Designers to the stars come to Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Do you want to look classy but not vulgar for an evening cocktail party? Then, if you also have the requisite pocketful of cash, you could try the latest creations from the New York-based design team of Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

The glamorous Hollywood style of the late 1940s and 1950s filled the atmosphere of Badgley Mischka's trunk show for fall 2001-2002 at Hotel Mulia Senayan in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

With their signature beaded eveningwear, the duo's fall line featured cool tones of white, black, gray, dark blue, green, purple and burgundy red in simple and elegant styles.

For Southeast Asian women, who have never experienced the four seasons, Badgley and Mischka offered scores of sleeveless gowns with spaghetti-straps or bustiers.

Some of the dresses featured embroidered cap sleeves or three- quarter sleeves.

Designed with the shape of the woman's body in mind, they placed heavy emphasis on the neck and the waistlines using chiffon, silk, organza, tulle, sequins or taffeta, making sure that the wearer appears slender and elegant for any evening activity.

Floral prints adorn some of the gowns, which are graciously accentuated with colorful beads.

Apart from floor-length gowns, the designers also offered trimmed knee-length dresses. Accessories included matching jeweled bags, shoes and lacy chokers.

A fur boa was the only sign of fall that accompanied a shoulder strap gown studded with glittering beads, called the Feodora gown.

Badgley, 40, formerly designed for Jackie Rodgers and Donna Karan, while Mischka, 41, worked for Willi Smith in New York.

The two formed Badgley Mischka company in 1988 and it has been financed by Escada USA since 1992.

Badgley Mischka is famous for its Hollywood clientele. Its sophisticated, streamlined masterpieces have been showcased to Oscar and Emmy audiences on the backs of Sharon Stone, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Lange, Winona Ryder, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lopez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Hurley and Mira Sorvino.

Alphonsus Chung, the advertising and public relations manager of The Link boutique in Singapore, which provided the dresses for the show, said 38 gowns exhibited during the show were priced from US$3,000 to $6,000.

"So far, the response from Indonesian customers is quite good. This is the reflection of a woman's outlook. They are now heading toward a dressy society," Chung said.

Chung said that the fall's dim tones would not bother Indonesian women. "They tend to like darker colors." he said.

For more information, access The Link in Singapore through its website, www.thelink.com.sg.(ivy)