Few names in the fashion industry carry as much gravitas as Bob Mackie. The American designer is responsible for some of the most iconic gowns to ever grace the stage - Tina Turner’s firebird dress, Cher’s 1974 Met Gala ‘naked dress,’ Elton John’s crystal-encrusted Dodgers one-piece and Ann-Margaret’s one-shouldered bejewelled gown later rehashed by Sabrina Carpenter to name a modest few.
Unlike his comrades, Mackie’s designs refuse to flip-flop in and out of style. His prolific body of work is completely timeless - so much so that his portfolio has entered a new realm of greatness. It’s archival gold dust.
We all know that the power of vintage is not to be underestimated. The magic of Mackie’s work lies in the stories stitched into the seams of one-off pieces worn by icons of the stage and silver screen. Hence why all the modern day showgirls (think Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Zendaya) continue to pine after his resplendent treasures.
© FilmMagicJoining the ranks is none other than Alexa Demie, who took to the red carpet on Wednesday to attend the Los Angeles premiere of HBO's Euphoria Season 3 at the TCL Chinese Theatre. For the hotly anticipated affair, the 35-year-old actress delved into the sequinned Bob Mackie vault, slipping into a silver, gold and black chevron-striped gown featuring a strapless silhouette (a Mackie signature) and a plunging bust. Contrast panels cascaded from the train of the piece - which was once worn by Hollywood legend Bette Midler in the 1991 issue of Vanity Fair.
Alexa was joined on the red carpet by her co-stars, including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Maude Apatow, Sydney Sweeney, Chloe Cherry and Bottega boy Jacob Elordi. She wore her raven tresses down loose in a voluminous manner, allowing a few flirtatious strands to kiss her face as she walked.
Speaking of his clientele and career back in November, Mackie told me: “We've had this big thing about ‘showgirl’ looks - that kind of threw me. I didn't think that I was doing that. But [stars] are borrowing from stores that have bought these really interesting pieces from celebrities who came before them. They have moved on, yet suddenly they see their looks back on the stage and they can’t help but wish they still owned them.”
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
© @arianagrandeWhy does he think that archival is so desirable today? “I was trying to figure that out. All of a sudden, many of these little darlings, like the Disney children who can dance, sing and act, the minute they hit their teens, they want to be sexy. They want to be fabulous. They want to be a movie star. Very often they only need a couple of good hits on an award show, and they are ready to go.”
While this isn’t the first time Alexa has loaned a rare, archival look (her arsenal boasts 1970s Norman Norell, 90s Alaïa, 90s Vivienne Westwood, Noughties Galliano for Dior, 90s Jean Paul Gaultier and Halston), it marks her first Mackie moment. A clear departure from her character Maddy’s previous onscreen attire, which centred Y2K pieces from low-slung jeans to cropped halternecks courtesy of brands like Miaou and Isa Boulder, the historic gown could hint at what’s to come from her Season 3 wardrobe.
From what we’ve gleaned from the trailer, we know that Maddy is thriving in the new season of the show, working at a Hollywood talent agency. Given Maddy’s new role and the wardrobe that comes with it, we can expect a visual feast - and no shortage of archival outfit inspiration. Watch this space.
