Bob Mackie, the acclaimed costume designer known for his glittering ensembles for celebrities such as Cher, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton and Elton John, has died at the age of 87.
A US fashion designer celebrated as the “Sultan of Sequins” for his shimmering creations, he amassed a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards and earned three Oscar nominations throughout his prolific career.
A statement posted on his Instagram on Monday 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 was his sole ambition, the statement continued. “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”
Mackie’s collaboration with Cher was especially iconic; he created the famed Mohawk costume she wore to the 1986 Academy Awards, later dubbed her “revenge” look after she received no nomination that year.
The showgirl‑inspired ensemble featured a plumed mohawk headdress and exposed Cher’s midriff—a daring, groundbreaking look for its era.
It has since been enshrined in fashion history as one of the most outrageous and extravagant costumes ever seen at the Oscars.
Cher later explained in the 2024 documentary *Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion*, “I didn’t get nominated for a movie that everyone thought I would actually win for [Mask] – so I was dressing that night for a kind of revenge.”
In a 2010 interview with the BBC, Mackie said that when Cher began her career she “looked like no one else in the entertainment business at the time.”
He added, “Everybody just went crazy over this woman as she could wear anything.”
Cher is widely credited as the first woman to expose her belly button on US television, a breakthrough look that was made possible by Mackie’s designs.