Photo by Louiza Vick

“I was inspired by Frida Kahlo—her work, the patterns in her paintings, her ability to be a strong woman and be feminine at the same time,” designer Basil Malicsi said at his fashion show last night. 

The results of his inspiration showed. Atelier Basil’s Spring 2012 collection was energetic, creative, and pulsating with color. The  “Her Name is Frida” collection, which took him almost four months to complete while attending CSU Long Beach, was filled with batik-inspired prints and the spring season’s most fashionable colors: oranges, pinks and blues. 

Clearly inspired by fashion titans like Versace and Roberto Cavalli as well, the young designer employed flowing silhouettes with bold prints and bright colors, mixing them in with body-con designs; pencil skirts and tight trousers were paired with billowing, off-the-shoulder tops to create looks that were sexy without being scandalous.  Atelier Basil’s gowns are intricate: they play with texture and break the conventions of which materials can be used together. 

The pieces are not for those who want sleek, minimalist fashion - they are for those who want something different. The Atelier Basil woman is bold and breaks the rules. In Malicsi’s words, “The woman who wears my clothing is independent, knows what she wants, and takes risks.” He took some risks himself with this collection, juxtaposing jacquards with sequins, feathers, and fluorescent silks. He took it a step further in the styling, using statement-making jewelry by Maria Bougioukos to add even more flair to the designs.

“Her Name is Frida” is theatrical, but depending on how bold you want to be, many of the garments can be styled down to ready-to-wear. The Atelier Basil collection can be found here. 

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