Two of Mackie's best-remembered creations had a humorous aspect. While working on The Carol Burnett Show, he designed a "curtain dress" (complete with a curtain rod across the shoulders) that Carol Burnett wore in the Gone with the Wind parody: Went with the Wind. Mackie also designed the garish ensemble worn by Cher at the March 1986 Academy Awards: black stretch pants, a bejeweled loincloth, knee high boots, a black chainlink top, and a huge feathered Mohawk headdress that was one and a half times taller than her head. Introduced by Jane Fonda with the words, "Wait'll you see what's gonna come out here," Cher was appearing as a presenter after what many considered an Oscar snub (Cher was not nominated for her performance in Mask). "As you can see," said Cher, "I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress."
Mackie is also known for designing costumes for Whitney Houston, especially splashy evening gowns which she wore for many years during concert tours and award shows and which became a significant element of her appearance.
Mackie is often called the sultan of sequins, or the rajah of rhinestones, known for his sparkling and imaginative costume designs. He has won nine Emmy Awards for his designs, and was thrice nominated for an Academy Award. He attended Pasadena City College and Chouinard Art Institute.
Mackie has said, "A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed."
Mackie's business partner of nearly 50 years, award-winning costume designer Ray Aghayan, died on October 10, 2011.
Personal life
On 14 March 1960, Mackie married LuLu Porter (née Marianne Wolford), a singer, actress, and later an acting teacher. She had given birth to the couple's only child, a son, Robert Gordon Mackie Jr. (aka Robin Mackie), the previous year. The couple divorced in 1963, and Robin Mackie, a makeup artist, died in 1994 of an AIDS-related illness.Notable Mackie clothing wearers
Some of the people who have worn Mackie's outfits include:- Ann-Margret
- Lucille Ball
- Barbie
- Anne Baxter
- David Bowie
- Carol Burnett
- Diahann Carroll
- Lynda Carter
- Carol Channing
- Charo
- Cher
- Joan Collins
- Celia Cruz
- Lila Deneken
- Marlene Dietrich
- Phyllis Diller
- Doris Duke
- Lola Falana
- Sally Field (in the film Smokey and the Bandit II)
- Judy Garland
- Mitzi Gaynor
- Whoopi Goldberg (at the 71st Academy Awards)
- Betty Grable
- Linda Gray
- Shalom Harlow (at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Fashion Gala)
- Teri Hatcher
- Goldie Hawn
- Whitney Houston
- Anjelica Huston (on a cover of Vanity Fair)
- The Jackson 5
- Elton John
- Labelle
- Patti LaBelle
- Angela Lansbury
- Vicki Lawrence
- Eva Longoria (at the 2006 Golden Globes)
- Jennifer Lopez (in the film Maid in Manhattan)
- Madonna (at the 1991 Academy Awards)
- Bette Midler
- Ann Miller
- Liza Minnelli
- Kylie Minogue
- Dolly Parton
- Katy Perry (in her video for "Waking Up in Vegas")
- Bernadette Peters
- Pink (for her Funhouse Tour)
- Jada Pinkett Smith (at the 13th Screen Actors Guild Awards)
- The Pointer Sisters
- Juliet Prowse
- Martha Raye
- Debbie Reynolds
- Chita Rivera
- Joan Rivers
- Diana Ross
- RuPaul
- Brooke Shields
- Bart Simpson
- Sharon Stone (in the film Casino)
- Gale Storm
- Barbra Streisand (in the films Funny Girl and Funny Lady)
- Donna Summer
- The Supremes
- Toni Tennille
- Cheryl Tiegs
- John Travolta (in the film Staying Alive)
- Tina Turner
- Sylvie Vartan
- Raquel Welch
- Dottie West
- Flip Wilson
- Oprah Winfrey (at the 1986 Academy Awards)
- Pia Zadora
