By Marie-Louise Gumuchian

MILAN (Reuters) - Flowers and flamingos injected a dose of the tropical into Milan fashion week on Monday when Gucci designer Frida Giannini dressed her men colorfully for next summer.

Models walked out in blooming cotton shirts and thin ties with flamingo motifs. Even leather lace-up shoes had clusters of large embroidered flowers and crocodile heels in Gucci's spring/summer 2009 menswear collection.

Jackets and trousers in floral stenciled aqua blue or deep amethyst were mainly slim, some slightly flared, and worn with print or bold tone shirts. Embroidered blooms crawled over pinstripes and plaid.

"What I really wanted to bring with this collection was a sort of happiness," Giannini told Reuters after the show, which was watched by American actor James Franco, who stars in the advertising campaign for Gucci's new male fragrance.

"I was referring to this idea of travel, a sort of tour in the tropics ... In summer, in the minds of people in general, there are always colors, always prints, this idea of flowers, flamingo birds so I tried to keep all these elements and to spread them across the collection."

The designer accessorized her models with oversized bags and vivid colors -- duffel bags came in lapis blue while slouchy messenger bags were in orange suede.

Gucci's casual wear had a slightly more rock influence. Fluorescent touches were seen on military jackets and thin cashmere sweaters, inspired by what Gucci called "fluokids", a musical youth movement. It said the collection was inspired by the style of the band MGMT.

Leather jackets and bags had graffiti prints and cotton trousers were worn with slouchy ankle boots. Giannini painted T-shirts and embroidered jackets with flowers and accessorized her models with necklaces with colorful pendants.

She embroided suits for evening wear, which was all-black or all-white. The only dose of color was in agate or amethyst stones on belts.

Gucci's bright colors contrasted with darker tones seen at Emporio Armani and more neutral ones at Gianfranco Ferre at Milan fashion week.

At Moschino, it was "picnic and punk", where stripes, check and floral prints were matched together and models were kitted out with picnic baskets. Studs and pins were seen on hats and tops, while a waistcoat and jacket were embroidered with mother-of-pearl buttons.

At Dirk Bikkembergs' show, models stepped out in jersey suits, jumpers, ties and tuxedos for the Belgian designer's sport couture collection for next summer.

Milan's spring and summer 2009 menswear shows run until June 24. More than 40 designers are holding catwalk shows.

(editing by Andrew Dobbie)