bob mackie

Incredible & Rare 1980s Bob Mackie Well Documented Ivory Sequin & Nude Stretch Net High Slit Dress

  • This dress is instantly recognizable as having been designed by Bob Mackie.
  • Mackie was best known for dressing Cher and for his undying love of opulence and bead work, both of which he incorporates heavily into the best of his designs. 
  • He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis prior to working as a costume designer and co-designing with Ray Aghayan. That led to his incredible journey in designing for stars like Cher and Diana Ross for many years.
  • Tracee Ellis Ross wore its twin along with several others we have included here. It is one of his pieces that have become iconic in modern culture.
  • This is an amazing dress that is heavily sequinned and extremely sexy and flattering once on. The base of the dress is made of a nude stretch silk netting that has a pattern made up of beautiful curving bands that feel like they are wrapped around you like flames.
  • Mixed into this is an elaborated detailing made of faux pearls that curve down the front of the dress and highlight that very high set slit at the front. The pearl embellishments travels upwards right to the neckline and run down each sleeve.
  • The designs that you see are made up of ivory coloured sequins hand set in curving bands. White and silver tube beads are set vertically to create an edge around each of those curving bands. Additional silver sequins and rhinestones are scattered in between.
  • The combination of the glass tube beads and sequins give the dress an extra layer of texture and glamour as every inch of it catches the light and sparkles.
  • The dress has a decent weight to it when it is off of the body because of that extensive bead-work but once on the body it lies and drapes in a way that it is balanced and easy to wear.
  • The bodice is cut to skim over the chest with a high, slightly angled neckline. The sleeves are cut straight and lined with a layer of nude silk to really show off the design that trails down and around each sleeve.
  • The waist is brought in just slightly so that there is a bit of shape created but there is no horizontal seam to break the lines of the design.
  • The skirt is cut on a curve so the back is longer then the front and it wraps around you to that high, wide slit at the front. The effect of this is far more dramatic and fabulous on a real body and it really shows off the legs.
  • These were produced with a nude silk chiffon lining. If you preferred the true nude, semi-see through dress that Mackie is so well known for, you could easily have it removed. 
  • The dress is fully lined in a nude silk through the body and the sleeves have a more transparent nude chiffon lining. It closes with a painted metal and nylon back zipper. Hand finished throughout. Slight padding at the edge of each shoulder and zippers on each cuff. In person it is a touch more of a cream. Perhaps the occasional loose thread. It is extremely well made. It does have some stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable range laying flat. 
  • Tagged a vintage Bob Mackie 10
  • Excellent condition

Sleeves: 24" and are 12" around the upper arm. The neck opening is 14" around.
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 17-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from neck to longest point of back hem
Slit: approx 26" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5353

Reference Photos/Video: (1) From the @bobmackie Instagram. "Throwback to this 2022 shoot in LA with @sabinegetty and @zizidonohoe wearing archival Bob Mackie Couture."  /  (2-4)  Tracee Ellis Ross in Bob Mackie for Blackish.  /  (5) credit unknown.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

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  • items less then $500, or that are on sale, require a 50% deposit with the final payment due in two weeks from the date of deposit 

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SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.

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