MILAN, Jun 24, 2007/ FW/ --- If someone tells you that Giorgio Armani has no sense of humor, then they should have been at the Emporio Armani Spring / Summer 2008 runway show wherein the design maestro opened with a bigger than life photo of a bearded man with glasses giving everyone a one-fingered salute!

On the big back-projection screen, even before the logo of Emporio Armani was show, the bearded man looked everyone in the eye, as if saying, ‘So, what do I care?”

Perhaps it’s a political statement. Maybe, it is just part of the show. Giorgio Armani having reached his stature can basically do what he wants to do when it comes to fashion. Still, though for Emporio Armani, he is designing for young men who are actually old enough to be his grandchildren, the Italian designer still pulls a punch.

Truth be known, even his detractors will have to agree that he can still draw crowds even after all these years.

For Spring / Summer 2008, Emporio Armani is rakish with a devil-may-care attitude, the qualities of Johnny Depp’s ‘Captain Sparrow’ on ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean.’ But, other than that, there are no references to the Disney movie or the actor. It is all Emporio Armani.

From the westernized Arabian Nights pants – loose at the top then tapes right below the knee then closed with buttons, to the swashbuckler trousers, the hedonistic quality of the Emporio Armani gent that made his a member of the leisure class has been toned down and his dashing qualities, the one that takes a lady’s breath way was emphasized.

Nylon bomber jackets, white iridescent suits, loose-fitting tunics alternated with slim fitting shirts, depending on his mood, the Emporio Armani gent is a dynamo. No, he will never be the corporate type. He loved his freedom too much for that.

But, he is the ‘start-up guy,’ the kind typified by Silicon Valley who would dare to start a business simply because the opportunity is there.

There were over 100 outfits shown during this fast-paced show. The numbers might be high, but the collection remained coherent and sent a very solid message – be daring, take chances, carpe diem!