San Diego Just Cavalli Dreams in Technicolor

Fashion Valley Mall is experiencing a radiant awakening; unveiling a bright new palette of high-profile boutiques just in time for the spring cleaning of style.

Among the latest boutiques to hit Fashion Valley is Just Cavalli, Roberto Cavalli's youthful line that dreams in technicolor and makes available the bold Cavalli charm to the budget conscious shopper.

A fashion maverick known for his valiant sense of style and enigmatic play with possibility, Roberto Cavalli's signature artistry is not lost in the translation to affordability.

While initially understood as a diffusion line in its 1996 origin, Just Cavalli now graces the sparkling runways and glossy spreads of top fashion shows and magazines around the world, running wild in parallel with the predominant Cavalli collection.

Just Cavalli CEO Enrico di Muccio explains: "It was at first a collection of jeans and more casual looks. But season after season we realized the customer was looking for something more special. We approached this direction with a new, more unique and glamorous collection of prints and color with adjustable fabrics."

This elevation of Just Cavalli expanded in 2000, as the growing clientele continued to covet the novel fabrics and design applications. While closely following the thematic direction of the main collection on the runway, Just Cavalli maintained its distinction via price point. With tops ranging from $200 - 400, jackets between $500 - 600, and outwear hitting a ceiling at $1,500, Just Cavalli became the affordable alternative for everyday enthusiasts of high-fashion.

"We strike the balance between price point and look, and our challenge is to keep that equilibrium going," says Giorgiana Magnolfi, Just Cavalli Brand Manager. "We make it possible to have a beautiful piece that you won't see on anyone else, without spending $20,000 for it."

The sleek and pearly Just Cavalli boutique launched its seventh location, second in California, at Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego in January, 2008. In the hype of Fashion Valley expansion alongside Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, True Religion, Kate Spade, Rolex, Juicy Couture, and Hermes, Just Cavalli now joins the already eminent Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Betsey Johnson, James Perse, and more.

While already open for four quick months, Just Cavalli hosted the official Grand Opening party in late March to celebrate the arrival of the Flash Collection, the psychedelic image-driven spring and summer runway line.

Giorgiana adds, "Designers show their edge to the press and really express their themes in the Flash Collection. This line is strong in bold colors and flower and animal prints - a mix of the feminine and the rock star."

As you can see in the Flash Collection photo gallery here, Just Cavalli marks the season with elemental attraction, prismatic jolts of prime colors, geometric energy and tribal beats of texture set against the soft white tones of spring. In Flash, abstract animal prints almost mold into floral artistry, as the overzealous test of shade and hue rewrites the book on living with color. The fetching emerald green and metallic evening wear and suits appear stark and heavy against the texture-centric and resort-ready whites that call to action the elemental draw with use of features and naturally toned trim.

The presented Flash accessories can make for a tricky trend with bulky multi-color bangles and embellished handbags and totes that marry metal shine with the signature blend of animal prints and floral patterns. While the accessories brilliantly color the runway, the Fashion Valley Just Cavalli boutique tones down the spotlight look with softer shades and San Diego street-ready panache.

Located on the ground level near Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, the San Diego Just Cavalli boutique gleams with a pearl finish; delicate racks filled with rotating shades of tan, coral, and lime green interweave an impressionistic perspective on the animal meets floral motif. With the women's array on the left and male offerings on the right, denim, tops, dresses, eveningwear, beachwear, shoes, handbags, accessories, and more communicate the Just Cavalli allure in local proportions.

With an inquisitive understanding of the Fashion Valley vision, Enrico discusses the new San Diego location and what we can expect next. "Just Cavalli is growing most aggressively in Florida and California within the American market, and Fashion Valley is elevating the San Diego image by investing in high-end brands." He continues, "We are now waiting for the right location at South Coast Plaza for our fourth California store."

Although San Diego shopping was once just the southern alternative to the Los Angeles scene, we are now taking local fashion to the next level; ahead of the trend, as always, is Fashion Valley Mall. Just Cavalli, too, is continuing to impress the fashion world. Officially beyond the initial label of a diffusion brand, Just Cavalli is now strongly photographed in New York and is featured daily and monthly on leading online fashion websites and magazines all over the world.

This rise to international fame sounds surprisingly similar to what lies ahead with the first annual San Diego Fashion Week, fall 2008.

While our modest avenues may not be quite ready for Just Cavalli runway style, every fashion enthusiast must pack a local perspective and peruse the cache of spring's bright new heights at San Diego Just Cavalli in Fashion Valley Mall.

Preview the Flash Collection in the Just Cavalli photo gallery here. And catch Flash in action in the Grand Opening photo gallery here.