Bob Mackie Brunch At MAD

Bob Mackie & Barbara Paris Gifford – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

Bob Mackie is everywhere in the media these days. Whenever I turn on the television, the iconic fashion and costume designer is interviewed about his new documentary, “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion.”

Cher, dressed in Bob Mackie, gives Don Ameche his Best Actor Award at the 1986 Academy Awards – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

I can say the same thing about Cher, who’s been busy promoting her new memoir, “Cher.” It’s almost impossible to separate the two. On Saturday, Bob’s connection with the star and many others (Mitzi Gaynor, Tina Turner, Elton John, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, etc.), was explored at a brunch hosted by the Museum of Arts & Design.

Anna Sui & Bob Mackie – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

The event was held at “Robert,” the museum’s wonderful restaurant on the 9th floor with sweeping north-facing views over Central Park. Michele Cohen, Chair of MAD’s Board of Trustees, generously underwritten it. Host Committee members were fashion designers Anna Sui, Kay Unger, Nicole Miller, and Machine Dazzle, the subject of his exhibition at MAD 2023.

Restaurant Robert – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

The afternoon included a marvelous three-course brunch at Robert, a sneak-peak of the highly acclaimed documentary “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion,” and an informative and highly entertaining conversation between Bob and MAD’s Senior Curator, Barbara Paris Gifford, who was dressed in vintage Bob Mackie for the occasion.

In addition, there was a book signing (“The Art of Bob Mackie”), a silent benefit auction of highly collectible Barbie dolls designed and signed by the designer, and for those who have not seen it, there was access to the Barbie®: A Cultural Icon exhibition.

Tinu Naija – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

This explains all the Barbie pink worn by many of the attendees. Of course, even more obvious is the way Bob Mackie inspired many guests to channel their inner showgirl.

Anna Donnelly and Christopher Tanner – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

I thought my gold Ralph Lauren jacket might be too flashy for an early Saturday event until I arrived at the museum and found women and men dressed in bright sequins, beads, and feathers. Several women went full-on Cher; one wore a white feathered headdress.

Kay Unger wearing vintage Oscar de la Renta standing beneath Christopher Tanner’s artwork – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

Christopher Tanner’s colorful jacket closely resembles his artwork, which is prominently displayed on the wall over table 52 in Robert Restaurant. The artist, painter, designer, and actor is renowned for his mixed-medium ‘paintings’ and canvas-mounted assemblages using humble materials like sequins, sand, shells, stones, and fabric scraps.

MAD Museum Senior Curator Barbara Paris Gifford, Haleigh Ciel – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

There were about 80 seated for lunch, and it was an eclectic New York group that included MAD Museum director Tim Rodgers, Marsy Mittleman, Barbara Tober, costume designer William Ivey Long, Jonathan Marder, Sharon King Hoge, Jana Jaffe, Sharon Bush, Vanessa Noel, Haleigh Ciel, Tinu Naija, Ladies of Madison Avenue’s Joshua Kamei, and Vogue editor Lilah Ramzi.

Marilyn Kirschner & Bob Mackie, Photo by Joshua Kamei

This event particularly interested me because I was Bob Mackie’s editor at Harper’s Bazaar in the 1970s, 80s, and early 1990s. Bob is one of the nicest fashion designers around. Always easygoing and with a smile on his face, Bob was always a pleasure to work with and never seemed to age.

Bazaar, under Anthony Mazzola’s tutelage, was very celebrity-oriented. I went to Bob’s fashion shows and often visited his 550 7th Avenue showroom in search of the best clothes for our shootings, many of which involved high-profile celebrities.

“You have to be careful where you put the glitter,” – Bob Mackie talking about his ‘Naked Dresses’

Three customized Barbies designed by Bob Mackie – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

During the conversation between Barbara and Bob, who designed about 17,000 costumes to date, Bob dished his favorite stars, talked about his iconic nude dresses and the foundations beneath them, and hit on the key moments in his career.

Mitzi Gaynor & Miley Cyrus wearing Bob Mackie’s sheer illusion dresses – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

We learned that Mitzi Gaynor, who passed away at the age of 93 on October 17, 2024, was Bob’s first star client and he designed an entire show for her. Gaynor hired Mackie to create her new stage show at the Riviera in Las Vegas.

Bob reminisced about the time Mitzi Gaynor came to him and made this observation, “You know, I have a leotard that you can kind of see the crotch area. It’s good when it sparkles”. This probably got the most chuckles of the afternoon.

Bob remembered that in 1961, while he was working at Paramount Studios, costumer Edith Head found him and she asked, “Do you know how to draw a stripper?” Bob recalls slightly hesitating, then assuredly replying, “Well, I could”. This was met with a lot of laughs.

Bob Mackie’s sketch of the Jean Louis dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962 – photo by Marilyn Kirschner

It was news to me (and also to Barbara) that Bob Mackie, who has too many awards and accolades to mention, actually drew the original sketch of Marilyn Monroe’s famous dress when she sang Happy Birthday to President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in 1962.

Bob, who was about 21 at the time, was an assistant to French haute couturier Jean Louis and while he humbly rejects the idea that the dress is technically his, Bob is undoubtedly very responsible for the design.

Mackie, the author of four books, loves to give fashion advice, but his key suggestion is: “Do yourself a favor and get a full-length mirror with a back view.”

I found it interesting, though not surprising, to learn that Bob knew at a very young age (11 to be exact) that he wanted to go into show business. This was largely thanks to watching all those show business movies at the time, specifically “An American in Paris.”

The iconic film was screened last week at the museum, with Bob in attendance. It is one of my favorite movies and always makes me smile.

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Marilyn Kirschner

I am a long time fashion editor with 40+ years of experience. As senior market of Harper's Bazaar for 21 years I met and worked with every major fashion designer in the world and covered all of the collections in Paris, London, Milan and New York. I was responsible for overall content, finding and pulling in the best clothes out there, and for formulating ideas and stories.

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