Across his career, American designer Bob Mackie dressed some of the best in television and music. His sparkling creations gave birth to the way celebrities are dressed today.

Cher wearing full Bob Mackie during the 1986 Academy Awards. Photo made available via CFDA. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Bob Mackie knows how to make celebrities look good. Over the decades, he’s designed for The Supremes, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, and more. Within the costume design industry, he is a legend. While attending Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, he learned from the great Eva Roberts. At that time, she headed the fashion design department and arguably helped turn Bob Mackie into the designer he is today.

Undeniably, whoever wears his intricate, sparkling designs stands apart from the crowd. It’s not enough to just wear Bob Mackie, you have to embrace a certain daring, bold spirit. Throughout his career, he designed for the best in the entertainment and music industries. Each of these standout individuals had the it-factor (and clearly, Bob Mackie agreed).

Cher wearing full Bob Mackie during the 1974 Met Gala. Photo made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Often, Bob Mackie designed for the multi-talented Cher. From “The Sonny & Cher Show” to her many musical performances, the American designer made her dazzle time and time again. For the 1974 Met Gala, he created a sparkling, feathered gown for her. The gown consisted of sheer fabric, sequins, and white feathers. This writer cannot discuss this look without mentioning the fashion revolution it sparked.

At the time, actresses and singers famously wore shiny, bedazzled outfits. Yet, none of those stars made quite a stir with their designed pieces like Cher. Arguably, with this 1974 look, Bob Mackie brought the idea of the “naked dress” to life. The clear fabric showed off Cher’s torso and legs, yet the sequins and feathers modestly covered certain body parts. The dress connected the beauty of the human body with the fantastical art of embroidery. Bob Mackie changed fashion history with this look and it will not be forgotten.

Diana Ross wearing a Bob Mackie bodysuit during a photoshoot for her 1970 “Everything Is Everything” album. Photo made available via Out. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Diana Ross is a woman who has done it all. A few of her many titles include actress, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Not to mention her decades-long music career that kept her shining in the spotlight. No surprise, Bob Mackie recognized her talent and star power. While taking photos for her 1970 “Everything Is Everything” album, she wore one of his bodysuits covered in crystal gems.

As with Cher’s “naked dress,” the bodysuit was constructed with net-like fabric and hundreds of dazzling gems. To top off the sparkle in this look, Diana Ross wore earrings and metallic, heeled shoes. Ahead of its time, this bodysuit incorporated fingerless sleeves. In the 1980s, fingerless gloves would be everywhere from Madonna and Billy Idol to everyday consumers. Diana Ross, when she wore this look for her album cover, set the standard for a global fashion trend.

Does the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” need an introduction? For more than four decades, Tina Turner ruled the rock music scene. She proved to the world that women can create and dominate in whatever genre they want to. Bob Mackie designed this dress for Turner when she guest-starred on “The Sonny and Cher Show.” Along with her many bold ensembles, she burned with passion and style during that performance.

The dress, covered in sequins from head to toe, created the illusion of flames. Clearly, the passion of her voice needed something equally as daring. The shining strips of red and orange spread across Turner’s torso, enveloping her in a sparkling fire. Bob Mackie, with his background in costuming, created this look and turned a campy idea into a scorching masterpiece.

Last, but certainly not least, we have one of the queens of pop. Madonna, with her many hits like “Material Girl” and “Vogue” also embodied the daring, star spirit. For her appearance at the 1991 Academy Awards, Bob Mackie designed a white, crystal-covered gown. She wore this radiant piece to the awards show with a fur coat, matching pearl clutch, and diamond jewelry.

Inspired by Marylin Monroe (who Bob Mackie also design-sketched for), he created this dress for Madonna to perform in. From her hair to her red lipstick, the resemblance between her and the iconic actress is uncanny. As with the other stars, Madonna just started her career at this time. Bob Mackie could see what a great success she would become. He designed this dress for her as a symbol of her fame: wherever she went, she shined.

Bob Mackie added sparkle to the most successful stars in the entertainment and music industries. The American designer, with his background in costuming, took celebrity designing to a new level. His looks were rare and wildly dazzling, proving that fashion accentuates an individual’s personality.

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