Legendary costume designer Bob Mackie dies aged 87

Bob Mackie, the renowned fashion designer widely known as the "Sultan of Sequins," has passed away at the age of 87. Mackie, whose dazzling costumes catered to iconic stars such as Cher, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Elton John, has left an indelible mark on Hollywood's fashion scene. A statement on his Instagram account shared news of his passing with a heavy heart, highlighting Mackie's fulfillment of his life-long dream to become a fashion and costume designer.

Mackie's influence was particularly notable in Cher's career; he designed her famous Mohawk outfit, worn during the 1986 Oscars, which he dubbed her "revenge" outfit. Cher explained in a 2024 documentary, "Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion," that she created the outrageous design as retaliation for not receiving an award for the film Mask.

Mackie's creative genius extended to Elton John's costumes, including the bedazzled Dodgers baseball outfit he wore during performances at Dodger Stadium in 1975. Singer Pink expressed her gratitude for Mackie's designs throughout her career, stating that he was loving, wickedly funny, and undeniably talented. Mackie continued to design up until recent times, with Sabrina Carpenter wearing one of his creations at the MTV Video Music Awards and Miley Cyrus wearing one of his dresses during her 2024 Grammy Awards performance.

Mackie was born in Monterey Park, California, in 1939, and started his design career as a sketch artist for Jean Louis, a French-American costume designer.