"Devastated" Law Roach Speaks Out After Bob Mackie's Death

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Zendaya's stylist Law Roach hopes the next Met Gala pays tribute to Bob Mackie, who died Sept. 14. He detailed his bond with the iconic designer on Live From E!: 2026 Emmys.

By Natalie Finn Sep 14, 2026 11:23 PM

| Updated 1 hour ago

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"Devastated" Law Roach Wants to See Bob Mackie Honored at Met Gala After Iconic Designer's Death

Law Roach hopes the Met Gala leaves no bead unturned when it comes to honoring Bob Mackie.

The iconic designer, who in addition to dressing Cher, Dolly Parton and more fashion legends was behind the unforgettable costumes on The Carol Burnett Show, died Sept. 14 at the age of 87. And Roach, who has sent 2026 Emmy nominee Zendaya down multiple red carpets in vintage Mackie pieces, thinks the man should get his due on the first Monday in May.

And since the 2027 Met Gala is now missing a theme...

"I would love to see Bob as a theme for the Met," Roach exclusively told Live From E!'s Keltie Knight on the red carpet at the 2026 Emmys. "I think the work is incredible and it spanned over 60 years. I don't think there's anyone else who has that huge, magnificent body of work as Bob did." (See all the fashion on the Emmys 2026 red carpet, Law-approved or not.) 

But Roach wasn't just a fan of the nine-time Emmy winner—and vice-versa. The fellow image architects (whether Mackie knew he was one or not) were also friends.

"A few years ago, his PR wrote me and said I was his favorite stylist, and my relationship with Zendaya reminded him of his relationship with Cher, and he wanted to meet me," Roach shared.  "I went and I sat with him for five hours and he gave me the most gorgeous gossip about all the Hollywood ladies he would dress."

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images

"After that," the Project Runway judge continued, "he became like a godfather tp me. I'm in his documentary [2024's Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion]. I went to see him really often."

So, when Roach heard the news that Mackie had died, he was "devastated."

"We are losing one fo the greatest American fashion designers," he noted. "He's way past a costume designer."

Which, considering what the discerning stylist has had to say about looks that are too costume-y on Project Runway, is high praise.

And of course Roach wouldn't provide any hints about what Zendaya, a past winner and once again a nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the final season of Euphoria, would be wearing to the Emmys tonight, but here's all the red carpet fashion so far:

Randy Shropshire/NBC

Sterling K. Brown

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Dan Levy

in Celine.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Amanda Peet

in Givenchy. 

Randy Shropshire/NBC

Janelle James

in vintage Roberto Cavalli.

Jesse Grant/NBC

Jaclyn Smith & Cheryl Ladd

Jesse Grant/NBC

Julia Garner

in Loewe. 

Jesse Grant/NBC

Allison Janney

Randy Shropshire/NBC

Michelle Pfeiffer

in Saint Laurent. 

Jesse Grant/NBC

Julianna Margulies

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Florence Pugh

in Vivienne Westwood. 

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Ayo Edebiri

in Chanel and Mikimoto jewelry. 

Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images

Jon Hamm & Anna Osceola

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Kaley Cuoco & Tom Pelphrey

in Giorgio Armani (Pelphrey). 

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Oscar Isaac

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Paul Anthony Kelly

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Sarah Snook

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Harrison Ford & Calista Flockhart

John Shearer/WireImage

Rhea Seehorn

in Louis Vuitton and Swarovski jewelry. 

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Sarah Jane Nader & Brooks Nader

Photo by John Shearer/WireImage

Nicole Brydon Bloom

in Lein Studio. 

John Shearer/WireImage

Eunice Bae

in Bill Blass. 

Photo by LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images

Linda Cardellini

in Yara Shoemaker. 

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Karolina Wydra

in Marmar Halim. 

Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Shailene Woodley

in Balenciaga. 

Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images

Nicole Kidman

in Chanel. 

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Charles Melton

Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images

Sarah Pidgeon

in Chanel. 

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Zendaya

in custom Prada. 

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Brenda Song & Macaulay Culkin

in Oscar de la Renta (Song). 

Photo by LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images

Constance Zimmer

in Akris and Kwiat jewelry. 

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