Roberto Cavalli, the famed Italian fashion designer whose career began styling Sophia Loren and then the likes of Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez, has died. He was 83.
According to the Italian news agency Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), Cavalli died at his home in Florence, Italy, after a long illness. Cavalli’s company also confirmed the legendary designer’s death.
“It is with great sadness that we say our final goodbye to our founder Roberto Cavalli today,” The statement on social media read. “From his humble beginnings in Florence, Roberto has managed to become a globally recognized name, loved and respected by all. Roberto was naturally talented and creative and believed that everyone can discover and nurture the artist within. Roberto Cavalli’s legacy will live on through his creativity and his love of nature and through his family, which he valued.
In September 2021 at the MTV Video Music Awards, YouTube star and influencer Bretman Rock made a statement as he walked the red carpet wearing a vintage Cavalli tiger print slip dress once worn by the late singer Aaliyah at the same awards ceremony two decades earlier. Rock told us later diversity that he worked closely with Cavalli to “borrow” the dress for the night.
Cavalli had a great fondness for tiger and leopard print outfits – on models and for himself – He was once quoted as saying“I copy the dress of an animal because I love imitating God. I think God is the most amazing designer.”
Cavalli was born in Florence in 1940 and began his career in fashion in the 1970s. But it wasn’t until 1993 that his trademark stretch jeans – modeled after a runway model by Naomi Campbell – took his career into a different sphere. From that point on, Cavalli’s name was synonymous with luxury fashion.
“Fashion is part of our lives. When you wake up in the morning you ask yourself: ‘What do I have to wear to look beautiful, fantastic, sexy, special?'” the late designer once said said CNN in 2008. “That’s why I love being a fashion designer, because it allows me to measure your mood, your life.”
Last was Cavalli tapped to create some of the midnight Singer outfits for her Eras tour, including the popular custom couture mini dress with light gold fringe.
Cavalli, whose love of luxury extended to fine cigars and Ferraris, was a fixture at fashion weeks around the world and had close relationships with some of the world’s biggest stars, including Cindy Crawford. The celebrated fashion designer’s style also went beyond fashionable outfits. He also gave his name to a number of products, such as luxury sunglasses and perfumes. Accordingly The New York TimesCavalli also had his name put on a brand of vodka, appropriately packaged in a snakeskin-covered bottle.
Cavalli was married twice, including to Austrian beauty queen Eva Maria Düringer, and had six children – two with his first wife Silvanella Giannoni and three with Düringer. He reportedly gave birth to his sixth child with his partner Sandra Nilsson last year.
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