Bob Mackie, designer behind Cher’s most iconic looks, dies aged 87
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Bob Mackie attends the 27th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards at The Ebell of Los Angeles on February 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/B (Getty Images)
Bob Mackie, the Hollywood fashion and costume designer known for maximalist showbiz looks, has died aged 87.
A statement shared on Instagram said: “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.”
Across a 65-year career, Mackie became synonymous with bold, sequins-forward spectacle, dressing some of the most recognisable entertainers in the world. He was best known for collaborations with Cher, Diana Ross and Elton John, stars who embraced his unapologetically theatrical approach to performance dressing.
Mackie’s work also spanned film and television. He worked on the entire 11-season run of The Carol Burnett Show and earned three Oscar nominations for Best Costume Design.
Maximalist showbiz glamour
Mackie’s costumes helped define a particular kind of camera-ready glamour: big silhouettes, high shine, and show-stopping detail designed to read from the back row. The look became a visual shorthand for old-school variety television and arena-scale pop performance, where fashion is part of the act.
In the same statement, Mackie’s team added: “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”
His influence on stars today
Mackie’s archive has continued to resonate with modern celebrity styling. In recent years, his work has been worn by Zendaya and Taylor Swift, including Swift wearing archival Mackie in promotional art for The Life of a Showgirl.
An American designer celebrated for flamboyant, rhinestone-heavy stage and screen costumes, Mackie became a byword for “Bob Mackie” spectacle in fashion and entertainment. His decades-long work with Cher produced some of her most famous TV, tour and red-carpet looks, and his designs are frequently referenced in drag and pop performance styling. He also won multiple Emmy Awards for costume design.
