Bob Mackie Wearable Art Silk Wild Cat Blouse — Circa 1990s

This extraordinary silk blouse from Bob Mackie Wearable Art transforms the shirt into a canvas, covering nearly every inch in a riot of lions, tigers, leopards and painterly animal markings. Saturated shades of amber, gold, red, acid green and black sweep across the silk in a composition that feels part fashion, part illustration, and entirely Mackie.

A dramatic black collar and center placket give the print just enough structure, while vivid red piping and gleaming gold-tone buttons add another layer of polish. Turn it around and the spectacle continues: a magnificent lion dominates the back, surrounded by prowling cats and expressive brushstrokes.

This is not a blouse designed to disappear into a wardrobe. It is wearable art in the truest sense — theatrical, unapologetic and unforgettable.

Why We Love It

Bob Mackie understood better than almost anyone that clothing could be entertainment. This piece captures that philosophy beautifully. The extravagant jungle print could easily have become costume, yet the fluid silk, tailored black detailing and sophisticated palette keep it firmly in the realm of statement fashion.

Details

Bob Mackie Wearable Art
100% silk
Circa 1990s
Bold jungle and wild-cat print
Black contrast collar and front placket
Red piping
Gold-tone buttons
Long sleeves with contrast cuffs
All-over print continuing across the back

Condition - Good 

Collector’s Notes

Before becoming synonymous with spectacular fashion, Bob Mackie began his career as an illustrator and costume designer — a background that remained visible throughout his work. His designs famously dressed performers including Cher, Diana Ross, Carol Burnett, Tina Turner and countless others, establishing Mackie as one of American fashion's great masters of theatrical glamour.

His Wearable Art collections brought that same sense of fantasy into clothing intended for everyday wardrobes. Rather than relying on restraint, Mackie embraced color, embellishment, humor and visual storytelling.

This silk blouse is a particularly wonderful example. The animals aren't simply repeated as a conventional print; they overlap and emerge from a dense painterly composition, making the garment feel almost like an illustrated textile artwork.

For the collector who believes fashion should occasionally roar.