Badgley Mischka Fall 2009 Ready to Wear.

Giedre Dukavskaite

"The beat goes on," said Mark Badgley backstage after today's show.

Anne Vyalitsyna

"It never makes sense to do something that we're not about."

Milagros Schmoll

What Badgley and his design partner, James Mischka, are about, recession or no, is great-looking dresses with a healthy dose of straight-up glamour—speaking of which, they are currently hard at work on two Oscar gowns.

Alyona Osmanova

For all that, though, they kicked things off in a quietly minimal manner, sending out a group of smart all-black day looks.

Hyoni Kang

Some of these came from their lower-priced Platinum collection, which the duo went on to mix in throughout, because, noted Mischka, "that's how women shop."

Georgina Stojilkovic

Of course, the wattage was soon amped up. On the brighter end of the spectrum: a liquid-gold velvet that fell into a seductive low-necked cowl; eye-popping satins; and a slinky allover-sequin column, surely headed for a chanteuse near you.

Sessilee Lopez

An asymmetrical frock with a sideways drape ending in a chunk of ruffles was too tricky, but overall this was a solid collection.

Lakshmi Menon

Strongest, in fact, were looks with a modicum of austerity, like a one-shoulder, smoke-hued gown on Bruna Tenorio.

Behati Prinsloo

With its strategic flutter of ruffles, it was easily the most elegant thing around.

Anastasija Kondratjeva

Alexandra Tomlinson

Flavia De Oliveira

Laura Blokhina

Heloise Guerin

Bruna Tenorio

Lakshmi Menon

Georgina Stojilkovic

Behati Prinsloo

Sessilee Lopez

Giedre Dukavskaite

Anne Vyalitsyna

Milagros Schmoll

Alyona Osmanova

Flavia De Oliveira

Hyoni Kang

Anastasija Kondratjeva

Laura Blokhina

Alexandra Tomlinson

Heloise Guerin

Bruna Tenorio

Lakshmi Menon

Georgina Stojilkovic

Sessilee Lopez

Mark Badgley and James Mischka