Bob Mackie, the Sultan of Sequins, Dies at 87

Outlets report legendary costume designer Bob Mackie, who dressed Cher, Carol Burnett and Diana Ross, died Monday in Palm Springs at 87.

Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie died Monday, September 14, 2026, at age 87. According to CNN, the news was announced on his Instagram account with a statement saying he 'lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer.' The Hollywood Reporter reports his longtime publicist confirmed he died Monday morning in Palm Springs, California. His longtime design director Joe McFate told The New York Times, as carried by The Straits Times and Extra, that Mackie died at a hospital.

Mackie's name became synonymous with Hollywood glamour, earning nicknames like the Sultan of Sequins, the Rajah of Rhinestones and the Guru of Glitter. CNN reports he dressed divas from Cher to Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Judy Garland and Tina Turner in jewel-, feather- and fringe-heavy designs. PBS, carrying the Associated Press, notes his motto was simple: 'You don't try to change anybody, you just try to make them look better than ever.' Cher said in 2024, per CNN, 'He helped me create a different me,' while Carol Burnett told outlets that 'Bob does it all. He's the whole ball of wax.'

Beyond the glitter, the sheer scale of Mackie's output is striking. The Hollywood Reporter and PBS report he won nine Emmy Awards, including the very first Emmy ever awarded for costume design — shared with partner Ray Aghayan for the 1966 special 'Alice Through the Looking Glass' — and earned three Oscar nominations, including for Barbra Streisand's 'Funny Lady.' PBS reports Burnett estimated he created 17,000 costumes across her show's 11-year run, averaging 60 costumes a week. He also sketched the original design for Marilyn Monroe's beaded 1962 'Happy Birthday' gown for designer Jean Louis, and won a 2019 Tony for Broadway's 'The Cher Show.'

The reaction across the industry was immediate. Cher wrote, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Extra, 'My dear Bob has gone up to heaven. Knowing him, he's bringing Sequins, Beads, & his sketch pad.' PBS reports Isaac Mizrahi wrote simply 'heartbroken,' while Kristin Chenoweth called him a 'legend' and model Coco Rocha said 'his clothes had wit, drama, fantasy and joy.' NBC News adds that Sir Elton John called Mackie's costumes 'works of art,' and Barbra Streisand said he 'might continue designing creations for the angels.' Stylist Law Roach, per Extra, thanked his 'fashion father.'

Mackie's influence extends well beyond his own clients. CNN reports Fern Mallis, former CFDA executive director, said 'He invented the naked dresses with the strategically placed beads. Now everyone who walks the red carpet, or designs for the red carpet, owes him a debt of gratitude.' PBS reports his archival pieces are worn today by Zendaya, Miley Cyrus and Anya Taylor-Joy, and that Taylor Swift turned to Mackie originals for her 2025 album 'The Life of a Showgirl' cover. Ironically, PBS notes Mackie was later unimpressed by today's naked-dress trend, telling The Hollywood Reporter 'If you've seen one Kardashian, you've seen them all.'

Mackie's legacy is already institutionally secured. The Straits Times and Extra report his famous 'curtain rod' gown from Carol Burnett's 'Went With the Wind!' parody sits in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, and PBS notes a 1975 Mackie dress worn by Cher auctioned in 2024 for $101,600 — 25 times its estimate. His 2024 documentary 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' chronicled his life and career, and he received a lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. As his Instagram statement put it, per CNN, 'His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever.'