Here Comes the Royal Bride

In case you've been living under a rock for the past year let me be the first to tell you, Prince William is getting married!  So Princess Diana's first born nabbed himself some chick named Catherine Middleton.  Congrats Little Buddy!

Bob Mackie sketched up this AMAZING gown to show how he envisioned the soon to be princess to look on her wedding day.

This sketch is exactly what weddings exemplify!  The design is elegant and just dramatic enough.  It recalls memories of the Helen Rose designed wedding gown of Grace Kelly.  The sketch also nods lovingly to the Cecil Beaton embassy ball gown Audrey wore in "My Fair Lady".  I love the beautiful subtle gold embellishments in organic feather motifs all over the train bottom of the main dress.  The feather designs on the bodice make me think of angels' wings wrapping around her body.  There are no other words for this design other than "Breath Taking!"

I can't wait to start working on this with Mr. Mackie!  We better hurry though, the wedding is approaching FAST!

-Philip Estrada

Reason #4 Bob Mackie Should Hire Me

Reason #4 - Dreams

I HAD A DREAM!  Last night actually.  A Dream that not only starred Bob Mackie, but was costumed by the man as well.  Clearly I am so committed to Team Mackie that my subconscious is right there with me.

Picture it!  There I was standing on the stoop of my building.  It was a nice mild Spring day. The block was empty except for a man walking toward me.  As he got closer I realized it was none other than Bob Mackie.  We struck up a conversation and he was as nice as ever.  I told him that I was going to Las Vegas in 2 weeks for my 30th birthday.  Also I told him how and how super excited I was to have gotten tickets to see ;Jubilee!',  featuring his iconic showgirl designs. 

Then suddenly I was on an old timey pirate ship standing next to Bob Mackie's BFF, Cher.  At first I was a bit disoriented.  I didn't even have time to tell Mr. Mackie about the blog or beg for a job!  Not only that, but he must have thought I was insanely rude for just leaving without saying "Good day, Sir!"  However I wasn't really complaining.  It was nice to be hanging out with Cher on the high seas.  It was only a few minutes until the ship ran aground on the shore.


The pirate costume Mr. Mackie designed for Cher's "Believe" tour.
Photo via some random Flickr account.

Sorry for the small image but I just love the sketch of Cher as a pirate.... YARRRR!

Cher and I jumped off the ship and ran onto the beach which was extremely populated with tourists.  When we made it onto dry land I noticed that she magically changed outfits.  She was now wearing the red version of the "Take Me Home" bugle beaded outfit.  Unsurprisingly, I love every version of this outfit Bob ever made Cher.  Now at this point I couldn't keep up with Cher.  The beach and boardwalk were teeming with drag queens dressed as different versions of Cher.  Being as nice as she is (I assume), Cher insisted on running up and taking a photo with each and every single lady-boy.  That's when I woke up with a giant smile on my face. 

Talk about dedication!  The fact that I would gladly be Cher's wrangler while I sleep has got to be easily one of the BEST reasons for Bob Mackie to hire me!

- Philip Estrada 

Inspired by the 20s

This lovely sketch was inspired by the roaring cocktail parties of the 1920s.  I've always been preoccupied by this era.  I draw a lot from the creativity, artists and designers of the art deco movement.  Erte and J.C. Leyendecker are just a couple of examples of such inspiration to emerge from that period.  Some of the most beautiful movies are set in the 1920s like, "The Great Gatsby", "Thoroughly Modern Millie", "The Cotton Club" to name a few. 

This ensemble could be a one piece cocktail dress or a tunic and skirt set.  The top would look amazing in Pewter colored silk with gold, shaped panels applied in the sun burst motif.  The Gold panels will then be encrusted with shiny antique brass beads.  The red contrast panel would be inset and decorated with additional brass beads.  The skirt would be finely pleated black silk satin and hit just at the knees.  This approach would easily allow one to roll your stockings down to apply a little rouge!

- Philip Estrada

Just Plain Cher

I think it's high time that I address Bob Mackie and Cher's 40 year collaboration.  How awesome is it that they kept working together?!  It must be because their fabulocity skills are unmatched by man or beast.  It could also be one of those "with our powers combined, we will be unstoppable" situations, and so far it pretty much has been.  Trust me... no one is complaining.

This amazing Cher costume sketch was worn during the song "Ain't Nobody's Business" from her "Monte Carlo Show" which was televised from the Sporting Club of Monte Carlo, right on the water, in 1980.  Cher shared the billing with the second in command of the Kingdom of Rhinestones,  Liberace.  Could you imagine such a show?  I would have been freaking out every second!  Screaming like a school girl and fake fainting everytime there was a costume change.  It would have been a life changing experience.



A photo from Cher's performance.



 Cher and Liberache
(I can not confirm that this is from "The Monte Carlo Show")

The beginning of the show when she changes into the ensemble.

The second section of the show including the outfit and a quick change to a new Mackie!

The wrap and sketch were auctioned off in 2010 and each fetched over $4,000.  The highest I could go on the wrap was $3,999... bummer.

I wonder if there is anyone out there on the interwebs that was at this auction... or the performance!  If so PLEASE share your stories!

-Philip Estrada