The convoluted program notes for the Roberto Cavalli fall/winter 2014 show waxed on about equestrian inspiration and the show’s flapper dress foundation pieces. But what this collection was really about were the four elements: water, fire, air and earth.

Before the show began- set as a wide circular runway - a man made rain pour down into a central pool of water. This was then engulfed in a ring of fire and beams of white light pierced the smoky air.  Under the models feet was black wood flooring.  So the staging had clearly picked up on the quartet of the fundamental substances of matter.

In the collection, the elements were represented on a more intellectual level. The raindrops could have been an allusion to all the delicate beadwork that glistened as embellishments on tailored slim trousers and flapper dresses. Fire was clearly represented in the red flame prints that licked the bottoms of a number of silk dresses or burned out of a mohair sweater. As for air, this was personified in the way the garments moved about the body and the designer’s chosen textiles. The tiered fringed dresses that came cut with carwash wide ribbons of fabric or finished in slim strips of leather, swirled and bounced as the models looped around the catwalk. And semi sheer lace gowns left plenty of skin bare to the fresh air. As for the earthen element, that was symbolized in the land bound feline and cold blooded creatures- snow leopard prints, python skins- that Cavalli always calls on to ground his shows in the brand’s sexy DNA. And, of course, there were all the furs.

It all combined to create a collection that showed that Cavalli was clearly in his element.

See all the collections and fashion reviews of Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli Fashion Show Ready To Wear Collection Spring Summer 2014 
Roberto Cavalli Fashion Show Ready To Wear Collection Fall Winter 2013 
Roberto Cavalli Fashion Show Ready To Wear Collection Spring Summer 2013