“Fashion legend Roberto Cavalli is no more…” Nicolette begins her message. “When I was 17 he asked me if I wanted to be his model. It wasn't my thing, so I politely declined. A 'beautiful friendship' later ensued,” Nicolette said.
The presenter was allowed to accompany Roberto to his most spectacular parties and fashion shows. She describes him as “the lover who turned everything into a party.” “We saw each other a few times in the years that followed, but then faded away. Roberto Cavalli, a household name in the fashion world who made his mark. Grateful for everything I was able to experience with him.
It was announced on Friday that Roberto died at the age of 83 at his home in the Italian city of Florence. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the fashion designer died after a long struggle with illness.
Cavalli, who was fond of snake and other animal prints, started his own fashion brand in the 1960s. It was only later that he became a big name thanks to his use of printed leather. World-famous stars like Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot began wearing his creations, and in the generations that followed, Roberto remained a celebrity in Hollywood, from Kim Kardashian to Jennifer Lopez.