Super Short Red Cocktail Dresses That Rev the Engine

NEW YORK — Mark Badgley and James Mischka have been creating glamorous evening wear for more than 30 years and they’re not about to slow down now. Take their new Badgley Mischka fall collection, unveiled at New York Fashion Week.

Centering on the theme of vintage Mercedes-Benz sports cars, the duo put the pedal to the metal with a sleek collection of streamlined gowns and cocktail dresses in silver metallics, black leather, and muted shades of gray, hunter green, midnight blue tailor made for special event preening.

“There’s nothing more boring than a beautiful dress that just lives in the closet,” Badgley told Yahoo News.

The collection, which will be available in Houston at Elizabeth Anthony, includes a variety of evening gowns, dresses, pants and belted jackets in silver sequins as well as stretch gowns in white, gray, or black accented with jeweled beading at the biceps, wrists, hips, or bodice. Even casual wool sweaters are dotted with jeweled flowers and paired with sparkly trousers for a high/low look.

While the main collection concentrated on muted colors, the runway finale featured 20 models who walked out as a group in a variety of super-short bright red cocktail dresses, adding a bright note to the evening. It’s like the designers figured out that a classy chassis can come in sporty shade as well.

When the duo appeared at the end, they each wore a T-shirt saluting a new film about legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.

Taking it all in from the front row was comedienne Molly Shannon, who eagerly snapped photos of her favorite looks from her cellphone. A loyal Badgley Mischka fan, she wore a teal gown studded with black-and-silver flowers to the Independent Spirit Awards a few weeks later.