As the man himself admits, fashion designer Giorgio Armani is involved in an "essentially ephemeral" pursuit. So he is an odd choice to "guest design" an edition of the Independent about Aids in Africa.
There is some good journalism in today's issue - devoted to Bono's charity initiative to fight Aids in Africa and following on from the U2 singer's stint in the Indy editor's chair - but also, sadly, many missed opportunities.
The highlight for me was Paul Vallely's sensitive article on the daily life of Letenk'iel from a village in southern Eritrea, which led off the coverage, while Steve Bloomfield's report from Kenya about a successful aid project was similarly absorbing.
Giorgio Armani himself wrote a good column on page 7 about his interest in the charity, next to an advert for his latest fragrance.
But before long, inevitably, the lure of celebs proves irresistible. Thus we had Ashley Judd uncovers hope and heartache in Madagascar! George Clooney - interview with an icon! Giorgio gives advice to young designers! Leonardo chooses his ten best films!
Why it was not mentioned that DiCaprio is starring in a new film about African conflict diamonds seemed to be one of those missed moments.
And I would have thought that the Mobo awards would be the perfect newsy tie-in but in the end it only snuck into the briefs column.
Like Bono's guest editing effort, which had far more impact, the basic problem is that special theme editions of newspapers have to fit in with the real world news events, the result often more a mishmash than a pot pourri.
But it is to be applauded that half of all revenues from the paper help to fight Aids in Africa.
Lastly, the cover. I had thought such a practice went out with the Black and White Minstrel Show, but the cover features what is essentially an enormous "blacked-up" version of Kate Moss with the headline "Not a fashion statement". But of course it is, isn't it?
Buried somewhere - you really have to hunt it down - is the rational for the image - if Kate had been a real black African she would work three times longer each day, most likely be illiterate, be 200 times more likely to die in childbirth and be a million times more likely to be HIV positive. Was there no room on the front page to make this point?
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