Simply Abu Dhabi XXX

2 1 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I ROBERTO CAVALLI T he Florentine brand, which is now part of the private equity group Clessidra SRG, has welcomed a new designer in Paul Surridge. Based in London, Surridge is a graduate of the city’s most important fashion school, Central Saint Martins. He has worked for Prada, Jil Sander, Ruffo, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Z-Zegna, and now, with the spring/summer 2018 collection, he makes his debut for Roberto Cavalli. The collection focus is on daywear and the inspiration comes from the life of the modern woman who is constantly in motion, cosmopolitan and powerful. The codes of the Cavalli brand are there: prints, colours and sexiness but they have been transformed into more contemporary and casual chic. Coats, short dresses, trousers and dresses are dynamic, athletic and real, contrasting with the image of bold sexiness that typifies the Cavalli brand. Zebra and leopard prints have been transformed into a minimalistic pattern and have been adapted to audacious and tailored coats or trenches that perfectly suit the upwardly mobile woman of 2018. There are many references also in the sportswear and this can be seen from the collection’s sleek and comfortable silhouette, conscious of the body that accentuates the formwith a modern sensuality. Unusual for those used to the Cavalli world, there is a focus on knits, while long dresses are minimal and sleek and stun with their simplicity, which belies incredible craftsmanship. Bangles and bracelets are bold, geometric and ergonomic. Shoes are flat, giving a sense of freedom while bags underline the daily wear spirit of the collection and are made of lizard, calfskin and pony. The entire collection represents a shift in focus, a fresh approach, a change of attitude for the Cavalli aesthetic that is now ready to surprise many in the world’s fashion arena.