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Mark Badgley

“I remember drawing women and clothes when I could barely hold a crayon”

Mark Badgley, the first half of Badgley Mischka, was born in East St. Louis, Illinois but at the age of seven his family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon. Badgley began designing at a very early age, and originally chose to study Fine Arts at the University of Oregon but quickly relocated to Southern California to study business at USC. In 1982, he followed his heart and transferred to the Parsons School of Design in New York City, where he met future partner James Mischka. After graduating from Parsons, Badgley chose to stay in NYC and work for designer Donna Karen. Three years later, in 1988, he and James Mischka began designing together and quickly announced their new label, Badgley Mischka. Within a year they became a huge success with retailers like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. They also wowed along the major fashion editors whose magazines continue to promote the designers to this day. The glamour, elegance, and old Hollywood style type designs have become a staple amongst female celebrities like Sharon Stone, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, and Oprah Winfrey. Over the years he has received the Mouton Cadet Young Designer Award (1989), Dallas International Apparel Rising Star Award (1992), and the Marymount Designer of the Year Award (2001).

Life Facts:
Along with James Mischka, Mark Badgley owns an apartment in New York City, an 1899 farmhouse in Oyster Bay, and a home in West Palm Beach. Badgley also owns a European Warmblood stallion named Brando who sometimes competes in show jumping competitions. Badgley began designing women’s sportswear, watches, swimwear, fragrances, jewelry, and bridesmaid’s dresses, all in an effort to reach a broader clientele.

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