Badgley Mischka presents a collection at New York Fashion Week. It has been a little while since they produced a collection walk the runway. Last year instead of a runway collection they were on a book tour. “Badgley Mischka: American Glamour,” we had the honor of meeting with them during this time.
They discussed the runway and creating a collection. Runway designing compares to a wedding 6 months of really hard work and in five minutes it is over. It is exhilarating to see the full design and styling. Mark Badgley said, “it is like seeing your daughter on her wedding day.” They love the runway part of the fashion world.
Badgley Mischka NYFW FW17
This collection takes women back to a time when things were tough and how they power through these times. The collection takes silhouettes from the 1940s. A time in history that required women to power through tremulous times.
The collections take nipped waists, a sense of armor with the use of beads, and jewels, longer hems, and voluminous skirts. They do have the seasonal trends with embroidered flowers, red roses, play with the sleeves, and the color red. There is a real modern pull from the 1940s silhouettes.
Badgley and Mischka continues the tradition of exceptional details. They are known for their beading and embellishments; it is all in the details. The inspiration for their beading comes from jewelry. Many dresses may have up to 30,000 beads, beaded by old men in India. They consider themselves magpies when it comes to their beading collections.
This collection included everyday wear from tracksuits to cashmere coats with sleek pants. The designer did not take from their glamorous woman even with flats.
Every woman who wears Badgley Mischka will be super glamorous with comfort and modern sensibility (sizes to 16 on the website). This collection adds a sense of empowerment. These designs will grace red carpets, social gatherings, and on the streets.The designers demonstrated that it is all in the details at Badgley Mischka.
The day with Badgley and Mischka at the Phoenix Art Museum was filled with passion, fashion, and women from around the world. The entire day was all about the details.
Badgley and Mischka Early Years
This year marks their silver anniversary in fashion, this month they celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary. “The era that women have to suffer for beauty are bye gone,” they stated. This is the day for super glamorous with comfort and modern sensibility. Badgley and Mischka remained true to their brand and glamour through the decades remembering that women want to look beautiful and young.
1920 1930s Collector From England
They started together at Parsons School of Design in their senior year. Each began designing with different fashion houses. James Mischka works with menswear for WilliWear WilliSmith. Mark Badgley works with Donna Karan. The long hours and commitment to each designer they thought it would be great to create their own business.
Badgley and Mischka Business
The business taught them that there are more than 24 hours in a day, pick what you believe in and dominate the arena, and trusting each other. They decided that they love evening attire even for daytime. This decision has been a benefited their business at times, but not following fashion trends at times has not been the best for their fashion label.
Inspiring designers for the label are Bill Blass, Oscar De La Renta, and Geoffrey Beene. Oscar De La Renta often rode the same elevator. The three would debate who was the best fashion designer back and forth until the doors opened.
Badgley and Mischka Runways
The designers watched old Hollywood films creating their label. They loved the looks of Bette Davies, Rita Hayworth, and Joan Crawford. They continue the old Hollywood film inspiration, even in recent runways.
Runway designing was compared to a wedding 6 months of really hard work and in five minutes it is over. It is exhilarating to see the full design and styling. Mark Badgley said, “it is like seeing your daughter on her wedding day.” They love this part of the fashion world, but it is just a small part of the business.
The recent discussion of competing with fast fashion for fashion houses was discussed. They understand the need for designers like Tom Ford, Burberry , and Rebecca Minkoff to have the see now buy now concept for their brands. It is a great way for them to show something different this season. Their brand and designs do not compete with fast fashion, so that concept is not necessary for their label.
Uma Thurman Cocktail Dress
Badgley and Mischka Designs
Their designs are known for their beading and embellishments; it is all in the details. The inspiration for their beading comes from jewelry. Many dresses may have up to 30,000 beads, beaded by old men in India, beading is a dying art. They consider themselves magpies when it comes to their beading collections. Creating the brands signature heirloom beads means: running the beads through the dishwashers hundreds of times or a bath in Drano to achieve this look.
Badgley and Mischka Sketches
Ensuring that the team completes the design comes from mood sketches. These sketches are the key to communicating the details of the gown. They have a signature look to their sketches. Badgley stated, “Mischka’s sketches are not as finely sketched.”
They can speak about each gown with passion. Badgley and Mischka discussed the time they hand dyed a gown for the red carpet and it shrunk. They tied soup cans to the bottom of the dress and flew it across the country. This worked the gown was the right length for the event.
Badgley and Mischka Celebrities
Their gowns have graced celebrities at some of the greatest red carpets. They know each of their clients well and what is working best for their personal image. They are aware of those celebrities that will require the gown custom made or others like Jennifer Lopez that knows she can rock any dress whether designed for her, previously worn, or straight off the runway. They love a woman that can look alluring and feminine in the evening no matter what her look is for the day.
This Photograph is A Favorite of the Couple
Badgley and Mischka Bridal
The wedding collection developed from brides wanting their evening wear created to fit their special day. Many would ask to make that evening gown in the tones and beading for their wedding. Badgley and Mischka began designing specifically to meet bridal designs.
The Arizona Costume Institute received a donation from Kate Winslet’s. The 2005 Oscars red carpet dress is a Badgley Mischka design. The gowns on display at the event demonstrated that it is all in the details at Badgley Mischka.
