From Marilyn Monroe to Cher: The Story of Bob Mackie and Bold Dresses

- American fashion designer Bob Mackie passed away at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades, during which he was associated with the biggest stars of Hollywood, such as Cher, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, and Tina Turner, through designs that became part of their images on stage and screen. Throughout his career, Mackie's name became synonymous with the glamour of Hollywood and its shows, earning him titles like "The Sultan of Sequins," "The Rhinestone Raja," and "The Glitter Guru."

Mackie relied on jewelry, crystals, feathers, and fringes in his designs, using these elements to create theatrical looks that transcended traditional fashion and harmonized with the presence of the stars who wore these looks. However, the most significant milestone in his career was his collaboration with American artist Cher, with whom he worked for years, designing her television and stage appearances in a partnership that helped solidify the bold visual image she became known for.

Mackie drew significant attention when he designed Cher's look for the 1974 Met Gala, where she appeared in a sheer dress of his design, adorned with white feathers that covered her arms and legs. The look sparked widespread controversy at the time, but it also marked one of the moments that established Mackie's style, which blended fashion with performance, paving the way for a long career that made him one of the most prominent designers for stars.

However, the controversy surrounding Cher's look was not fleeting, as the designs of the "naked illusion," which employed sequins, feathers, and other elements that characterized his style, became one of his most notable design traits. Cher's relationship with Mackie remained strong over the decades, as she mentioned in an interview in 2024 that he was a very important person in her life and that he helped her create a different version of herself.

Mackie's transition to designing for stars was not separate from his early passion for the world of performance, where he managed to build a unique style that blurred the lines between fashion and theatrical costume design. For him, clothing was no longer just pieces to wear, but became part of the artist's identity and a tool that helped shape their image and turn them into icons. Starting with Marilyn Monroe and continuing with today's stars, Mackie left his mark in the world of performance.

During his time working under his mentor Jean Louis, he sketched the original design for the famous sequined dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962 during a celebration for President John F. Kennedy's birthday. Mackie's extravagant designs sometimes touched on comedy, especially during his time as a costume designer for "The Carol Burnett Show," where he was keen to keep the exaggeration within the bounds of visual wit.

Among his most notable designs is the "Window Curtain Dress" he created for Carol Burnett in a satirical scene from "Gone with the Wind," which became one of the show's most famous moments. Burnett estimated that Mackie designed about 17,000 costumes during the 11 years of the show.

She said: "There are fashion designers, but they cannot design performance costumes, and there are performance costume designers who do not design fashion. At another point, Mackie designed an outfit for British artist Elton John in the shape of the cartoon character "Donald Duck" at an event held in 1980 in Central Park, New York.

Mackie's influence extended to the new generation; American artists Sabrina Carpenter and Zendaya appeared in looks from his archive on the red carpet, while American artist Miley Cyrus wore a stage-appropriate embellished dress with crystal chains from his archive during her performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Mackie was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame and was nominated for three Academy Awards.

In 1999, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology held an exhibition of his works, before he later won a Tony Award for the musical "The Cher Show" and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He also collaborated with Mattel to design outfits for Barbie dolls, helping to change her traditional image by creating looks inspired by his most famous designs, moving away from the repetitive blonde Barbie model.

Fern Mallis, the former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and founder of New York Fashion Week, considered that Mackie contributed to shaping many of today's red carpet trends. She told Ofoq News in 2019: "He created naked dresses with strategically placed embellishments," adding that everyone working in red carpet fashion owes him a degree of gratitude.