MILAN, Jan 14, 2007/ FW/ --- Raf Simmons is a menswear designer first and foremost, and for Jil Sander Fall 2007, the young Belgian shone like a bright star as once again, he successfully fused the DNA of the German fashion house with his innovative approach to fashion.

Simmons understands the male of the species, and creates clothing that has just the right proportion, as the slim silhouettes defined the body, but do not constrict movement. In his masterful cuts, Simmons even gave allowance to bulky winter clothes to be worn under impeccably tailored trenches, quilted coats and leather jackets.

And although the collection was not made for the blue-collar worker, OSHA will give Raf Simmons a gold star as he incorporated a fluorescent plastic strip in front of the jacket, just beside the zipper, a good safety beacon when one is in the middle of a whiteout.

Perhaps it’s really meant for the urban dweller that likes to mountain climb or ski. Still, the functional aspect of an embellishment sits well with Simmons very sleek designs.

It’s a contemporary collection based on classic tailoring with a generous dash of sleek functionality and innovative style.