The legendary designer—known for his eye-catching costumes and fashions—was delighted by the fact that the “Opalite” singer donned one of his bejeweled looks for the album cover art for The Life of a Showgirl.
“I was kind of shocked myself,” Mackie shared with E! News at a viewing of his upcoming collection with Julien’s Auctions, “because I was thinking Taylor Swift to be this little girl who used to write songs about fairytale princesses.”
But much to the 85-year-old’s surprise, “There she is. Looking like a showgirl.”
Mackie—whose famous fashions will be on display Dec. 3 when Julien’s Auctions hosts an exclusive viewing of Bold Luxury: Bob Mackie, Stage Glamour & The Couture Edit—was thrilled to see the designs on Swift’s album cover since it showed him a side of her he wasn’t used to.
“She’s amazing and much taller than I thought she would be and older than I thought she was,” he laughed. “I thought she was still 14 or something. Not true!”
As Mackie previously shared in an August Instagram post, he originally designed Swift’s showgirl outfit for the Las Vegas revue Jubilee!, which ran at Bally’s Las Vegas (now the Horseshoe Las Vegas) from 1981 to 2016.
Mert Alas & Marcus PiggotBut it’s not just the “Fate of Ophelia” singer who has brought Mackie’s creations to life, as he also reflected on his long-running partnership with Cher.
“That’s truly an amazing creature,” he gushed to E! News. “Gorgeous. At this point in time I’ve been working with her for 50 to 60 years. And you just go, ‘Wait a minute? Isn’t she still 18?’”
And the designer has an idea as to why Cher has always looked stunning in his pieces—from her iconic 1986 Oscars gown to the costume she wore in the music video for 1989’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Bruce Glikas/Getty Images“She’s never intimidated by anything,” Mackie noted, “and she loves to get dressed up. She just loves to and she looks good in it.”
He added, “You see a picture of her today and that looks like the same girl I met so many years ago.”
Ultimately, Mackie is grateful that stars from across the decades like Cher and Swift are all wearing his garments, telling E!, “I love that!”
For a deeper dive into Taylor’s own fashionable looks from her groundbreaking Eras Tour, keep reading.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince”
The singer opens her first show of her The Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona on March 17, 2023.
John Medina/Getty Images“Marjorie”
The singer performs songs from her “evermore” era.
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Tim McGraw”
The star performs the song at the piano.
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Cruel Summer”
The singer performs her song from her “Lover” era.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Fearless”
The singer performs songs from her “Fearless” era.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Blank Space”
The singer performs her 2014 hit single.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Look What You Made Me Do”
Ssssssspectacular.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)“All Too Well”
Swift performs her 10-minute hit ballad from her “Red” era.
John Medina/Getty Images“You Need to Calm Down”
It’s snazzy business-casual for Swift when it comes to her “Lover” era.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Shake It Off”
Swift performs her 2014 hit single.
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Enchanted”
Swift performs one song from her “Speak Now” era.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Midnight Rain”
Swift performs a track from her “Midnights” era.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“22”
Swift performs songs from her “Red” era.
John Medina/Getty Images“August”
The singer shows cases a romantic, dusty rose style.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Karma”
The singer closes the show in a fringed outfit.
