The Gist
Bob Mackie, the legendary designer, is dead. A statement shared to social media broke the news.
Mackie notably created designs for Cher, Miley Cyrus, and more.
He was 87 at the time of his death.
Bob Mackie, the designer whose glittering, extravagant creations helped define the look of some of the 20th century’s biggest stars, has died at 87. His death was announced Monday, September 14, in a statement shared on his social media accounts. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the post read of the designer, who was born on March 24, 1939, in Monterey Park, California. “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.”
For decades, Mackie disrupted the scene by being unapologetically bold. Before even launching his own ready-to-wear fashion line, Bob Mackie Originals, in 1982, he had already left his mark in the industry at the age of 22.
While working for costume designer Jean Louis in 1962, a young Mackie sketched the now-iconic gown Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade President John F. Kennedy at his birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden. Louis brought Mackie’s sketch to life, creating the flesh-toned, rhinestone-covered dress that Monroe wore for her famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” performance.
Perhaps more than anyone, the designer believed that clothes are supposed to steal the show. Known affectionately as the “Sultan of Sequins,” he went on to dress a remarkable roster of entertainers, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, and Madonna.
His work with Cher alone has become one of the most memorable partnerships. Mackie was the force behind her famous feathered headdress and barely-there ensemble for the 1986 Academy Awards. He also created the sheer, beaded gown she wore to the 1974 Met Gala, a look that helped establish the kind of unabashedly sexy red-carpet dressing that remains familiar today.
In addition to his work with the biggest stars, he also designed costumes for the entire 11-year run of The Carol Burnett Show, earned nine Emmy Awards and three Oscar nominations, and won a Tony for The Cher Show in 2019. His influence reached beyond Hollywood, too, through his ready-to-wear collections and collectible Barbie designs.
As for his personal life, Mackie was married to singer and actress LuLu Porter (born Marianne Wolfard) from 1960 to 1963. They welcomed a son, Robert Gordon Mackie Jr., in 1959, who tragically passed in 1993. Following Mackie’s divorce from Porter, he began seeing fellow costume designer Ray Aghayan; they remained life and professional partners until Aghayan passed away in 2011.
Mackie leaves behind more than a wardrobe of unforgettable looks. He helped establish the idea that fashion could be performance, personality, pure spectacle—and that idea that a little glitter ensures the life of the party never dies.
Read the original article on InStyle