L.A. Fashion Week Spring '06: Anthony Franco

Anthony Franco takes his inspiration from northern Italy, Italian movies and Italian actresses.

“I love beautiful women,” said the Los Angeles–born designer, who is particularly fond of Federico Fellini films. “I love well-made clothing. I love the flow of the fabrics. I just wanted to convey that in my collection.”

Franco did convey that when he debuted his Spring ’06 collection for men and women on Oct. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios.

Franco, who has been designing costumes for almost 20 years, incorporated heavy doses of linen into his lineup. Linen came in off-white, pink, gray and black and was used in men’s and women’s suits and pants.

Franco’s designs had a classic air, as seen in the cut and styling of his men’s and women’s suits. Particularly elegant was a woman’s black tuxedo suit that had a fitted jacket with cloth-covered buttons and wide-legged trousers with cuffs.

The designer, who has created costumes for such films as “Legally Blonde” and “X-Men,” injected an element of bright color by infusing red in his collection.

It was well used in a three-layered silk chiffon dress with beading and a red crocodile cincher and in a black, red and white hibiscus print formed into tops and dresses. —Deborah Belgum