Legendary American fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie, whose glittering, boundary-pushing creations dressed some of the biggest names in entertainment from Cher to Elton John, has passed away at the age of 87.
The official confirmation of his death came via a statement posted to his Instagram account on Monday, which read: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr Bob Mackie passed away today. 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.”
Widely nicknamed the “Sultan of Sequins” for his signature love of sparkling, embellished designs, Mackie carved out an unparalleled career spanning more than six decades, earning a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards, and three Academy Award nominations for his work across stage and screen. Even in his final years, he remained active in the industry: last year, Sabrina Carpenter wore one of his custom designs to the MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2024, Miley Cyrus stepped out in a Mackie creation for her Grammy Awards performance, where she took home the award for Record of the Year for her hit single *Flowers*.
One of Mackie’s most iconic contributions to fashion history came from his decades-long collaboration with superstar Cher, which reshaped public perceptions of bold fashion on red carpets and television. His most famous work for the singer remains the groundbreaking Mohawk-inspired ensemble Cher wore to the 1986 Academy Awards, a piece widely known as her “revenge outfit”. Cher had been widely expected to earn an Oscar nomination for her leading role in *Mask* that year, but was snubbed by voters. In the 2024 documentary *Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion*, Cher explained that the striking look was intentional: “I didn’t get nominated for a movie that everyone thought I would actually win for [Mask] – so was dressing that night for a kind of revenge.”
The showgirl-inspired costume featured a towering plumed Mohawk headdress and left the star’s midriff completely exposed, a choice that shocked audiences and critics alike in the 1980s. The look has since been cemented in pop culture and fashion history as one of the most daring, extravagant red carpet designs of all time. In a 2010 interview with the BBC, Mackie reflected on his early work with Cher, noting that she stood out from every other performer in the industry at the time: “Everybody just went crazy over this woman as she could wear anything.” Mackie’s designs also helped Cher make television history, when she became the first woman to show her belly button on U.S. broadcast television.
Beyond his work with Cher, Mackie created some of the most recognizable stage costumes for music’s biggest stars. One of his most famous creations is the bedazzled Los Angeles Dodgers uniform Elton John wore for his historic 1975 performances at Dodger Stadium, a look that remains one of the singer’s most iconic. Following news of Mackie’s death, Elton John paid tribute to the designer in an Instagram post, 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.”
Pop singer Pink, who wore multiple Mackie designs throughout her career including the entire wardrobe for her 2009 Funhouse tour, also shared a heartfelt tribute. “I was so lucky to be dressed by him for so long. He was loving, wickedly funny and an absolute genius,” she wrote, adding a playful, fitting tribute: “There are going to be some fabulously dressed angels.”
Born Robert Gordon Mackie in Monterey Park, California in 1939, Mackie got his start in the industry as a sketch artist for prominent French-American costume designer Jean Louis. One of his earliest career assignments saw him sketch the iconic sheer nude dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang her legendary rendition of *Happy Birthday, Mr. President* to John F. Kennedy in 1962.
In his personal life, Mackie married Hollywood singer and actress Lulu Porter in 1960, and the pair welcomed a son, Robin, before divorcing three years later. Robin passed away from an AIDS-related illness in his early 30s. From 1963 until his partner Ray Aghayan’s death in 2011, Mackie shared his life and work with Iranian fashion designer Aghayan. In a 2018 interview with *The Guardian*, the designer, then 79, joked that he was the oldest active working designer in Hollywood. When asked if he ever planned to retire, he gave a simple, firm answer: “I hope not.”