Roberto Cavalli’s Creativity Design

Roberto Cavalli celebrated his 40th anniversary as a designer with a racy, high-tempo meeting of the Wild West and cool Goth rocker on Monday, Sept. 27, in

Milan.

In an impressive display of longevity in an industry where fads and change of taste are of the essence, Cavalli presented a whopping and dramatic show in a

custom-made tent before an audience of 1,200.

Cavalli who weared Gucci replica handbags wallets purses has always tapped into western and hippie rock chick imagery, but the cross was rarely more

evident than in this spring 2011 collection.

It opened with Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova in a barely-there ragged skirt and spider web bustier top of black string, covering a silver base. Like

the skirt, pretty much every outfit in this show was fringed. Long hair flared back, eyes smoky and eyebrows blackened, Vodianova projected a haute rocker

image.

No wrist was left untied on the catwalk, where every model sported silver bracelets, leather bands and beaten metal on their arms. The gunslinger’s gal mood

rippled through the show, with dozens of snake and reptile skin bags, worn at the hip, with horns and shells attached.

Vodianova brought immediate cheers from an audience that included Heidi Klum, Leona Lewis, Rachel Bilson, Elisabetta Canalis and “Project Runway” executive producer Desiree Gruber.

The designer riffed on his signature material – animal prints – featured on revealingly cut dresses, flirty blouses and symmetrical skirts.

Open backs, cut away sides, and pants finished all the way up the leg with string meant there were acres of flesh on display.

After spending a decade as a successful fake Gucci designer handbags maker, supplying the likes of Hermes and Mario Valentino, Cavalli launched his own

brand in 1970, going on to build a fashion business, which became a defining symbol of sexy rock and roll fashion dressing.

“I know that I am most famous for my prints, but I’d like to think my clothes have a certain architectural style. Anyway, it’s been a great 40 years,” said

the designer after taking his bow with his wife and joint creative director Eva Cavalli.