PARIS, France — Mr Armani is a control freak. Wherever he lands, he installs a shiny black box for his shows. The brutalist spaces of the Palais Omnisport underwent the same treatment for this one-off Parisian outing of the Emporio Armani brand, but the catwalk was square and the pace faster than usual. This gave a parade-like impression to the show.

The sensation was enforced by the haphazard mix of styles on display. From military to slightly ethnic to romantic, there was a lot going on. Probably too much. Mr Armani wanted to express the joy of playing with fashion, but from a designer as focused as he is, more editing would have been appreciated.