Bob Mackie, the celebrated costume designer whose rhinestone-heavy glamour helped define some of entertainment’s most memorable stage and red-carpet moments, died Monday (Sept. 14) at age 87, according to a statement shared on his social media.
The nine-time Emmy winner and three-time Oscar nominee was known by the fitting nicknames “Rajah of Rhinestones” and “Sultan of Sequins,” titles that reflected a career built on shimmer, spectacle and instantly recognizable silhouettes. His work, often elaborate and sparkling, became closely associated with Hollywood showmanship and with major music stars who wore his designs across decades.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the statement on Mackie’s social media 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.”
A career built on spectacle
Mackie’s career as a costume designer stretched across more than half a century. He began designing in 1961 and earned his breakout opportunity through his work as a costume designer on The Carol Burnett Show.
From there, his fashion vocabulary became unmistakable: sequins, feathers, illusion, drama and a sense of theatrical confidence. Among the most widely referenced examples in the source material is Cher’s elaborate “nude illusion gown” and feathered headpiece at the 1974 Met Gala, a look that remains closely tied to Mackie’s reputation for head-turning design.
His influence also continued into contemporary pop moments. Sabrina Carpenter wore a three-set archival Mackie look at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards and its afterparty, underscoring how his archive remained relevant to a newer generation of performers decades after his career began.
Music stars in Mackie
A Billboard photo roundup honoring Mackie’s work highlights several musicians and public appearances connected to his fashion legacy.
Beyoncé is included in the collection for her performance of Creedence Clearwater’s “Proud Mary” at the 28th Annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 4, 2005, in Washington, D.C.
Diana Ross appears alongside Mackie in an image from The 20th Annual CFDA American Fashion Awards, held at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on June 14, 2001, in New York, New York. The photo is credited to Jim Spellman/WireImage.
Elton John is featured in a look from his performance of “Crocodile Rock” on the set of The Muppet Show at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, circa October 1977. The image credit listed is TV Times via Getty Images.
Miley Cyrus is also part of the roundup, shown performing onstage at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. The photo credit is Christopher Polk.
Carpenter’s 2025 VMAs appearance is represented as well. She is identified as the winner of the Best Album award for “Short n’ Sweet” at the MTV Video Music Awards 2025, held at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in New York, New York. The image credit listed is Gilbert Flores.
Cher, one of the performers most closely associated with Mackie’s high-impact style in the supplied material, appears with the designer in a photo dated Nov. 20, 1974. The image is credited to Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images.
Taken together, the documented appearances show the breadth of Mackie’s reach across music and entertainment: from 1970s television and red-carpet imagery to awards-show performances and recent archival fashion moments. The source material also notes that his dazzling pieces have been seen on many of music’s biggest stars and have inspired the work of countless others.
Mackie’s death closes the life of a designer whose stated dream, according to the social media statement, was simply to be a fashion and costume designer. His body of work, as reflected in the artists and moments now being revisited, remains tied to the kind of show-business glamour that made him one of the most recognizable names in costume design.