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| Storefront (All photos: Lieba Nesis) |
The Roberto Cavalli opening was held from 6:30PM-8:30PM at 434 West Broadway, a premier shopping location in downtown New York. The cocktail and fashion show was held to celebrate the Just Cavalli flagship boutique- the only one in existence in New York. Roberto Cavalli, 73, is an Italian fashion designer from Florence and is known for detailed exotic prints and creating the sand-blasted look for jeans. In the early 1970’s he patented a revolutionary procedure on leather, and debuted this technique in Paris, presenting his first namesake collection at the age of 32. Anyone who knows of Roberto Cavalli knows that nothing he produces is ordinary and this party was no exception.
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| Roberto Cavalli |
The store was breathtaking- with mirrors and his signature leopard print embedded into the staircase. He bought in special persian rugs and couches just for the event and the DJ was none other than society maven, Marjorie Gubelman. The guest list was equally impressive with those attending including: Miranda Kerr, Carol Alt, Heather Graham, Peter Brant II, Marcus Schenkenberg, Jonathan Cheban, Sarah Larsen, Jason Binn, Anna Sui, Jennifer Creel and a bevy of beautiful women that only someone of Cavalli’s magnitude could attract. The excitement was palpable with thirty or more paparazzi waiting outside in the frigid cold and many top photographers shooting inside. Guests were served wine and Roberto Cavalli vodka before the show began.
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| Model walking the red carpet up the stairs |
The bi-level store had models appearing from the staircase below and walking the red carpet to much fanfare and excitement. The clothing did not disappoint with print pantsuits paired with vibrant yellow and pink shirts, color blocked leather dresses and, my favorite look of the night, a print paisley shirt with gold pants and a green fur jacket. Even the men looked edgy and crisp with leather gloves, print shirts, and bowler hats. The look was rock and roll meets bohemian chic and it was executed flawlessly. At the conclusion of the show, the models, with Mr. Cavalli in the middle, braved the outdoor weather so the awaiting paparazzi could snap their picture-another showbizey touch that enlivened the mood.
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| Carol Alt wearing Roberto Cavalli coat |
The crowd was composed of some fashion heavyweights including Ubaldo Minelli, the CEO of Staff International, the licensee of such brands as DSquared, Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, and Just Cavalli. Mr. Minelli (no relation to Liza), said, “I believe in Cavalli, and his contemporary segment Just Cavalli, it is a great collection and our biggest seller worldwide.” Reiterating the admiration for Cavalli was none other than Carol Alt who has known Roberto for twenty three years and considers him family. Alt told me how greatly she admires Roberto’s rally after quitting fashion after his first try and relaunching with an incredible comeback of racy beautiful designs that are classic yet very “of the moment.” Alt said she archives many of her Cavalli pieces because she knows she will wear them a lifetime. She attributes his success to his love of women and his desire to make them look spectacular in a funky, classic way.
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| Anna Sui |
The event was orchestrated to perfection and was short, sexy, and sweet like most Cavalli designs; therefore, if you showed up after eight thirty, as Anna Sui did, most of the crowd was gone. However, Sui was there because she “admires his rock and roll clothing ” and his mastery of patterns and cuts. Sui loves the edgy vibe of his garments and noted they both have a similar bohemian bent with a love for pattern, prints and design. Perhaps the best testament to Roberto’s preeminence was that of his son Robert Cavalli, a twenty one year old studying fashion management in London, who said, “my father is the best father anyone can have. He is generous, fantastic, and makes everyone happy around him. To see the smile of satisfaction on his face at the end of the fashion show tonight was amazing; for a man his age to experience that is so gratifying, and very rare for a perfectionist like him.” At the conclusion of the event guests were handed a bag with a Cavalli catalog, a pair of one hundred and thirty five dollar Cavalli sunglasses, and a Just Cavalli leopard print iphone case-a grand finale for a man who would accept nothing less.
– Lieba Nesis
