Mark Badgley and James Mischka launched the label Badgley Mischka in 1988, and their bridal business launched in 1993. Badgley Mischka designs are described as “red carpet destined evening wear” but generally produced with lighter fabrics and less construction.  They are also known for fragrance, handbags, shoes, and eye wear.  Many celebrities, including Oprah, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Ashley Judd, Teri Hatcher, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Melissa Ethridge have all worn Badgley Mischka.

Literally, the inspiration for the fall 2010 collection came from images captured by the Hubble telescope.  The galaxy inspired this season’s beading, according to Mischka.  Depending on when Mark and James started creating the collection, one might wonder if they had just seen Star Trek.  I say this because of the way the models were styled.  They wore long ponytail hairstyles, and a lot of the fabrics were metallic in varying palettes with hues of silver (as seen in the runway collection).

In several shows, I have repeatedly seen the one-sleeve off-shoulder dresses, metallic leggings, styled with thigh high or ankle boots, floral detailing, chunky jewelry, and oversized sweaters and sweater dresses.  A few designers have sprinkled Caesar-inspired and Roman goddess gowns on their runways.

The first half of this collection follows Badgley Mischka’s tradition of luxury and red carpet gowns.  There are several pieces with floral detailing, including the powder pink and crème Gaultier-inspired evening gown with floral rose detailing.  This is the epitome of Badgley Mischka’s signature craftsmanship.  Other pieces with the trendy floral detailing were a rust cocktail dress covered with roses.  Badgley Mischka threw in shepherd styled jersey frocks.  But the biggest piggyback couture trend is certainly the one-sleeve off-shoulder gown.

My favorite pieces in the Badgley Mischka collection were the silver and lavender evening gown—I can see Nicole Kidman in this gown on the red carpet; the gold lamé evening gown; blue one off-the-shoulder gown; black sleeveless rosebud gown; the milky way inspired moss hand beaded v-neck mini; and the “red carpet” three-tone sequined gown in rust, black, and burgundy.

Bagley Mischka’s fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection offers a variety of choices for the modern woman of wide age ranges.  She can go from sophisticated cocktail attire to eveningwear.  And the younger hipster can even find an outfit to go clubbing in in this collection.  Badgley Mischka offers a practical solution to just about every upscale occasion.

Reviewed by Kaylene Peoples

View the Fall 2010 collection, photographed by Frazer Harrison.

View exclusive “Backstage” and “First Looks,” photographed by Arun Nevader.