Blake Edwards' 1968 cult comedy The Party provided the inspiration for Mark Badgley and James Mischka's latest collection. But of course it wasn't Peter Sellers' baggy red pajamas they were gushing over. Rather, they looked to the swinging cocktail styles of the film to inform their work.
"Have you ever heard of a mood ring?" asked Mischka, pulling out a white scuba gown whose collar was studded with stones that turned a brilliant blue when worn because of body heat. While the other gowns provided less entertainment, they still had a good amount of sixties flair: Lucite embellishments were a retro contrast to traditional sequins; geometric starburst embroidery added a veil of youth to a few dresses and caftans.
Color choice was solid: magenta, coral, sea foam, and white were all prominent and added to the festive nature of the party clothes. And an iridescent, op-art-inspired raffia embroidery provided the right amount of psychedelic noise.
