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Remembering Roberto Cavalli And His Legacy Of Opulence

By Maria Mukaranda

Roberto Cavalli at his 2013 runway show

Savo Prelevic/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images


A visionary designer who made women look beautiful.

“Excess is success” was the oft-repeated idiomatic expression - and artistic expression - of the late fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, who passed away on the 12th of April aged 83.


The Italian designer embarked on his journey in fashion in 1970, introducing his namesake brand with a groundbreaking showcase at the Salon du Prêt-à-Porter in Paris, held within the epochal Porte de Versailles. It was during these foundational years that Cavalli's artistry saw the invention and patenting of his own signature leather printing technique. This milestone coincided with the inauguration of his inaugural boutique, Limbo, nestled in Saint-Tropez's vibrant streets in 1972.


Cavalli's life mirrored the opulence and allure of his fashion creations—vivid animal prints, embellished distressed denims, and seductive dresses that arrested the mainstream and catapulted him into the spotlight.


Roberto Cavalli AW16 (Getty Images) | Roberto Cavalli AW23 (Vanni Bassetti) | Roberto Cavalli AW10 (Marcio Madeira/FirstView.com)


Navigating the Mediterranean aboard his distinctive purple metallic yacht RC, Cavalli hosted a coterie of friends and celebrities - of whom many graced red carpets in his designs: from Charlize Theron to Gwenyth Paltrow and Madonna. Known for his unfiltered candour, he never shied away from expressing his views - whether critiquing minimalism, dissecting the ins and outs of the fashion industry, or sparking a number of debates on creativity.


A mainstay at Milan Fashion Week, Cavalli orchestrated a memorable fashion extravaganza during Pitti Uomo on the storied Ponte Vecchio in Florence, further cementing his name into fashion folklore in 2006.


Roberto cavalli in 2005 working on his collection

Roberto Cavalli in 2005 in his studio (Paolo Verzone/Agence VU, via Redux)


His story, lifestyle, and designs were all branches of the persona that was Roberto Cavalli - a fashion figurehead who attributed his success to being “a boy from a modest family who achieved success thanks to his strong willpower,” reiterating his goal of a lifetime — “to make women look beautiful.”


“Behind the fabulous yacht, the Champagne, the parties, there’s a man called Roberto Cavalli, who worked very, very hard to create this wonderful life”

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