It’s no wonder that designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka are chummy with America’s fashion royalty. Women of a certain Hollywood ilk—think Brooke Shields and Lauren Hutton—have long been devoted fans of the duo, not only because of their spotlight-worthy gowns but also because of their down-to-earth, unpretentious personal charm. When it came time for Badgley and Mischka to start contemplating Resort 2018, the designers felt that they wanted to pay homage to one of their luminary friends. “Our inspiration this season was Anjelica Huston,” Mischka said. “A lot of the dresses in this collection have a silhouette and a boldness to them that fits in with how we picture her dressing. She’s always been a muse for us.”
Huston is a client and starred in the label’s 25th anniversary campaign in 2009. As a friend and collaborator, Badgley and Mischka did the model, actress, and style icon justice in their slightly more subdued, body-hugging pieces this season. Highlights included a long belted black crepe dress with long sleeves and a dangerously low-cut neckline, as well as a red floor-length gown with beautifully beaded off-the-shoulder straps. Other more decorated looks didn’t quite match with Ms. Huston’s aesthetic, particularly the embellished crimson caftan fit for a Palm Beach snowbird and a gala-appropriate shirtdress with a voluminous skirt and crystal buttons. In all, however, there were definitely options for every Badgley Mischka fan.
