Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie, who made stars sparkle, dies at 87

The legendary fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie , who dressed divas from Cher to Diana Ross in glittering, eye-catching designs, has died at age 87, according to his social media accounts.

“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 is all he ever wanted to do,” read a post on his Instagram account. “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”

Over decades of designing for the A-list, Mackie’s name became synonymous with Hollywood glamour. Nicknamed the Sultan of Sequins, the Rajah of Rhinestones and the Guru of Glitter, Mackie’s designs — often amped up with jewels, crystals, feather and fringe — were the ultimate match for larger-than-life stars like Dolly Parton , Judy Garland and Tina Turner.

The designer is best known for his longtime collaboration with Cher , whom he dressed on television and on tour. The designer first made a splash when he dressed the star for the 1974 Met Gala in a barely-there, sheer illusion dress, her arms and legs swathed in white feathers.

“People were horrified,” he later recalled to Interview Magazine. “They thought, that’s not fashion, she’s just naked at the Metropolitan.”

Nude illusion looks — often ornamented with glitter, feathers, and other Mackie motifs — became a staple look for the designer. His penchant for drawing attention paid off: Cher’s Met Gala look was featured in Vogue, then in Time.

Cher spoke lovingly about the designer. “He is such an important person in my life,” the superstar said in 2024. “He helped me create a different me.”

Mackie said his career grew out of a lifelong obsession with the glitz and glamour of show business. “I was never all that interested in fashion, as much as I was in costume design,” he told Vogue. “All through high school, I was all about putting on plays, that sort of thing.”

Mackie became best-known for designs that blur the boundaries between fashion and costumes. The clothes became part of a client’s persona, one of the tools that helped transform an entertainer into an icon.

“I could create characters for [them] that weren’t always specified in the script,” Mackie said. “When you’re designing for performers, you have to think about what does the audience want to see them look like — especially if they’re playing big theaters or stadiums.”

Even in the early stages of his career, Mackie made waves. Working under his mentor Jean Louis , he sketched the original design for the bedazzled, body-clinging gown Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 for President John F.