Roberto Cavalli

With the comeback of the y10k animal prints, it is only right to talk about the man whose brand is the epitome of all things gold and bold. Roberto Cavalli. Born in Florence the man was already surrounded by paints, palettes and easels, the very foundation of his career. The Cavalli brand is known for its iconic animal inspired jewellery. Their gold statement pieces walk a fine line between gaudy and classy, and they do it better than anyone else.

Cavalli began his career by earning commissions from Hermès and Pierre Cardin. The fashion house today entails menswear, womenswear, beach wear, shoes, handbags, watches, jewellery and perfumes. Additionally, the company also designs interiors for high profile hotels. Subdivisions of the brand include RC Menswear, Just Cavalli and the Angel and Devil collections. The Cavalli collections are inspired from various parts of the world. Each Roberto Cavalli model is adorned in designs that are intricate and ornate. Flamboyancy and exuberance are the two main elements of any Cavalli collection, each piece is lavishly gorgeous but also has an edge to it, a hint of modern to the otherwise timeless pieces. It seems that most designers flirt with the punk rock style to add some edge to their designs. Although Cavalli’s clothes are effusively elegant, they are also contemporary and daring: red leather trousers, fuchsia and black tiger-striped shirts, and acid-washed biker jackets have all made an appearance in recent collections. His black taffeta ruffled skirts and dresses perfectly capture the Cavalli dichotomy of sensuality and rebellion in one piece and demonstrate the genius of the designer’s vision. Cavalli’s flamboyant prints are expertly tailored onto a variety of silhouettes, cuts and fabrics that fluidly enhance the female form for an ultra-glamorous look. Although Cavalli’s styles are undeniably sexy and alluring, they are often free flowing and voluminous to achieve subtle, feminine elegance. His floating gowns often feature ruffles, lace and embroidered elements that demonstrate the careful attention and high quality of each piece; accents such as beads, pearls and metallic stitching just add to the decadence of each item. No matter how risqué his clothes may be (he loves to experiment with barely-there cuts and transparent fabrics), he is a master at rendering each piece tasteful, wearable and extremely covetable.