The Return of Pure Audacity ... Roberto Cavalli SS09

It has been exactly three years since Roberto Cavalli ditched his infamous glamazon style in favour of demure and decent looks in his ready-to-wear collections.

Albeit some fans were happy to see less vulgarity on Cavalli’s clothes, still many missed that boldness factor that used to be his collection’s identity. However, 2009 seems to shed a new light on the label that epitomizes pure glamour, boundless sensuality, and supreme audacity.

Cavalli once again reincorporated the authentic spirit of Roberto Cavalli women – sassy, scintillating, and ultimately sexy – into his spring/summer lineup, but just a little bit. Compared to his 2005 spring collection, the 2009 version is more toned down and safer with lots of decency in it.

Doused in a spectrum of fancy and bright colours that truly fit a spring or summer feast in the middle of the Orient, clean lines play predominant part in the collection with less emphasizes on extremely sexy silhouettes and extravagant cutouts, something Cavalli always do eons ago. Even the working palette itself is a spectrum of colours, ranging from the palest of blues up to the most electrifying green. Not to mention, the staple black.

Kicking off the show is a mediocre three-piece skirt suit worn by supermodel Natasha Poly. Swathed in soft pale blue and white with polka dot rain on the mini ruffled hemmed skirt, the skirt suit is more or less similar to what Alicia Silverstone’s preppy chic character Cher Horowitz would have worn in that cult It girl movie of the Nineties, Clueless.

Adopting the upcoming sheer trend, Cavalli also created a number of transparent pieces that syncs with the mind-provoking trend.

Among others, they were long-sleeved sheer gowns with tiered hem covered in eastern motif-inspired prints, a provocative printed halter long gown in lucid chiffon, and ultra transparent chiffon evening gown with refined ruffled tiered hems and cute Peter Pan collar. All were worn bra-less.

Despite the fact that animal and Mediterranean-influenced prints, which are Cavalli’s other renowned signatures, were missing from the runway, the contemporary tribal-inspired motifs were not disappointing at all.

Probably inspired by the beauty of lush peacock fan tail, the designer has reinterpreted it into a more abstract batik-style print. Ditto the breathtaking colour strips that look exactly like a radiation of soft rainbow.

Nonetheless, big applause should be given to his spectacular collection of couture evening wear. Brimming with effervescence and endless drama, the gowns are beautifully constructed from up to down, with corseted bodice and fall perfectly on the wearer’s svelte body.

Furthermore, the silky lavender toned tulle ruffles adorning the elongated evening gown’s skirt were so finely made. So fine that if according to Barney’s New York Simon Doonan, would have made the nuns go blind during the meticulous sewing process took place. What a real drama!

Roberto Cavalli’s spring/summer 2009 collection will be available at Roberto Cavalli boutiques and selected multi-brand retailers worldwide early next year.

*Photos by Marcio Madeira for Style.com/VOGUE

Roberto Cavalli - N.122B - 128B, Level 1, Senayan Plaza, Jakarta, Indonesia; The Link, No.1, Nassim Road, #02-00, Singapore 258458.