New York Fashion Week :: Badgley Mischka [The ZOO]

Badgley Mischka :: Fall 2006

Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka have given us a reason to revisit our old art history books and take a look at what we were missing. With a more modern take on elements used by the Dutch artist Vermeer, the talented team transcended the colors and textures found in works such as 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring', into their Fall 2006 collection. By boldly exaggerating the vibrancy of the blues, browns and gold?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢s often found in the seventeenth century artist's paintings, the collection had a distinct time period inspired feel, even in the modern interpretation. In many of the dresses, gold embroidering and beaded bodices hugged from the waist up, while a velvet bow cinched the waist and let the fabric loosely drape the hips (in a very Badgley Mischka sort of way). With an occasional fox fur jacket, beautiful beaded clutch or pair of jeweled earrings each look was complete without looking too 'costumey'. Silk pleated dresses and modest hemlines made this collection a bit more mature. It will be interesting to see who during Oscar season will embrace the duo's vision. I am thinking Emma Thompson rather than Eva Longoria. [Meghan Casey] more...