he Rivera Court at the

Detroit Institute of

Arts provided the

elegant setting for a

presentation of Mark

Badgley and James

Mischka's Fall 2001

Collection. It was a fashion-filled black-tie

event for patrons and friends of the upcoming

Under the Stars Gala XXII

to benefit the DIA. Saks

Fifth Avenue co-hosted the

a

dazzling affair.

And dazzle was the buzz-

word of the evening, with

There was no

Badgley Mischka's

signature beaded gowns in

bronze, black, gray-green

mistaking the

and silver with flashes of

ruby. Some sparkled like stars

femininity of

the collection.

in a moonlit sky, while others

reflected a rainbow of colors

like stained-glass prisms.

Lace, tulle, cowl necks, fur trims and velvets distin-

guished the simple silhouettes of the form-fitting

evening dresses. With names like Leticia, Mariella,

-E a, Vanessa and Evangeline, there was no

mistaking the femininity of the collection.

r

Day looks, with a considerable nod to the '40s,

featured leather suiting and separates, beaded skirts,

shearling coats, lace dresses and narrow pleats.

Bordeaux was the predominant color for fall. The

sophisticated line bore such gender-non-specific

names•as Drake, Sydney, Casey, Jude and Schuyler,

or intrigving place-names such as Barcelona, Seville,

Bel Air and Roxbury. Skirts were narrow and waists

were cinched with tiny strips of leather or extra-

wide, studded belts.

Yes the stars shone brightly..

,

—Linda Bachrack