His animal prints did not always originate from nature but from his own imagination, chimeras of exotic skins that telegraphed excess, sex and aspiration.
If Gianni Versace was the id of Italian fashion, Mr. Cavalli made it roar, hitting mass saturation in the late nineties as an antidote to the minimalism of Jil Sander and Helmut Lang.
He stepped into the vacuum created by the murder of Mr. Versace in 1997, was further buoyed by the frothy stock market, and soon, Paris Hilton was wearing him.
So was Candace Bushnell, creator of “Sex and the City.” Victoria Beckham was a fan during her Posh Spice era.
Little wonder he was the main sponsor of the 2004 show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute: “Wild: Fashion Untamed” — or that Ben Stiller wore Mr. Cavalli’s designs for “Zoolander,” Mr. Stiller’s fashion satire.
Persons:
Roberto Cavalli, Tropez, Gianni Versace, Cavalli, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Versace, Paris Hilton, Candace Bushnell, Victoria Beckham, Ben Stiller, “, Mr
Organizations:
City, Metropolitan Museum, Art’s Costume
Locations:
Italian, Paris