Bob Mackie, the Genius Behind Cher and Beyoncé's Most Iconic Looks, Dies at 87

Bob Mackie, the costume designer whose sparkle defined pop culture for more than sixty years, died Monday, Sept. 14, at age 87. He won nine Emmys and earned three Oscar nominations, but his real legacy lives in every jaw-dropping red carpet moment and stage costume you’ve ever screenshotted.

Mackie started designing in 1961 and broke through on The Carol Burnett Show, where his over-the-top costumes became as famous as the sketches themselves. From there, he became the go-to designer for music’s biggest names: Cher’s nude illusion gown at the 1974 Met Gala, Elton John’s feathered extravaganzas, and looks for Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Miley Cyrus, and Sabrina Carpenter, who wore archival Mackie to the 2025 MTV VMAs. Nicknamed the“Rajah of Rhinestones”and“Sultan of Sequins,”he made glamour feel like a birthright for every star he dressed.

His team shared that his“genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”Looking at today’s red carpets and stage wardrobes, it’s clear his influence isn’t going anywhere. Which Bob Mackie look do you think deserves the crown as his all-time greatest? Sound off in the comments.