Yesterday evening, Italian fashion giant Roberto Cavalli showed its first collection since the death of the late, great designer himself earlier this year. With a 62-look show, creative director Fausto Puglisi paid tribute to Cavalli with a trip down memory lane, paying homage to the founder’s signature prints and memorable red carpet moments too.
Enlisting the help of multi-generational supermodels – Mariacarla Boscono, Joan Smalls, Eva Herzigová, Karen Elson, Alek Wek, Isabeli Fontana, and Natasha Poly – the muses appeared together for the finale, marking Milan’s first major model moment of the season. As an old voice recording of Cavalli himself played through the speakers (reminding the crowd that he “was the party”), models stepped out in heavenly golds and whites, before segueing into earth tones, and eventually to the vibrant partywear that Cavalli was known for.
Sparkling halter necks and beachy, floating ocean-prints were followed by Mariacarla Boscono striding down the catwalk in a loud, feathered cocktail dress. After her came Alek Wek, proudly sporting a recreation of Christina Aguilera’s 2003 MTV VMAs outfit. Elsewhere, more 00s red carpet throwbacks emerged: a string of supers wearing animal print slips conjured memories of Aaliyah’s 2001 VMAs look. Eva Herzigová closed the show in a slashed black leather number, before the models all came together for the emotional finale.
To think of Roberto Cavalli is to think of smoking hot, barely there, animal print gowns. It’s embellished bikinis, low-cut, patterned jeans and 00s nostalgia. It’s camp, oversized sunglasses and delicate beach sarongs, thick gold jewellery and metallic mini skirts. In yesterday’s show, Puglisi tapped into the DNA of the house, producing a heartfelt, celebratory tribute as a result – proving that though the designer himself is no longer with us, his legacy will continue on.
