MischkaAndBadgley

Mark: Oh my god, you are very well-spoken!

James: We don't have to forgive you, by the way. You are doing nothing wrong.

Mark: Listen, I think the way women dress today is amazing. You know? There's no stigma, it's all a blur as to what's considered high fashion and accessible fashion. You can buy the most gorgeous little dress for nothing, put it together with a great bag or some accessories, and you can't tell the difference. I think it's the most amazing time for women to put themselves together. When they put on a t-shirt, a designer skirt, shoes, I think it's fun, there's no rules, there's no boundaries, I think it's all fun right now, and it's the way a modern woman dresses, doesn't matter if she has a million dollars in her bank account.

James: you can dress fast fashion or high fashion, it all works, totally. And for people who would like to wear our clothes, but can't afford them, buy pieces, buy a pair of sunglasses or some fragrance. It's part of a larger picture.

Mark: Gone are the days when a woman wears designer head to toe. It's not modern. She selects beautiful little pieces that she incorporates into her wardrobe, and buys a lot of little accessible pieces, and it's wonderful. I think it's great.

Mark: For years, we were a Russian woman.

James: Years ago, Mark's mom went into Bergdorf Goodman, was looking at the clothes, and was told by the saleslady that they were from a "Fabulous Russian Woman Designer, Badgley Mischka." And we were kind of mortified, but we corrected her real fast.

Mark: So nothing phases us. I'm Mischka, he's Badgley, we're pretty used to it all by now.

Mark: To me the worst look is just... it's just stopping trying. Like life has gotten so casual that I understand that, but we love a woman that makes an effort, you know?

James: I think the worst look is the sloppy look.

Mark: It's like, come on. It takes just as much time to dress to look amazing, or to look like a slob, so make a little effort. It could be ANYTHING, we hate dress down fridays.

James: It's our worst nightmares. Casual fridays.

Mark: They are just an excuse.

James: It's a complete lack of trying.

Mark: I mean, you could look so chic in a relaxed way, just make a little effort. It's a whole syndrome.

James: I think it's the whole attitude of casual fridays, where casual doesn't necessarily mean sloppy, but people think it does.

Mark: We love chic casual, you don't have to look like a slob.

Mark: I would say keep it simple.

James: Black is a fail-safe to go to. You can accent anything with black.

Mark: Keep it simple, black & white, have fun with accents & accessories.

James: Don't overthink it. Your more important job is being a dad.

Mark: Steer clear of prints, they are trouble.

James: No gigantic pineapple prints, they are trouble.

James: The bane of our existence is casual fridays, as we said before. We think that fashion is trending towards a more pulled-together look in the future, which we love.

Mark: I do think a woman loves a little polish today. We are all about the red carpet, and our core business is beautiful evening gowns. But we do a collection of day dresses that are so simple - you throw them on, one zip, and you are glamorous, and we love that. That's our mantra. They come in every size, silhouette, whether it's flirty or chemise-y or simple, and they are effortless. And to us, that's how a woman could - it takes just as much effort to throw on a tshirt and a pair of jeans and look like nothing, as it does to throw on a dress like this in any print or color, and that's the way I think a woman wants to dress today. I think she is tired of being so ordinary.

James; For anyone who thinks of Badgley Mischka as being $20,000 evening gowns, we also do collections that are very affordable for everyday customers.

Mark: We have a gorgeous collection called Belle, and the dresses are around $150, and they are drop. dead. gorgeous. And every woman could just throw it on, they are so easy and comfortable, it's the same pattern makers and designers on our team that does the couture, and it's wonderful, a really great solution.

James: it's all about attention to detail.

Mark: If you don't want to wardrobe yourself -

James: I'm going back to when we were in school, Mark. All our friends in school had no money, but they were fashion students, and they had no money, and they paid attention to every detail. Pay attention to detail and you will look amazing. Make sure your eyebrows are groomed, that your dress fits properly-

Mark: FIT IS SO IMPORTANT. You can take the cheapest piece of clothing, and if it fits you properly it will make you look like a million bucks. Fit elevates you.

James: Fit is primary for us. Mark and I always say this - the fit of the garment is more important than the garment.

Mark: For the Oscars, we will fit the ribcage of a gown to one of our girls for days. It will be chiseled, beautiful, just - fit is SO important.