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Bob Mackie: An Appreciation Thread

Let’s discuss the maestro of stage costumes from Cher to Elton to Tina.

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by Anonymousreply 58August 20, 2019 8:19 AM

His Lorelei costumes were wonderful.....

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by Anonymousreply 1August 18, 2019 9:37 PM

I was dismayed to see not one single Mackie at the Metropolitan Museum’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion” exhibit by the Costume Institute.

Maybe there was one and I missed it? The exhibit was super-gay but Mackie wasn’t mentioned.

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by Anonymousreply 2August 18, 2019 9:44 PM

Mackie Trivia:

Bob Mackie is the only person ever to win a design award TONY (Best Costumes) for a show in which s/he was also a character in the play/musical (The Cher Show).

On March 14, 1960, Mackie married LuLu Porter (née Marianne Wolford), a singer, actress, and later an acting teacher. The couple had a son, Robert Gordon Mackie Jr. (known as "Robin"), the previous year. The couple divorced in 1963. Robin Mackie, a makeup artist, died in 1993 at the age of 33 of an AIDS-related illness, predeceasing his parents.

by Anonymousreply 3August 18, 2019 9:56 PM

He did some great clothes for country singer Dottie West, turning her from a traditional gingham clad female country singer into a sexy supterstar. The image change helped launch her crossover period.

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by Anonymousreply 4August 18, 2019 10:02 PM

Lulu Porter

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by Anonymousreply 5August 18, 2019 10:09 PM

I LOVE HIM!

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by Anonymousreply 6August 18, 2019 10:11 PM

He's amazing. Important to remember is that he didn't just do all those glamorous gowns for Carol Burnett and Cher (and many others), but even their gag costumes for their skits.

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by Anonymousreply 7August 18, 2019 10:22 PM

R7 Yes remember he won a Emmy for Mama's Family.

by Anonymousreply 8August 18, 2019 10:30 PM

Did he ever do costumes for Elton John? He should have, they share exactly the same sort of taste.

And it's not like Mackie was too proud, he did Barbies for fuck's sake. And yes, I AM ashamed to have remembered that Bob Mackie did a series of Barbie dolls.

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by Anonymousreply 9August 18, 2019 11:21 PM

R9, Yes, he did Elton's costumes for the Cher Show, and even that Donald Duck outfit for his concert in Central Park.

by Anonymousreply 10August 18, 2019 11:25 PM

He also jumped into the celebrity-fragrance fray in the early '90s.

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by Anonymousreply 11August 18, 2019 11:29 PM

I think he did great costumes for Carol Burnett, but her dresses to greet the audience were not that great. Carol didn't have the body to be showing her shoulders and arms. It looked like he was dressing a scarecrow.

by Anonymousreply 12August 18, 2019 11:37 PM

went to an autog signing party at I magnin once of his, he was turdy.

wanted only rich ladys there I tink.

ancient man

by Anonymousreply 13August 18, 2019 11:38 PM

I think he dressed Judy Garland beautifully.

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by Anonymousreply 14August 18, 2019 11:41 PM

R2 There was one in the Camp exhibit, as I was looking specifically for it. It was at the very end as you exit and to the left, it may have been the second one in from the door on the lower level. It was in crystals and perhaps light blue in shades with an elaborate head piece. It looked very Cher late 70s early 80s.

by Anonymousreply 15August 18, 2019 11:44 PM

Totally disagree, r13.

by Anonymousreply 16August 18, 2019 11:44 PM

He still looks great on QVC hocking his clothes to the fraus. And he hasn't lost his sharp wit! Team Bob Mackie

by Anonymousreply 17August 18, 2019 11:49 PM

He was/is able to give his clients a distinctive and timeless which belongs only to them. That's a talent.

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by Anonymousreply 18August 18, 2019 11:50 PM

R2, R15 again, just found this that does place Mackie as being in the exhibit and mentions Cher’s crystal encrusted gown, but doesn’t say that it’s his. Then in the photos to the extreme right lower level, you will need to open the link to see it, not in the preview image, you can actually see the dress.

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by Anonymousreply 19August 18, 2019 11:51 PM

Judy

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by Anonymousreply 20August 18, 2019 11:51 PM

Probably his most memorable costume although a Cher costume would be a run for the money.

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by Anonymousreply 21August 18, 2019 11:56 PM

[quote]He was/is able to give his clients a distinctive and timeless which belongs only to them. That's a talent.

OOPS! S/B: "He was/is able to give his clients a distinctive and timeless style..."

I really should proofread before I hit the "Post" button.

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by Anonymousreply 22August 19, 2019 12:01 AM

This article makes it sound like the Met Camp exhibit was all about Mackie and Cher!

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by Anonymousreply 23August 19, 2019 12:10 AM

So wait. Bob Mackie was straight?

by Anonymousreply 24August 19, 2019 12:15 AM

R24 *Allegedly

by Anonymousreply 25August 19, 2019 12:33 AM

Hmm... I wonder why this design didn't create some sort of controversy?

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by Anonymousreply 26August 19, 2019 12:58 AM

R15, r19, thank you for that. I missed it. Only realized after, as I was quite dazzled and it was very crowded.

Very glad he wasn’t left out, and I’ll head back and look for it.

Every once in a while, I’ll see a piece (vintage and not-so-vintage) Mackie at a thrift shop. Aww.

by Anonymousreply 27August 19, 2019 1:52 AM

He did quite a few costumes for Elton John. the sequined L.A. Dodgers uniform, that ridiculous Donald Duck costume. And the devil costume that Elton wears when he stomps into a therapy session in "Rocketman" is a version of a real one Bob Mackie had designed for him.

by Anonymousreply 28August 19, 2019 2:01 AM

R26 It looks like Essence magazine didn’t take issue with it and in 2016 said it was perfect for wearing even today.

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by Anonymousreply 29August 19, 2019 2:15 AM

does he do the designing or the people he hires?

by Anonymousreply 30August 19, 2019 3:08 AM

[quote]does he do the designing or the people he hires?

He draws the pictures. Little boys in China have to sew on all those beads. They get 2 cents an hour and are glad for the work! Then the dress is mailed to Cher and she has someone cut half the beads off because the dress is too heavy for her anorexic body to carry.

by Anonymousreply 31August 19, 2019 3:13 AM
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by Anonymousreply 32August 19, 2019 6:46 PM

Mackies costumes are actually designed and constructed in the USA.

by Anonymousreply 33August 19, 2019 7:03 PM

What about his retail line?

by Anonymousreply 34August 19, 2019 7:07 PM

I always thought that Ray Aghayan was Mackie's partner.

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by Anonymousreply 35August 19, 2019 7:08 PM

[quote]I always thought that Ray Aghayan was Mackie's partner.

What did Mackie see in that ugly little troll?

by Anonymousreply 36August 19, 2019 7:14 PM

[quote]What did Mackie see in that ugly little troll?

MONEY!

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by Anonymousreply 37August 19, 2019 7:42 PM

He also designed for Mitzi Gaynor.

by Anonymousreply 38August 19, 2019 8:28 PM

Mitzi's very funny at r7, r38.

by Anonymousreply 39August 19, 2019 8:52 PM

Bob Mackie is genius. Terrible businessman.

In the 80's he started a couture line, was bankrolled by the mob and was ultimately bankrupted by them. All the wives and girlfriends were coming in for free stuff. Wedding gowns aren't cheap.

All of Mr Mackies' clothes are made here, not China. And yes, he has several assistants.

The dress that put him on the map was the see through feather number Cher wore to the Met Gala and the cover of Time magazine. Said dress was a update of a "naked" dress he did earlier for Mitzi Gaynor.

Mr. Mackies' gowns were/are great but his real talent shows in his work for skit comedy. (The C.B. Went with Wind curtain dress and Chers' Laverne get up to name a few.)

He hit on my partner at L'Orangerie once when I was late.

Nice man, pretty humble considering and resembles a handsome elf in person.

Carry on.

by Anonymousreply 40August 19, 2019 8:59 PM

Together

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by Anonymousreply 41August 19, 2019 9:08 PM

[quote]The dress that put him on the map was the see through feather number Cher wore to the Met Gala and the cover of Time magazine. Said dress was a update of a "naked" dress he did earlier for Mitzi Gaynor.

MMPH! What a difference....

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by Anonymousreply 42August 19, 2019 9:21 PM

Miss Bernadette Peters, aged 70, looking fabulous with Bob, in one of his creations

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by Anonymousreply 43August 19, 2019 9:26 PM

Reply 43 Apologies posted a crap link

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by Anonymousreply 44August 19, 2019 9:29 PM

[quote]Reply 43 Apologies posted a crap link

Is he flashing a gang sign on Bern's abdomen?

by Anonymousreply 45August 19, 2019 9:38 PM

He could do over the top glamour but he could do dowdiness equally well. He did the iconic costumes for "The Family (Ed and Eunice Higgins, Thelma Harper)", which perfectly suited their hick sensibilities. And of course the put upon Stella Toddler was outfitted as the ultimate frump. In addition to the costumes, Mackie would create undergarments that would create body parts to complement the character; remember Harvey Korman's gigantic breasts in that flowered dress? And Carol Burnett, in homage to Mackie, let the audience see the full extent of his genius. She removed her costume to show the undergarments underneath, which simulated drooping breasts and a sagging behind.

by Anonymousreply 46August 19, 2019 10:17 PM

Yes, r45......

by Anonymousreply 47August 19, 2019 10:29 PM

His costumes epitomized glamour.

None of this porn star influenced shit they wear today.

by Anonymousreply 48August 19, 2019 10:33 PM

I will be honest, I have trouble reconciling him as a fashion designer as opposed to being a costume designer.

by Anonymousreply 49August 19, 2019 10:36 PM

Miss Gloria Klein, a glamorous but shady drag queen from Miami, is wearing Bob Mackie at 11:20 in this clip from the 1992 Miss Continental pageant. The rumor going around that year was that she got her boyfriend to steal it for her from one of the big local stores.

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by Anonymousreply 50August 19, 2019 11:48 PM

"In the 80's he started a couture line, was bankrolled by the mob and was ultimately bankrupted by them. All the wives and girlfriends were coming in for free stuff."

Tell me more!

Also tell me if any other famous fashion houses are bankrolled by the mob. I'll take what gossip I can get.

by Anonymousreply 51August 20, 2019 1:42 AM

Here's the Mitzi Gaynor "naked" dress mentioned above.

I never wanted to see this much of Mitzi Gaynor.

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by Anonymousreply 52August 20, 2019 1:42 AM

Don't be widiculous.....

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by Anonymousreply 53August 20, 2019 1:53 AM

[quote]I will be honest, I have trouble reconciling him as a fashion designer as opposed to being a costume designer.

He has nothing on Nolan Miller....

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by Anonymousreply 54August 20, 2019 1:56 AM

Mackie did not come off well in Moon Over Broadway but it also showed how well Carol Burnett knew how to handle him.

Michael Costello of Project Runway was one of Mackie's protégées and his Beyonce Grammy dress was a definite Mackie descendent.

by Anonymousreply 55August 20, 2019 2:31 AM

It seems relatively tame now, but the "naked" dress he did for Cher was considered really hot stuff back then. She wore a somewhat censored version of it on Time magazine. She also did a talk show appearance wearing it, and admitted it had "a lot more sequins" than it did originally. In its original form it was very revealing. She said she wore it to some event and a man approached her and said "how does it feel to be out in public naked?" She was taken aback by that because she said the dress let you "see but not REALLY see", everything.

by Anonymousreply 56August 20, 2019 2:37 AM
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by Anonymousreply 57August 20, 2019 2:39 AM

Mackie stuff on u tube led me to mitzi Gaynor interviews::::such a fun broad !!!!

by Anonymousreply 58August 20, 2019 8:19 AM
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