Emporio Armani celebrates 40 years during Milan Fashion Week

MILAN (AP) — Milan is once again basking in the joy of snarled traffic for Milan Fashion Week, a sneak peek at what real normalcy might look like one day.

Health passes are being checked at the door of in-person shows and presentations, giving a sense of security to events that not so long ago were held with shoulder-to-shoulder seating. Now, masks are worn, social distances kept.

It’s been on-again off-again for the past 19 months, and everyone is ready to embrace reopening, and with perhaps a little wardrobe shakeup. On the runway, the simple fashion response is denim and knitwear, and easy-to-wear shoes.

Here are the highlights from the second day of mostly womenswear previews for next spring and summer on Thursday:

EMPORIO ARMANI CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

Giorgio Armani celebrated 40 years of his Emporio Armani line with a retrospective show at his Silos museum and a new collection for youthful dressers that brimmed with colorful optimism.

“They have been 40 hard, very hard years. But also beautiful, very beautiful. I have to say to see these kids, as I saw them 40 years ago, made me very happy,” Armani told reporters, referring to the models who represent his youthful customer. “To see these kids so clean, so simple, so sweet, made me very happy.”

The Emporio Armani preview for next spring and summer featured both menswear and womenswear, opening with denim suits in dark tones for her and patchwork for him, before transitioning to wispier silky looks like chiffony minidresses, or belted shirts or jackets over loose trousers for men.

Menswear looks had an air of adventure, with maps printed on silken tops and trousers, coordinated with khaki- or sand-colored separates and worn with travel pouches. For women there were carefree peasant dresses with scoop necks and...