Bob Mackie, the costume designer whose glittering, feathered creations defined the look of American show business for decades, died Monday at 87.
His death was announced on his official Instagram account. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the post read. “He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do.”
“His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world,” the statement concluded.
Mackie built his career designing for Mitzi Gaynor before landing the job that made his name: costume designer for “The Carol Burnett Show,” a role he held for all 11 seasons of the variety series.
He went on to dress Cher, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton and Tina Turner in the kind of sequined, feathered, beaded spectacle that became his signature. His most famous single creation may be the dramatic feathered gown Cher wore to the 1986 Academy Awards.
Mackie’s work earned him nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award for “The Cher Show” and three Academy Award nominations.
He once explained to People how Cher’s fashion choices reshaped the industry:
“Nobody was allowed to even design a halter dress until Cher started wearing them on Sonny & Cher [in the ’70s], and then all of a sudden they were in everybody’s collection. And then girls were showing way more skin than they should have, because Cher was showing more skin than she should have. But she looked good in it.”
Mackie’s influence didn’t fade with age. His archival gowns have found new life on younger stars, most notably Sabrina Carpenter, who wore a vintage silver-and-white Mackie gown — originally made for Madonna’s 1991 Academy Awards performance — to the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
Before his death, Mackie noted that a new generation of performers, including Carpenter, Miley Cyrus and Zendaya, had discovered a fresh appetite for his archival work.
