Badgley Mischka

Book excerpt: This lavish volume is the first to celebrate the designs of duo Mark Badgley and James Mischka, the authorities on the evening dress. After meeting at Parsons School of Design in New York and embarking on separate apprenticeships at major fashion houses, Mark Badgley and James Mischka joined forces to form Badgley Mischka in 1988. By the time Winona Ryder walked the red carpet at the 1996 Academy Awards in their gown encrusted in crystal and pearl beads, the design duo had become synonymous with elegant and luxurious evening dresses. Informed by a streamlined 1940s Hollywood silhouette while employing exquisite beads crafted in India, Badgley Mischka have become the arbiters of old Hollywood glamour. Their commitment to classic American beauty continues to reign on the red carpet today. As Mark and James say, “glamour always works.” Badgley Mischka follow in the great haute-couture tradition of legendary fashion houses such as Christian Dior and Adrian, who continue to inspire them season after season. These pages showcase the long-celebrated silhouettes—skinny beaded dresses, fishtail and ball gowns, and cocktail dresses—inspired by the masters of a bygone era. Embellished modern evening gowns imbued with the allure of Hollywood’s golden age have been Badgley Mischka’s signature voice for more than twenty-five years, and this book is a celebration of the evening dress in all its shimmering glory.