1990s Bob Mackie Red Beaded and Sequin Dress

This fabulous Bob Mackie dress was designed by the heralded designer and costumier. Known for his high-octane, spotlight-stealing designs, he dressed entertainment icons across the globe, including Cher, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton and Diana Ross. True to Mackie’s trademark style, this mesmerising gown was designed to highlight and flatter the feminine form. This is an extremely detailed example and is fully embellished with rows of ruby red sequins and bugle beads. These dresses were extremely costly in their day and always hand beaded by the most skilled artisans onto signature black silk mesh. Circa early 1990s but this was one of Mackie's best designs and we have seen versions of this dress go back to the early 1980s.

The dress has a strapless cut which is elongated and raised up over the décolletage to echo and emphasise the curves of the bust. Lined with black silk, the bust is intricately boned to further shape the silhouette. The gown’s silhouette is fitted and highly feminine, with the sequins placed to follow the shape of the waist and hips. The skirt has a dramatic slit at the front, adding to the sultry feel of the design. This gown is lined throughout with black silk.

In truly excellent vintage condition with no flaws of any note to the beadwork or silk and appears unaltered. Tagged a vintage US 4, this is fairly true to size with very slight stretch and equates to a UK 8. Our model (5ft 4in / 164cm) is a UK 8-10 or US 4-6 and this was a tight fit on the hip for her although she reported feeling fabulous!

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 32 in (81 cm)

WAIST - 30 in (76 cm)

HIP - 36 in (91 cm)

LENGTH - 50 in (127 cm)