Bob Mackie, the Sultan of Sequins Who Dressed Cher and Dolly, Leaves a Glittering Legacy at 87

Bob Mackie, the costume designer who turned red carpets into shimmering spectacles for Cher, Dolly Parton, and Tina Turner, has died at the age of 87. His passing marks the end of an era for a man whose needle and thread did more than clothe the stars; they gave them wings, fire, and a defiant kind of joy.

The news broke on his official Instagram page, where a statement 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.”

Mackie began his career in costume design in 1961, eventually collecting nine Emmy awards. But his true partnership began in 1967 when he met Cher on The Carol Burnett Show. That meeting sparked a collaboration that defined both their careers, from The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour to some of the most unforgettable looks in music history.

Cher paid tribute on X, writing:

“My dear Bob has gone up to heaven, knowing him he's bringing sequins, beads and his sketch pad. Good night sweet prince.”

Here, we reflect on nine of his most iconic designs, pieces that moved beyond fashion into the realm of cultural memory.

What were Bob Mackie's most famous designs?

From the 1970s to his final years, Mackie created looks that were never shy. They were loud, proud, and unapologetically glamorous. Here are the standouts.

1. Cher's flame dress

In 1978, Cher wore a bugle-beaded dress in fiery yellow and red that became a Mackie signature. Dubbed the 'flame dress', it was later worn by Tina Turner with a cape of bright orange feathers, and Beyonce performed in it at the 2005 Kennedy Center Honors.

2. Cher at the 1986 Oscars

Perhaps his most daring creation, this showgirl-inspired outfit featured a theatrical mohawk headdress, a low-slung skirt, and a crop top with jagged edges. It remains one of the boldest looks in Oscars history.

3. Dolly Parton's butterfly dress

Mackie and Parton worked together often. In 1979, she wore his winged, sequin-covered 'butterfly dress' for the TV special Dolly & Carol In Nashville, where she performed alongside Carol Burnett.

4. Anya Taylor-Joy in archival Mackie

In 2020, Taylor-Joy wore an archival Mackie dress to the LA premiere of Emma. The empire silhouette nodded to the Regency era, but the intricate beading was pure Mackie sparkle.

5. Zendaya's vibrant gown

Zendaya wore a teal, turquoise, and black patchwork Mackie gown to the 2022 Time 100 Gala. She returned to his archives in 2024 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, wearing a gold criss-cross cut-out gown as a tribute to Cher.

6. Sabrina Carpenter in Madonna's Mackie

At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Carpenter wore the same white strapless gown Madonna wore to the 1991 Oscars, styled with a diamond necklace and red lip.

7. Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' gown

Mackie designed this infamous nude-illusion dress when he was just 22. Covered in over 2,400 rhinestones, it caused a stir in 1962 and again in 2022 when Kim Kardashian wore it to the Met Gala. The dress was displayed at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland, in 2016.

8. Tina Turner's 'wings' bodysuit

Mackie designed a gold and silver bodysuit for Turner after her split from her abusive husband Ike. Martin Nolan of Julien's Auction told RTÉ that Turner said she felt like she was 'getting her wings back'.

9. Miley Cyrus at the Grammys

At the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, Cyrus wore a bejewelled disco-inspired mini dress with multicolour beads and shimmering fringe, a fitting look for her bold reinvention.

Why does Bob Mackie's work still matter?

Mackie's designs were more than clothes. They were statements of freedom, confidence, and transformation. For women like Cher and Turner, his costumes were armour and celebration rolled into one. In an era that often asks women to be smaller, Mackie gave them the opposite: he made them impossible to ignore.

His legacy lives on in every sequin that catches the light, every star who dares to be bold, and every young designer who picks up a sketch pad. Ireland, too, has felt his influence, with his work gracing the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge. Bob Mackie is gone, but the beauty he brought into this world remains.