Keke Palmer did not just wear a dress inspired by Raquel Welch to the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards. She wore the actual gown Welch had worn 51 years earlier. On Monday, 2 November, the Nope actress hosted the ceremony at New York's American Museum of Natural History in a one-of-a-kind gold Bob Mackie creation originally made for Welch's 1975 performance with Cher.
The shimmering halter gown, complete with delicate straps and chain detailing, was sourced from vintage specialist Timeless Vixen. Palmer paired it with a voluminous red bob and sparkling jewellery, bringing the 1970s design back into the spotlight. The timing was particularly notable, coming less than two months after Mackie's death on 14 September.
What Is the Story Behind Raquel Welch's 1975 Gown?
The dress first appeared in 1975 when Welch joined Cher for a performance of 'I'm a Woman' on the singer's CBS variety show, Cher. Mackie, who designed costumes for Cher throughout her television career, created the gold gown specifically for Welch. The two performers wore revealing, embellished outfits for the duet, which became one of the show's memorable fashion moments.
Cher and Raquel Welch in Bob Mackie performing “I’m a Woman” on The Cher Show, 1975.
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Welch apparently had some doubts about the daring design. In a 2018 interview, Mackie recalled that Welch was nervous about the revealing outfit, particularly because she and Cher had very different body types. She reportedly asked whether she looked cheap, but Mackie reassured her: 'No, darling, you look gorgeous.'
At the time, Mackie was also working on The Carol Burnett Show, producing costumes for two major television productions simultaneously. His designs for Cher regularly featured halter necklines, exposed midriffs and elaborate embellishments that challenged conventional television fashion. Many of those looks later became part of his extensive archive of performance costumes.
Palmer Brings a Rare Bob Mackie Original Back to the Red Carpet
Finding a dress with that kind of history was no ordinary vintage shopping trip. Palmer's styling team approached Timeless Vixen, a Los Angeles vintage boutique founded by Lauren Lepire, looking for a special Bob Mackie piece. Lepire said the Welch gown immediately came to mind when the team contacted her.
The boutique specialises in documented vintage fashion and has supplied archival pieces to celebrities including Sabrina Carpenter and Kylie Jenner. Palmer's gold gown was not a recreation or a design inspired by the original. It was the same garment Welch had worn on television more than five decades earlier.
Palmer confirmed its history while discussing her outfit on the red carpet. 'It's Bob Mackie, vintage. Actually, it's the dress that Raquel Welch wore when she performed with Cher,' she explained. The One of Them Days actress completed the look with Le Vian earrings and a Zydo ring, while her curled red hair added another 1970s-inspired detail.
Bob Mackie's Legacy Returns to the CFDA Fashion Awards
Mackie died on 14 September 2026 at the age of 87, leaving behind decades of costumes worn by some of entertainment's biggest names. His designs dressed Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Carol Burnett, earning him nine Emmy Awards and a Tony Award during his career. The Welch gown's return to the red carpet came just weeks after the fashion world lost the designer behind it.
Palmer has also been building a track record of wearing archival fashion to major events. At the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, she chose a black velvet Chanel gown from 1985, previously worn by Jamie Lee Curtis. That outfit featured a strapless neckline with gold detailing, showing another side of her interest in fashion pieces with a celebrity history.
The CFDA ceremony also marked a busy week for Palmer, whose KeyTV production Glam Through the Ages won Outstanding Daytime Short Form Program at the Daytime Emmys on 30 October. She went on to host an awards night that recognised Rachel Scott of Diotima as American Womenswear Designer of the Year and Ralph Lauren as American Menswear Designer of the Year. And while designers collected their awards, Palmer's choice of a 51-year-old dress brought another piece of American fashion history back into view.
