Roving Reporter: Badgley Mischka

While everyone is reverting to refined glamour, Mark Badgley and James Mischka, the duo behind super brand Badgley Mischka, served us with a dose of full on glamour this morning in New York. “It never makes sense to do something that we’re not about” says Badgley, sharing a similar sentiment to Matthew Williamson, who also stuck to his guns and went against the grain at his show this morning.

The collection was a well edited mix of understated elegant day time looks in all black, and full on glamorous evening dresses, many of which will undoubtedly be making a red carpet appearance this weekend at the Oscars.

The show started with very sophisticated black statement pieces. Coats and dresses were all nipped in at the waist and teamed with simple black necklaces and patent clutch and totes, building on the ladylike elegant trend that has been building in New York over the last few days.   The feel of the first few looks was very elegant without trying too hard. Silhouettes were clean and timeless and presented wardrobe staples like the shift dress that will easily take you from season to season.

Despite retaining their glamorous aesthetic where most designers are pulling back due to the economic climate, the duo did serve us with a very wearable collection that will definitely have the buyers bringing out their cheque books.

Black looks were interestingly prevalent in the beginning of the show, emphasising the infrequent burst of gold and silver on some of the key evening looks.

So not to disappoint, the last part the show showcased what Badgley Mischka do so well. Evening dresses in beautiful jewel tones made the front row swoon with the immense attention to detail on the folds and draping.

The collection was solid and definitely the most sophisticated collection we’ve seen from New York yet this season.   

PARIS! : Roving Reporter

Well folks, they let me out the country (and into France - no border guards you see!) and I now type to you from my quaint (slightly un-glamorous) Parisian lodgings.

Tomorrow, yours truly will be entering the world of high fashion and Parisian couture, possibly the most exciting thing since actually being able to navigate Paris on non-existant French. I swear I was better at school!

Entering the world of couture, one is floored by the true fashionista's question: what to wear?!

Seeing as this is just a tiptoe into the way the other half live, and my journey truly was fleeting, I decided to go very un-fashion and pack light (though I still had enough stuff for a small army). I've been reading up on fashion cities, and Paris is apparently where evening and day wear are at one (my kind of city), but I'm afraid I was in no mood (well, if truth be told I went for a new net book over a dress - I hear your gasps) to get all dressed up, and when for what I call simple, chic and instantly fashionable, ALL BLACK!

That's right boys and girls, I've noticed in recent years that unless you are uber-famous, at fashion week the important people wear black, and so I have adopted these camouflage tactics in the vain hope that I can convince people I am really and truly part of the 'fashion pack'.

Unfortunately I failed on the shoe front. Not yet of Elle-editor status, I have to Metro it to my shows, so it's flats all the way! I will be rocking my black dress (Burberry rip-off) with gothic-like studs, black long-sleeve top (it is winter, after all), black tights, a vintage gold leaf cuff (to add a bit of glam) and finally black knee-high patent flat boots.

Outerwear-wise, I've ditched the oh-so-London, jewel-bright trench and traded in for a Parisian-chic wool cape. The look would not be complete without suitable makeup, and I have subsequently plumped for (if I can really pluck up the courage) red rouged lips. Watch Out Paris, FASH PACK is about!