GALLERY Look at the Badgley and Mischka Spring/Summer 2000 collection

Spring 2000 Collections: Sonia Rykiel Balmain Badgley and Mischka ArmaniClements Ribiero Guinness purses Accessories 2000 Jewelry for 2000 Dries Van Noten Gucci Marc Jacobs Michael Kors Ralph Lauren Chanel Missoni Bill Blass   MESSAGE BOARD Spring/summer 2000 Post your comments on the new collections

February 3, 2000
Web posted at: 2:53 p.m. EST (1953 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Raspberry, lemon and lime sorbets. Those fresh colors are the flavors of the moment for designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka, whose spring/summer 2000 collection is a bold departure from previous seasons.

"I just think a woman's wardrobe has been so neutral for so long," Badgley says. "And all of a sudden it's not wrong to wear color."

The idea for adding color into outfits came from their new line of shoes, Mischka says.

"We actually started our shoe collection for spring, and that's actually where the colors started coming," he says. "It was the shots of the colors of the shoes, and then they also filtered ... to the leg, into the whole body."

The colors come alive with shimmery materials and embroideries. The embroideries have a floral theme that add more texture and excitement, Badgley says. Fabrics provide the movement, with an emphasis on silk.

Mischka says they also tried to put a twist on classic shapes, especially for skirts.

"We did a lot of skirts, every different shape we could think of," he says. "Little pencil sequined skirts. We did wonderful 'floatish' chiffon skirts with little floral beaded bands (and) long fishtail skirts."

Why all the changes?

"I think it just became too formula," Badgley says. "Everybody looked the same. Certainly women have to dress very practically by day now, so I think they really love the idea of indulging themselves in dressing up for night."

CNN Style Correspondent Elsa Klensch contributed to this report.

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