Cheryl Shops

Where & When: Tuesday, February 16 at 10 a.m., the Tent, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: Mark Badgley and James Mischka will perhaps always be known for their ultra-glamorous red carpet looks, and rightfully so--they're among the best in the business. The first half of their show this morning was a sparkly, ethereal affair, with 15 evening dresses (well, 14 dresses and one jumpsuit), starting with subdued black jersey and unfolding into petal-covered skirts and glittery georgette gowns, the shimmery effect of which was enhanced by the show's dramatic dark lighting. The dresses alternated between sweet and sultry, but all were showstoppers. The second half of the show was devoted to Mark + James, the duo's new contemporary line, which was heavy on nighttime looks and tended toward a more fashiony point of view, as evidenced by the models' faux-hawk hairdos. The layering was edgy and cool, with cape-sleeve jackets and coats over tissue-weight jersey tops paired with sleek faux leather or sequined pants. The dresses were mostly of the short and sparkly variety, but that's exactly the point--the contemporary customer needs dresses for dinner, clubbing, and the like; she's not quite ready for the red carpet...yet.
Standout Looks: This tulle "constellation" dress looked like it was spun from gold and sprinkled with fairy dust for good measure. It also looked effortless in its construction, with a strategically draped design; it's one thing to make a gorgeous dress and another to make one so flattering. For Mark + James, there were many great layered looks, but this sweater dress caught my eye. It, like many of the pieces in the collection, had a more exaggerated, fashion-forward shape with its slouchy dolman sleeves, and it looked so warm and cozy yet sexy too, it could become a new nighttime uniform.
Bonus Points: It was snowing like crazy outside, but a stellar turnout of TV stars, from high (Mad Men's Christina Hendricks) to medium (90210's AnnaLynne McCord) to low (Real Housewives Bethenny Frankel and Kelly Bensimon, and The City girls) warmed up the front row.
Where to Buy: Visit BadgleyMischka.com for stores.