Oh the GOWNS!!!

Hey there fellow Mack-inistas!  So the Oscars were on last night... clearly.  Congrats to all the winners and to those who didn't take home gold I say, "Meet me at 1am behind the 7-11 on Route 14.  I got a guy, he takes care of things.” 

My favorite part of the ceremony is the red carpet.  Seeing the stars seated doesn’t do the gowns justice!

Nothing better than putting the preshow on, muting the volume and pouring yourself a tall glass of Franzia with some Michael Bublé in the background.

Here is a quick run down of some of my favorite looks from the big night. (Click the picture to make the bigger... who am I kidding?  You know how this works.  Go on with yo bad self!)

Glenn Close – Zac Posen

Octavia Spencer – Tadashi Shoji

Alexandra Edenborough – Roberto Cavalli

Milla Jovovich – Elie Saab

Jennifer Lopez – Zuhair Murad

Leslie Mann – Roberto Cavalli

Judy Greer - Monique Lhuillier

Whose gown did you enjoy?

-Philip Estrada

Oscars and Cher... Together.... Forever

The Oscars are airing this Sunday and my Google alert on Bob Mackie is BLOWIN' UP!!  As it turns out Cher's Mohawk ensemble from 1986 designed Mr. Bob Mackie is the only interesting thing to ever happen at the Academy Awards... EVER!  Every article and blog post that is currently being posted about the Oscars mentions Cher's outlandish outfit.  So I am throwing my hat into the ring to get me some of those sweet sweet Oscar Google search views!

I think it's so awesome that a Bob Mackie ensemble is again associated with Hollywood's biggest night.  I remember seeing videos and pictures of this ensemble on TV when I was a kid.  Every news show reporting on the Oscars would always call back to Cher's 'shocking' outfit.  I remember thinking that she looked amazing.  It had to be the most epic thing I had ever seen. 

I can't wait to start working with Bob Mackie so we can make amazing and unforgettable creations together.

-Philip Estrada

10 Minute Mackie Break

Since it's Friday I feel that everyone deserves a little "Mackie Break."  It's the same as a coffee break but far more glamorous! 


It's 1983 and everyone is gathering around their TV sets to see who will take home Oscar.  A Mackie clad Bernadette Peters storms the stage singing a tribute to the legendary song writer Irving Berlin.  In the supporting role is an army of Bob Mackie bedeckeddancers.  Make sure you watch near the end since beautiful Amazonian showgirls take the stage for “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody”.  Can’t help but think these ladies were imported from “Hallelujah Hollywood” in Vegas.

Enjoy your “Mackie Break!”
-Philip Estrada

Happy Birthday CHER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHER!!

Today is your birthday CHER!  Bob Mackie's original muse.  He's always stated that dressing you was the bee's knees.  According to Mr. Mackie, and I'm paraphrasing, "She is tall and slender and could wear anything."  Your 40 year collaboration with Mackie has produced many moments we will never forget, even if we tried.  See also, Academy Awards and "Turn Back Time".

I hope you have a wonderful birthday Miss Cher!  Slip into your favorite Mackie and raise a glass of champagne to another wonderful year!  If you can put in a good word with Bob Mackie for me that'd be much appreciated.  I know you have a new album in the works and he's gonna need extra hands when you come in for your fittings.  THANKS!

-Philip Estrada 

Oscar Weekend with Bob Mackie

As everyone is well aware this weekend is the OSCARS!  The air in Hollywood is electric with hopes and dreams.  There's been so many great memories from previous Oscars.  For example, we surely all recall the 1999 Academy Awards when Whoopi Goldberg hosted.  That was the year both "Shakespeare in Love" and "Elizabeth" were both nominated for Best picture and 2 actresses were nominated for portraying Queen Elizabeth.  The highlight of the evening came at the beginning of the show when Whoopi Goldberg stepped onto the stage wearing a full head to toe Elizabethan costume.  The outrageous costume garnered huge laughs and is sited as "The" moment at that year's show.  

Being that Bob Mackie had had so much comedic costume experience on the "Carol Burnett Show" he was a perfect fit to design this costume.   In an interview he gave for the Academy of TV Arts Bob Mackie described the costume as needing to be like an iron maiden since she had to do a quick change in and out of it.  So basically it was built to be stepped into and zipped up the back.  All the layers were fashioned into once giant piece.  Talk about genius!  How awesome would it have been to work on that?!  I would have killed to apply at least one bead!

The costume and sketch was sold at the 2005 Christie's auction.  The sketch was valued at $200-300 and the dress at $3000-$5000, the two lots sold for $24,720.  The auction was planned with 10 percent of the sales going to Elton John's AIDS Foundation.  I hope a museum or patron won these lots so that these pieces can be on display for years to come.

-Philip Estrada