilyn Monroe’s infamous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” skintight gown that the actress wore at President John Kennedy’s birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden in 1962.
Mitzi Gaynor would hire Mackie for her Las Vegas stage show four years later; he’d come to make a famous “nude-illusion” design for her network special and work with the singer for the next half century. Diana Ross and the Temptations would become clients at the end of the decade for their television specials, and Mackie would design costumes for Vegas shows in the 70s. He also created Elton John’s infamous sequined Donald Duck L.A. Dodgers concert costume as well as dressed Elton as Mozart.
Arguably, though, it is Mackie’s work with Carol Burnett and Cher that made him a household name.
From the startling array of costume changes Cher would wear on both her T.V. show alongside her ex-husband, Sonny, to what she might change into, and sometimes during the same sketch, on her own show, Mackie dressed Cher all along the way. He was also responsible for Cher’s Academy Award-stopping black stretch pants, jeweled loincloth, knee-high boots, chain link top, and huge feathered headdress that she wore to the awards in 1986.
Mackie would also create costumes for Cher’s live tours and Las Vegas residencies.
Mackie created what was worn by cast members as well as the famous guest stars who appeared on the extremely popular The Carol Burnett Show of the 1970s. From character outfits for “Mrs. Wanda Wiggins” (Burnett as the hilarious bubble-booty secretary) to the evening gowns Burnett wore to what was arguably Mackie’s most innovative comic turn, creating the infamous “curtain dress” Burnett wore at the finale of her show’s parody of Gone with the Wind, “Went with the Wind” (see at beginning of this blog).
In the late 80s, Mattel contact Mackie to work on clothes for Barbie. The first limited-edition doll he designed sported a gold outfit, sequined skirt, feather boa, and ponytail. He’d continue to present many innovations to the toy line.
Boasting nine Primetime Emmy Awards, one Tony, and three Academy Award nominations, in 2023 Mackie was awarded with the first “Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award” by RuPaul, at the finale of her “Drag Race” show Season 15.
A documentary about his life, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, was released in 2024.
To say the likes of Bob Mackie won’t pass a sewing machine again would be the understatement of the age.
