Res. No. 701
Resolution honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Bob Mackie, whose sixty-year career transformed television, stage, and celebrity costume design, and whose captivating vision forever shaped American fashion and entertainment
By Council Member Wilson
Whereas, Bob Mackie, born on March 24, 1939, in Monterey, California, was a renowned costume and fashion designer who transformed the television and film industries with his innovative work; and
Whereas, Bob Mackie, who had an early knack for sketching and design, listened to radio shows and sketched costume ideas for various characters; and
Whereas, After being inspired by the vibrant ballet sequence in the 1951 film “An American in Paris,” Mackie resolved to become a costume designer, aspiring to capture the same beauty and movement in his creations; and
Whereas, Mackie received a scholarship to study costume design at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles but left after one year to work as a sketch artist at Paramount Studios in 1962; and
Whereas, Mackie then worked under costume designer Jean Louis, sketching designs including the iconic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to John F. Kennedy at a Democratic Party Fundraiser at Madison Square Garden; and
Whereas, Mackie later returned to Paramount Studios working for Edith Head, an award-winning movie costumer, where he learned the complexities of working with stars, for which he would later be known throughout his illustrious career; and
Whereas, While working at Paramount Studios on “The Judy Garland Show,” Mackie met Iranian costume designer Ray Aghayan, and together, they created costumes for the television movie “Alice Through the Looking Glass” in 1966, earning the first Emmy Award ever given for costume design; and
Whereas, Ray Aghayan would become both the creative and romantic partner of Mackie until his death in 2011; and
Whereas, In 1966, performer Mitzi Gaynor hired Mackie to design costumes for her Las Vegas revue where he began creating his signature flamboyant designs, emphasizing movement and glamour; and
Whereas, Mackie’s designs with Mitzi Gaynor caught the attention of comedian Carol Burnett, for whom he designed over 17,000 costumes across 11 seasons of “The Carol Burnett Show; and
Whereas, One of the most famous is the curtain rod dress from a “Gone with the Wind” parody skit, now on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for its iconic comedic impact; and
Whereas, Mackie met Cher on the set of Burnett’s show and developed a long-lasting creative partnership, dressing her on “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” her solo variety show, concerts, and red-carpet appearances; and
Whereas, On the “Cher” show, Mackie designed 14 dresses a week for Cher, and each episode she wowed audiences with her dramatic outfit reveals, which featured bare midriffs, colors, and bedazzled ensembles, and her signature looks created by Mackie contributed to the artist’s success during the late 1970s; and
Whereas, He pioneered bold looks, including the famous “naked illusion dress,” a sheer, crystal-beaded gown with white feather trim for Cher at the 1974 Met Gala in New York City, which was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1975; and
Whereas, Mackie’s daring use of crystals, sheer material, and high slits laid the foundation for celebrities’ ostentatious outfits at the Met Gala and award show red carpets; and
Whereas, Mackie also dressed numerous prominent entertainers, such as Elton John, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, and Beyoncé; and
Whereas, Mackie’s craftsmanship was a result of talent and his commitment to doing perfect work, and when sketching for a performer, he considered their stage presence, personality, and their vision and included it all in the final design; and
Whereas, Mackie received 32 Emmy nominations and won nine awards for costume design, including for “Carol and Company” and Cher’s concert specials in 2000 and 2003; and
Whereas, Mackie earned a Tony Award for his costumes on the Cher Show Broadway Musical, three Oscar nominations, and fashion exuberance and lifetime achievement honors from the Council of Fashion Designers of American; and
Whereas, Mackie was the first designer to create a complete Barbie doll and went on to design dozens more for Mattel in his signature extravagant style; and
Whereas, In 1982, Mackie launched a retail line, creating ready-to-wear and swimwear collections, which showcased at New York Fashion Week; and
Whereas, From his workshop on 7th Avenue, Mackie created pieces of high glamour not only for Hollywood stars but for the working women of New York City, including extravagant evening gowns and hand-painted silk scarves; and
Whereas, In 1999, his collections were on display at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and in 2002 Mackie was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, Bob Mackie died on September 14, 2026, at the age of 87 at his home in Palm Springs, California; and
Whereas, Bob Mackie was committed to excellence, paid great attention to detail, and worked with creativity and kindness across all his projects and client relationships; and
Whereas, Mackie’s innovative designs pushed the boundary lines of fashion and allowed both entertainers and everyday consumers to accentuate their features and live out their design fantasies; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York honors the extraordinary life and legacy of Bob Mackie, whose sixty-year career transformed television, stage, and celebrity costume design, and whose captivating vision forever shaped American fashion and entertainment.
SAE
LS #26506
9/30/2026
11:17 AM