A ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CHER SHOW & THE MASSART DEPARTMENT OF FASHION DESIGN
“ All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others. ”
Bob Mackie Concept Sketches © The Cher Show
For six decades, Cher has captivated pop culture, shattering barriers, pushing boundaries, and continually reinventing herself.
In January, fifteen junior designers embraced the challenge of crafting Cher and Bob Mackie-inspired looks for a “Conceptual Couture” project in the Creative Fashion Design 3 class.
Through this collaboration, these students had the opportunity to reinterpret Cher through their own distinct creative lenses in an unforgettable exhibition demonstrating this unique fusion of fashion and theatre.
“ Bob changed my life! Without him I would have been a peacock without feathers. ”
“All you need to do is tell Cher that, and she will wear the absolute opposite of what she was instructed to wear.”– Bob Mackie, Boston Globe
“With his trademark extravagance and sardonic streak, legendary costume designer Bob Mackie has been wowing audiences for over six decades with spectacular gowns and get-ups embellished with all manner of bling — rhinestones, feathers, beads, and enough sequins to burn your retinas...
... His most famous and enduring partnership, though, has been with the singer, actress, and cultural icon Cher. As designer-muse pairings go, Mackie is the Dior to her Marlene Dietrich, the Givenchy to her Audrey Hepburn, the Halston to her Liza Minnelli.”
You can read the full article in print or on the Boston Globe website under the “Arts” section.
“ For this work, I was inspired by the use of feathers and sheer fabrics with movement of the body. Mackie’s famous naked dresses drove me to challenge myself with how I work and influenced my take on this project with a sprinkle of my love for silhouettes. ”
“ My look was inspired by the famous 1978 dress, that covered Cher with strips of bedazzled red and yellow sequin fabric imitating fire. The Bob Mackie signature flame dress has been worn by Tina Turner and \Beyoncé, but Cher will always be the first. ”
“ For this project, I took inspiration from popular Cher red carpet looks ranging from the 1970s–1980s, taking dramatic, eye-catching elements and combining them with my own take on red carpet and performance-wear drama. ”
“ My design inspiration for this piece comes from the fantasy goddess of the arctic Barbie doll in the Bob Mackie collection, as well as the see-through dress designed by Mackie for Cher in 1974.
I think his design style is very bold, gorgeous and delicate. ”
“ I am pulling inspiration from Cher’s Bob Mackie look at the Met Gala for the Costumes of Royal India exhibit in 1985, as well as the cover of Vanity Fair from 1986 where she wore a beautiful bedazzled top with a simplistic black skirt. ”
“ My inspiration for this design came first from the photoshoot for Cher’s 1979 album, Prisoner. The Tinsel wig fairy look drove me to re-imagined a fairy queen as a feyarch of the unseelie court, to better capture the dark glamor that Cher emanates. ”
UXBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
“ I am pulling inspiration from the singing variety part of the Sonny and Cher Show, specifically the song “Dark Lady” and its lyrics; lots of glitz and glam. I also will be pulling from some more mythical elements to capture that darker vibe. ”
“ My look is inspired by Cher at the Las Vegas Colosseum in 2009 and her costume in the Here We Go Again 2019 tour. She was the first woman to show her belly button on television, and like Bob Mackie, I want to highlight and enhance her best features. ”
“ Personally, I love how bold Cher is with her body, showing that she is the human form, natural and beautiful. Because of this, I fell in love with Bob Mackie’s work as well. Bodies should not be shamed, and can be adorned beautifully. ”
“ My vision is to embody sensational, eye-catching looks that still carry the elegance reminiscent of Bob Mackie’s designs – with dynamic embellishments and striking silhouettes that look amazing in still shots and dancing alike. ”
NORTHBOROUGH,
“ I was inspired by a Versace dress from the 2015 Fall Couture Runway, adding a “Cher flare” to my design. Bob Mackie uses a lot of sparkly fabrics, sequins, and unique silhouettes; I will be incorporating all of those into my design to enhance the look. ”
“ My design is reminiscent of the costumes Cher would have worn on the Cher Show. I love the 70s, so I went with a halter style which she wore many times in this era. Sequins compliment the theatrical elements and sheer panels are also a signature of her style. ”
MIDDLETOWN,
“ I seek to capture the drama and glamor of a Bob Mackie look through my own lens.
Inspired by the Greek myth of the Chimera, I hope to create a true spectacle. Cher has slain the monster, and now wears its skin as a trophy and a symbol of victory. ”
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
“ My piece was inspired by the look Cher wore to the 1986 Oscars, with sharp points and embellished details. I wanted to encapsulated a feeling of sharpness, sleekness, and intimidation – which is sort of the reaction that her “controversial” outfit had in 1986. ”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
“ I was inspired by Mackie’s bold, dramatic, and daring looks and Cher’s confidence. I noticed a lot of sheer and gorgeous applications, like at the 1973 Oscars. I wanted something creative that represents me as a designer, but also pushed my skills. ”
“ I’ve always taken risks and never worried what the world might really think of me. ”
Bob Mackie Concept Sketches © The Cher Show
JOE CARL is a fashion designer and educator with over 11 years of experience in couture garment construction and pattern making at Daniel Faucher Couture (20052016). He holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2015) and a Master of Fine Arts in Fashion from the Savannah College of Art and Design (2019). He currently works as a visiting lecturer at MassArt.
Dominican Republic native JEURY ROSARIO has been dressing some of the most beautiful women in the world. His clients include Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003; Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003 and Paola Rey, Colombian actress, model and icon. In 2003 he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with Department Honors from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He also studied in France at the Paris Fashion Institute to further develop his skills in haute couture.
(MassArt) is a public, independent institution that prepares artists, designers, and educators to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good.
Since 1873, MassArt has built a legacy of leadership as the first and only freestanding public college of art and design in the country, and the nation’s first art school to grant a degree. MassArt offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, design, and art education, taught by world-class faculty. To learn more, please visit massart.edu.
The Boch Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts institutions and a guardian of the historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. As New England’s largest cultural venue, the Boch Center is home to theater, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, opera, Broadway musicals, family entertainment, and more.
Located in Boston’s historic Theater District, the Boch Center also offers a diverse mix of educational, cultural and community outreach initiatives, including the City Spotlights Leadership Program and the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame; collaborates with artists and local nonprofit arts organizations; preserves historic venues; and acts as a champion for Greater Boston’s arts and cultural community. Learn more at bochcenter.org.
“ I don’t know what I would be if I wasn’t me. ”
Bob Mackie Concept Sketches © The Cher Show
Superstars come and go... Cher is forever.
The Cher Show is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon.
The Cher Show consists of 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!
