The Roberto Cavalli Pre-Fall 2019 collection featured a lookbook shot on the cobbled streets outside the newly opened pop-up shop on Front Street in New York’s Seaport district.

Creaive Director, Paul Surridge’’s motivation was about celebrating the codes but with a more sensitive vibe adding a more modern touch.

The signature Cavalli bravado was evident in familiar animalier motifs and a lush tropical design by Chilean artist José Pedro Godoy that Surridge transformed into both a jacquard and a print. It was tempered by pinstripes and other suiting with subtle military references like khaki cargos and peacoats with peplumed hips.

The characteristic sexiness is less familiar territory for Surridge, but he approached it in two distinct ways for Pre-Fall. The henna tattoo–print body stockings were a fresh surprise, on trend market-wise and also in keeping with the skin-is-always-in sensibility of the house. A body-conscious, little LBD with a gilded chain-link strap was very unexpected but still retained the Roberto Cavalli touch.