Tag: costume design

STYLE

Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion

What can be said about Bob Mackie – also referred to as the “Sultan of Sequins,” and the king of Hollywood’s red carpet?  

Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) 2025

For starters; his designs are synonymous with extravagance, glitter, and creativity, making him a legend in the world of fashion and costume design.  ALL the biggest stars wear (0r have worn) Bob Mackie.

This wonderful and glamorous documentary, part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025, was my personal favourite.

“Naked Illusion” celebrates the legendary costume designer’s six-decade career of iconic, over-the-top creations which earned him nine Emmy Awards, three Academy Award nominations, and a Tony Award. This delightful documentary offers a glittering cavalcade of Mackie’s celebrity clients including Cher, Carol Burnett, P!nk, and Tom Ford as they offer an inside look at his dazzling legacy.  See trailer below.

And what a legacy he created!

THIS iconic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to JFK.

There were a few surprises that the audience was not expecting.  For one; finding out that Mackie is a grandfather and great grandfather.  Finding  out that this was a surprise for him too.

The world premiere of the “Naked Issusion” was held in May at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles.  It was a legendary evening with Bob Mackie, Carol Burnett, RuPaul, Cher & Friends.

At the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Mackie was here in person and went on stage for a Q&A after the showing.

I’m lucky to have met Mackie on three separate occasions.  His book signing for “The Art of Bob Mackie,” at the Annenberg theatre for a play about “Edith Head” and recently at the Camelot theatre before the “Naked Illusion”screening. He’s very down to earth, a gentleman and  looks much younger than his 85 years.

Outside the Annenberg Theatre before the show. The actress (Susan Claassen) who played Edith Head is friend of Mackie’s. He told me that Edith Head gave him his start in the business when he worked as her assistant.
This was at the Camelot theatre in Palm Springs.

Here are some of the more famous creations he designed:

  • Cher’s 1974 Met Gala dress: A sheer, sequin-covered, feathered dress that was so shocking it was banned from some newsstands. Cher later wore it on the cover of Time magazine. 
  • Cher’s 1986 Academy Awards dress: A sequined caged top and a towering headpiece. When she came out and announced “I wanted to dress like a serious actress.”
  • Marilyn Monroe’s nude gown: The dress she wore to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. 
  • Elton John as Donald Duck: Mackie dressed Elton John as Donald Duck, complete with a tail and webbed feet. 
  • Costumes for The Carol Burnett Show: Mackie designed up to 70 costumes for Carol Burnett and her guests each week.   
  • See TRAILER below:

STYLE

An Evening of Wit, Wisdom and a Whisper of Gossip

Susan Claassen is remarkable as “Edith Head” in her one woman theatrical production “A Conversation with Edith Head” presented by Modernism Week, Palm Springs. The show was SOLD OUT and received a well deserved standing ovation.

Susan Claassen‘s uncanny resemblance to Edith Head, with friend Bob Mackie.

EDITH HEAD – Trailblazer

Edith Head was a legend.  Pardon the pun, but she was a Head of her time. One of the most prolific costume designers of the twentieth century, she received an unprecedented 35 Academy Award nominations and won a record-breaking eight Oscars at a time when the industry and world in general was dominated by men.  Her career spanned 58 years of movie making. She liked to call herself a “Magician.”  The word is suitable considering the magic she created with her design skills.  She raised rear ends, made waists look smaller, legs longer and hid imperfections like no other. 

“There’s nothing like a row of Oscars for putting the fear of God into an actress who thinks she knows everything about dress designing.” – Edith Head

Edith Head became as famous as the stars she dressed.  With her signature glasses, straight bangs and tailored suits, her distinctive style made her a recognizable personality in her own right.

Looking exactly like Edith Head with trademark glasses and all, Susan Claassen brings us back to the time when Head dressed glamorous movie stars such as Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Paul Newman, John Wayne, Bette Davis, Steve McQueen, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich and many more.  Some of the original costumes and photographs were on stage. However, preferring never to upstage whoever she was dressing, Head only liked to wear four colors herself: black, white, beige and brown.

Design for Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954).

With wit and intellect, Claassen relives and re tells stories when Head worked with actors like Mae West, Debbie Reynolds, Barbara Stanwyck and a young Elizabeth Taylor.  Not gonna lie; it was fun finding out who was naughty and who was nice! A few tidbits: Taylor was fascinated by a signature necklace worn by Head to the point where it was left for her in Head’s will.  Funnily enough there were no diamonds in the necklace but it was an eye-catching, original, vintage piece.  Head formed special relationships with the famous she dressed and recounted those stories.  For instance, when Grace Kelly became princess Grace and moved to Monaco, she would always visit Head when returning to Los Angeles.  Kelly always wore white gloves so on one visit Head made little white gloves for her young daughters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie.

In 1961 Edith Head hired Bob Mackie to be her sketch artist at Paramount Studios. Mackie would later become another famous designer (he designed all of the costumes for the Carole Burnett Show, all of Cher’s costumes and many more including sketching the famous sequined dress worn my Marilyn Monroe when she sang “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to JFK).  As luck would have it, I met and spoke with him for several minutes before the show began.  He said that the actress (Susan Claassen) was a good friend of his and that he also knew Edith Head and that she helped start his career.  I had met him last year at the book store Just Fabulous when I bought his beautiful book “The Art of Bob Mackie” and told him how much I love the book and it brought back so many good memories.  Also, he looked just fabulous.

The real Edith Head with a young Bob Mackie. Photo: WWD

Edith Head died in 1981 of a progressive and rare blood disease, myeloid metaplasia, two weeks after completing work on her last film “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid.” She left her estate to the Motion Picture and Television Fund and to other charitable organizations aiding Native American children and her beloved animals.  Her funeral was attended by hundreds, including not only Hollywood’s stars but also the backlot people.  A Paramount security guard dressed in a uniform designed by Edith Head mused, “I remember her real well.  At Christmas she took care of every one on the lot.  She was the greatest designer in the world.  Edith Head was quite a girl.”  And that she was.

Head’s no nonsense straightforward personality inspired the character of Edna Mode in The Incredibles.

Outside the Annenberg Theatre before the show with Bob Mackie.

Oscars Won:

The Heiress, 1949

Samson and Delilah, 1950

All About Eve, 1950

A Place in the Sun, 1951

Roman Holiday, 1953

Sabrina, 1954

The Facts of Life, 1960

The Sting, 1973

wearing the necklace Elizabeth Taylor loved.

The show must go on:

Booking Now Through 2025:

https://www.edithhead.biz/

MODERNISM week has ended as of February 26th, but please join us next year for another unbelievable lineup of fabulous events.

Header Photo of set – d. king