Are Bob Mackie Barbie dolls worth collecting?+
They are among the most sought-after designer Barbies, and the pedigree is the draw. Mattel approached Mackie in the late 1980s to design clothes for Barbie, and his first limited-edition doll debuted in 1990 with a gold sequined skirt, feather boa and long ponytail. Collectors prize them precisely because they carry the hand of a designer famous for glamour.
Why is Bob Mackie so famous?+
He is one of America's defining costume designers, nicknamed the "Sultan of Sequins" for his sparkling, imaginative work. He has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design. As he put it, "A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed."
What is Bob Mackie best known for?+
He is best known for dressing entertainment personalities for television, film, concerts and stage. He was the costume designer for every performer on The Carol Burnett Show across its entire eleven-year run, and he created memorable looks for Cher and Elton John, including Elton's Donald Duck, sequined Dodgers and Mozart concert costumes.
What makes a Bob Mackie design recognisable?+
Sparkle and theatrical daring. His nicknames, the "Sultan of Sequins," "Rajah of Rhinestones" and "Guru of Glitter," capture a signature of sequins, rhinestones and showstopping silhouettes. The exotic, feathered-Mohawk-and-loincloth ensemble he made for Cher at the 1986 Academy Awards is a perfect example of his fearless, attention-commanding style.
Who has Bob Mackie designed for?+
His client list reads like a roll call of stars, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Beyoncé, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Elton John and RuPaul. He worked with many of them across decades, designing for Cher's later tours and Las Vegas residencies in particular.
What is the famous Carol Burnett curtain dress?+
It is one of Mackie's most celebrated creations: the curtain-rod dress worn by Carol Burnett in the "Went with the Wind!" sketch parodying Gone with the Wind. The gown was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, where it stands as a landmark of American television comedy and Mackie's design wit.
What set Bob Mackie's Barbie work apart from other designers?+
He went beyond the clothes. While other designers had made Barbie fashions, Mackie was the first to be involved in changing the doll's face and hair, and his closed-mouth smile became known to collectors as the "Mackie sculpt." He also pushed for different ethnicities and traditional garb to be represented, believing the dolls should be as varied as real women.
Has Bob Mackie won major awards?+
Yes, across multiple fields. He holds nine Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award, the latter for Best Costume Design in a Musical for The Cher Show in 2019, plus three Academy Award nominations. In 2002 he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, and in 2023 RuPaul presented him an inaugural lifetime achievement award at the RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 finale.
What is Bob Mackie's connection to Las Vegas spectacle?+
He helped define its showgirl glamour. Mackie designed the intricate, elaborate costumes for Las Vegas burlesque productions including Hallelujah Hollywood, inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies, which ran at the MGM Grand from 1974 to 1980, and Jubilee!, which ran from 1981 to 2016. He also created costumes for Cher's Caesars Palace residency.
How did Bob Mackie get his start in design?+
He came up through Hollywood's costume world. Born in 1939 in Monterey Park, California, he studied at Pasadena City College and briefly at the Chouinard Art Institute before leaving for a sketching job at Paramount Studios. There he worked under designer Ray Aghayan, was found by legendary costumer Edith Head, and sketched for haute couturier Jean Louis, including the original sketch of Marilyn Monroe's 1962 dress for President Kennedy's birthday.
