Staged in a white tent constructed behind the colossal Corinthian columns of
Milan’s neo-classical Arch of Peace, dating back to 1807, it seemed fitting that a venue built in honor of Napoleon would play host to Roberto Cavalli’s 40th anniversary show. In turn, the flamboyant Florentine designer delivered a fabulous frenzy of fringing, snakeskin, leopard-print and sequined tiger stripes.
With a front row that seemed suited to slip backstage and right into these wares–Leona Lewis, Taylor Swift and Heidi Klum–long leather fringes dangled from rock ‘n’ roll-cowgirl jeans while cropped Western jackets and waistcoats, lace-up, thigh-high boots and rawhide shoulder bags decorated with tooth, talon and horn completed the look. Natalia Vodianova opened the 40-look show in silver-sequined, sheer tulle, swimsuit dress that set the tone for the Apache/Cherokee-style pieces to come. Tie-dyed fringing trimmed satin bias-cut skirts, split to the thigh, while open-work crochet dresses revealed as much flesh as a bikini. In essence, skin was everywhere–and I don’t mean on the models as python. Pink, python-print boho-gowns were decorated with ostrich feathers, and jet-black, snakeskin jeans dazzled with silver and crystal embroidery.