Badgley Mischka is a design team of James Mischka born 1960 in Burlington, Wisconsin, USA and Mark Badgley born 1961 East St. Louis, Illinois, USA. They met when they both enrolled in 1982 at Parsons School of Design in New York. After graduation and separate apprenticeships Badgley with Donna Karan and Mischka with Willi Smith, the pair formed their own company in 1985.

Their showroom was in the Hells Kitchen district of Manhattan. It was up an old staircase and got crosswinds which often blew the gowns across the car park. In 1992 however, they managed to get financing from the German company of ESCADA. In 2001, Escada launched a cost-cutting initiative which did help the company to show a profit on sales of $ 40 million.

They decided to specialize in evening wear and now stars and celebrities are clamouring for their unique brand of elegance, particularly for Oscar night. To the 1998 Oscar show, Wynona Ryder wore one of their gowns. Their 1987 show attracted buyers from major departmental stores who were drawn to their elegant, contemporary versions of classic designs.

In 1989, they won the Mouton Cadet Young Designer Award, and in 1992, the Dallas International Apparel Rising Star Award.

In recent years they have attracted a Hollywood clientele for the Decollete Cocktail dresses and tunics encrusted with beads as well as off the shoulder bridal gowns made of ivory lace and silk crepe. Their clientele includes Bridge Fonda, Winona Ryder, Teri Hatcher, Sharon Stone, Andie McDowell, Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Jodie Foster.

Since 1992, their house has been financed by Escada, USA.

As part of the campaign to Aid Breast Cancer Research, more than 70 designers took part and made in-store appearances. Most of these have stores in New York's 5th Avenue. Badgley Mischka created a beaded bag which went on sale in Autumn 1999, with a percentage of the proceeds going to this charity. It has turned out to be a 'MUST HAVE' bag for customers.

When Mark Badgley and James Mischka set out to make a beautiful evening gown, they look to glamour icons like Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe for inspiration. This rang loud and true at their Spring 2002 Bridal collection, shown at their New York showroom.

Spring/Summer 2003 Ready-to-Wear

Badgley Mischka showed the Spring/Summer 2003 collection at the New York Fashion Week in September 2002. This dress is from that collection.

Autumn/Winter 2003 Ready-to-Wear
New York - February 2003

The outfit on the right is one from the Autumn/Winter collection.

Badgley and Mischka are a pair of evening-wear geniuses who showed their latest range of richly embroidered and bead-encrusted gowns, with spaghetti straps and sexy curves. Many of these will be worn on Oscar night. One particularly beautiful gown was a satin sleeveless column in brown and gold pattern.

Oscar Night 2003

On Oscar Night in March 2003, among the celebrities on the red carpet, were two ladies in beautiful Badgley Mishka gowns. Calista Flockhart (Ali MacBeil) on the left and Nia Vardolos on the right.

Spring/Summer 2004

Badgley and Mischka collection for this season was shown during New York Fashion Week in September 2003. A dress from the show is shown here on the left. This is only one of a very few day dresses, most of the rest were evening gowns.

They were inspired by Maggie, the character played by Elizabeth Taylor in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".

The fashion duo produced a run of sexy strapless dresses which glimmered with a million sparkling beads, sequins and pearls. They have set their sights on celebrities wearing their gowns at all of the red carpet events next Spring, such as the Oscars and the Emmys.

Fall/Winter 2004

The Fall collection was shown during New York Fashion Week in February 2004. The duo passionately embellished yards of luxurious fabric resulting into a collection of amazing dresses glittering with Swarovski crystals and tailor-made for the Oscars as always.

Last year Mark Badgley and James Mishka put their company up for sale as they were unhappy with Escada's tight financial controls, which failed to fund the materials they require. This year, in July 2004, the duo have announced that they would not be showing a collection for Spring/Summer 2004 at the New York Fashion Week in September, since they just could not afford to do so.

They will however be producing a bridal collection in cooperation with Pronovias USA who have been handling their bridal orders for the last seven years.

The White House

The duo were pleased and honoured to be asked by President Bush's two daughters Jenna and Barbara, to dress them for the Inaugural Balls. They reveal that Jenna is a little more daring in her choice of gown, and Barbara is more romantic.

Oscar Night
February 27th 2005

Mark and James are always called on for red-carpet occasions and the Oscars were no exception. Here on the left is Kate Winslett in a beautiful blue gown, and Helen Mirren is shown on the right.

Spring/Summer 2006
New York

The duo presented their Spring/Summer 2006 collection during New York Fashion Week in September 2005. A gown from the collection is shown on the left.

They had managed to overcome most of their financial difficulties and returned to Fashion Week after a two season break. Their new backer is Iconix, formerly Candie's.

Satin and chiffon gowns are their signature, and the gowns in this show also had the crystal beading which they are famous for. There were many mother-of-pearl wedding gowns, and layers of lace and tulle. However this season they added daywear which was attractive and wearable. Chic tweed dresses and jackets show that they are not only concentrating on the red-carpet gowns.