It’s hard not to think about the Mexican Riviera without envisioning its current state. The cities along the nation’s western coast have become a destination for those seeking to unwind in hippie splendor, but in the 1950s, the mood was entirely different. Travelers who passed through back then looked more like Betty Draper than Kate Moss. Resort found Mark Badgley and James Mischka going back to the season’s origins and the idea of stylish travelers enjoying a jet-set lifestyle.
The inspiration point was obvious in the collection’s zesty palette and optimistic perspective. Flowers woven into sumptuous evening gowns nodded to Mexico’s history of handcrafted embroidery, while striped jackets echoed the patterns found on traditional textiles. Within the casualwear, this vibe added a sense of playfulness, with ruffled details enlivening striped blouses and fringed textures making A-line dresses feel unique. But the real fun happened after dark.
While the eveningwear was diverse, the high points came when the designers embraced levity. It’s hard not to smile when you’ve got fiesta prints bursting with hibiscus blooms and grosgrain bows trailing down the backs of prim dresses. There was more to the designs than whimsy; laser-cut ruffles tipped with silver and hand-painted flowers added visual interest to caftans and necklines. In a few instances, the embellishment verged on the overwrought—red roses distracted from the appeal of dressy cropped jeans, while blue blooms were lost when set against a periwinkle print—but when done right, the details added to the spirited trip back in time.
