Milan Fashion Week: Just Cavalli S/S 2012

Roberto Cavalli cited “romanticism, sweetness, lightness and positivity” Roberto Cavalli cited “romanticism, sweetness, lightness and positivity” as the key things to take away from the Just Cavalli collection today – a show, so the notes told us, that marked the relaunching of the brand

(pitching for signature Cavalli with a contemporary twist). And how did he do this?

“It was a pretty collection - all those hippy whipstitch trousers and flowing chiffon dresses, the giraffe print a new take on the exotic. The appliqué managed to make jeans and blouses into something more desirable,” said Vogue’s Harriet Quick after the show – which, given the temperature in Milan right now, seemed to bring to life more than we could imagine the idea of all things tropical.

But of course, being Cavalli, this meant plenty of sexy and sassy attitude to contend with too. These girls might be hippies at heart with their glittered eyes, their plaited hair, long trailing scarves around their necks, floppy hats atop their heads, but they know how to talk the Cavalli talk and walk the Cavalli walk – with a dishevelled boy two steps behind them working quite the rock ‘n’ roll vibe, if you must know.

Anchored by youth and a carefree life, these were clothes “inspired by the sensuality of the music festivals that have become showcases of style and the new fashion catwalks”.
So we had little studded waistcoats over fading paisley prints that swooned down sleeves and into fluting, trailing sleeves, and we had Pocahontas princesses in feathered dropped waist hems – see, it’s that Twenties thing again – and lemon, pink and indigo shades, shaggy jackets and yet more waistcoats, studs, leopard and snake print – it was all there. Bags came with Cavalli’s good luck charm – marmot tails, while boots were just right for some field-stomping.Next season, Cavalli’s protagonist is living life to the full.