Badgley Mischka is on the move. Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka began 2019 with a wave of change, relocating their New York corporate offices while simultaneously undertaking a move to Beverly Hills. Relocations can be stressful, but the pair was inclined to look on the bright side, crediting the bicoastal shakeup with giving their latest collection its lively West Coast vibe. “We’ve had the chance to visit some incredible resorts in Palm Springs, Montecito, Carmel,” said Badgley at their new headquarters. “Now we’re bringing a little of that into Resort.”
Hideaways may have been the starting point, but Hollywood glamour is never far from the designers’ minds. The season calls for easygoing fashion, and they provided their version of the concept: Neoprene dresses in seafoam green were an easy win and the duo’s wrinkle-proof fabric is already a hit for the brand. Paillette-covered suiting added a welcome disco moment. Belted trousers and off-the-shoulder satin blouses are about as casual as Badgley Mischka gets, but each piece felt unfussy and wearable.
Customers are increasingly conscious about comfort, even when selecting their eveningwear. Mischka and Badgley addressed these concerns by revisiting celebrity favorites and tempering the extravagance. Ombré halter dresses and black ruffled numbers were nice, but couldn’t compete with an opera coat favored by Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Recreated in iridescent navy satin, it raised the stakes of the whole collection. Likewise, Barbra Streisand’s onstage wardrobe inspired a series of silver-sequined gowns with overlays of blush or mint: Their flashes of silver were only visible as models moved, but they provided an upbeat moment of glittering excess.
