Roberto Cavalli’s Proudest Moment? Inventing Stretch Denim. Obviously

British Vogue said he arrived to speak at the hallowed halls “in the manner of an actor collecting an Oscar, with kisses blown to students.” He obviously felt at home, then. Apparently not. According to Vogue, Cavalli didn't sleep a wink the night before the talk. But instead was overcome with emotion that led him to proclaim to the magazine: "I am human again!" He told them, "I don't have emotions any more, I am so busy running around. Tonight I do."

Ever the dramatist, the designer was quite candid as he discussed his challenging childhood and early career, which was plagued with an absent father and a bad stutter. Talking about his proudest moments, Cavalli told the crowd inventing stretch denim in the '90s remains a highlight, and waxed lyrical about his everlasting love of animal prints. "I love nature…and animals have the best dresses. God made them so well dressed. Women like these designs, they feel natural in them," he said. And as if there were any need to rule out the possibility of Cavalli ever going minimal, the designer dismissed the less-is-more principle anyway, telling students, "I like fashion that is different, minimalism is boring…Fashion that is not crazy is not fashion. And what is not fashion is American." Ouch. Did the designer forget that the largest groups of international students at Oxford come from the USA? Maybe, or maybe not. This is a man that doesn’t hold back. And we salute him for that. Keep being just you, Roberto! (Vogue)