The collection takes its cue from glam rock – and the often-overlooked fact that ‘glam’ is an abbreviation of ‘glamour’, an essential attribute of the Cavalli girl. Inspired by the hedonism of the late sixties, when fashion first began to revive the naturalistic curvilinear lines of the Art Nouveau, graphics mix imagery from Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley, Alphonse Mucha and the album art of Led Zeppelin. The fusion of Belle Epoque with rock is the root of this Roberto Cavalli collection.
Patchwork is a key technique, keying surfaces with a sumptuous texture. Handbags are patched and embroidered, while platform shoes hint at Glam Rock with glitter and snake intarsia patterns. Lacquered snake is used to recreate reptile designs, while intarsia patchworks in mink and velvet invent symbolistic astrological designs for nocturnal adventuresses. The signature Cavalli big-cat print this season is tiger, cloaking the Cavalli woman like a high priestess.
