Milan, Oct 3, 2002/ FWD/ --- Roberto Cavalli, that master of outlandish excess, still has bets placed on his long winning formula of wooing spotlight-obsessed starlets and tarty types.

Although they may have very little relevance for non-paparazzi events, Cavalli's sexually charged, barely-there ensembles are just the ticket to ensure a loud splash on the red carpet.

Given the throng of critics, buyers and Cavalli groupies that packed into the designer's Spring/Summer '03 runway show today in Milan, it's tough to argue that such a manifesto is flawed.

As usual, Cavalli´s runway parade was an over-the top, strictly-spectacle affair.

The enormous audience -- nearly three-times the size found at most fashion shows -- looked down upon an iridescent tortoise-printed stage where modern-day geishas strutted in plexi-glass stilettos.

Cavalli's rendition of the Asian sex-seductress came to life in either wickedly short satin dresses cinched to oblivion with lace-up corsets, or -- and this would be for dominatrix types -- in skin-tight, candy apple-red leather cropped suits which were decorated in dragon motif embroidery.

Either way, the looks guaranteed an evening of non-stop propositions.

For the Cavalli purist, the designer's signature long chiffon dresses abounded, but thankfully the animal prints were absent in this collection.

The roar of the jungle was replaced though, with a scream of excess from his piled-on, often complicated, mix of wild chinoiseries, floral-printed lingerie and crystal-crusted chiffon.

A "normal" fashion-obsessed girl would be wise to check out some striking single pieces in this collection - like fur-trimmed boudoir-printed capes that would make for perfect springtime wraps.

Everything else should be left to the no-fear Hollywood and MTV brigade.

Roberto Cavalli Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli Roberto Cavalli