An evening with Roberto Cavalli

One never forgets a Cavalli fashion spread in any magazine. The colors are eye-catching and the clothes are wild, sexy, and erotic. As one gets familiar with his style and his fashion, one gets to realize that Cavalli’s strength is in making wild, erotic clothes that push sensuality to the limit without becoming vulgar. This talent has attracted a wide client base of attractive men and women who want to look hot without looking indecent.

I first noticed Cavalli’s store many years ago on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. His display window had gorgeous seductive-looking mannequins dressed in sexy fitted jeans, animal print tops and body-hugging dresses. The backdrop was a jungle-like setting that looked more like a Hollywood set than a display window. The clothes had that come-and-get-me appeal, which attracted hoards of Madison Avenue’s shopaholic denizens, including myself. Truth to tell, I got tempted to buy two irresistible outfits, which were way over my budget. I made friends with the salesgirl and told her to call me (I was living in New York then) when the store went on sale. I walked out of the store with my credit card and my sanity intact. I literally patted myself on the back for having resisted the temptation to overindulge. I should have realized that Madison Avenue is the address and one should be ready to spend mega bucks while shopping on that strip. Even a cup of cappuccino cost $8 there, as compared to a dollar at my favorite café on First Avenue.

A happy ending to this episode: The salesgirl called me in July, and told me the store was starting to go on sale for a few weeks. The two outfits, which attracted my fancy, were still there at 50 percent less their original price. They were meant to be mine!

Through the years, I kept abreast of Cavalli’s fashion as I found it so unique and colorful but with a classic edge to it. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet him during a dinner party in his honor hosted by Yue Sai Kan, China’s TV star and cosmetic queen. It was held at her fabulous five-story town house in Sutton Place. He was very friendly and approachable, but being a social event, I refrained myself from doing a casual interview. I talked to his trusted people, Angela, his secretary, and Christiano Mancini, his PR man, who were more than willing to give me a little interview on Cavalli’s background and his latest collection.

Cavalli grew up in Florence surrounded by art and fashion, which has a great influence in his artistry. He showed his first collection in 1972 and since then has grown into a fashion force that has spanned decades and continents. To date, Cavalli has done it all — from menswear, ladies‘ wear, children’s, and even home designs.

In Italy, Cavalli is considered a genius when it comes to design. He uses different materials — leather, denim, silk, and feathers. He is a very inventive designer whose skill is in revamping classics rather than offering new silhouettes. The results are often unforgettable.

His last collection in Milan, the Cavalli Fall 2007-Winter 2008 collection, proved once more the designer’s mastery of tailoring techniques. It was a restrained collection but still with the signature Cavalli sexy look that was inspired by Hollywood’s legendary action hero, Indiana Jones.

The stage was an Art Deco temple, and the catwalk was in beige to make it look like sand. When the first model came out wearing a cowboy hat, white trousers that tapered towards the ankle, a white silk shirt and tie, and cave girl boots, the audience was swept off their feet to a Hollywood movie set of Indiana Jones.

The collection had trench coats that came traditional, the luxury part hidden on the silk lining. Blousons were cut generously, the band featured rivets and a thin sash added like a drawstring. The safari jacket was reworked, giving it volume by adding expanded pockets.

The Indiana Jones influence was not just seen on the trousers and masculine clothing. It was also seen on the skirt suits. Pencil skirts were paired with snug-fitting bush jackets.

A Cavalli winter collection is never complete without furs. He favored leopard skin and mink this time, luxurious without being overt.

But what brought the house down were the gowns at the finale. A deep green V-neck gown that had tiny pleats that it looked like a mini accordion, a halter neck green chiffon adorned with a bustier-inspired belt in semi precious stones, and a svelte golden gown that showed off the model’s every curve were some of the gowns that proved Cavalli’s genius.

Mancini capped the interview by saying that Cavalli wants his women to have an erotic, almost feral quality, symbolized this season by their soft, suede cave girl boots, Indian feather earrings and necklaces, belts in tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl objects. The mainstays are his classic belts in leather and animal prints with attractive buckles, accessories in gold, enamel and leather, and bejeweled bags in satin, leather and skin.

Asked what the spring-summer of 2008 would bring, he said his lips are sealed: “Just wait and see as it will be another sensational collection!”