PARIS, Jul 3, 2005/ FW/ --- When attending a Bernhard Willhelm fashion show, one should not arrive with any preconceived notions other than to expect the unexpected. True to form, the designer’s Spring/Summer 2006 collection did in no way disappoint!

Obviously a collection for the athletically inclined; with the pants in general came in pink and light blue prints. They were for the most part waist hugging and then suddenly baggy like in the days of Kool Moe Dee. Back then everything in fashion was acceptable and applauded, much like in this collection.

The tank tops were low riding below the inner arms.

Willhelm designs his own prints. Defying conventional techniques and looks for prints, Willhelm subscribes to the chaos theory; a good example shown in this collection wherein one of the prints looked like the result of a paint factory exploring; then defying physics by falling deliberately onto Willhelm’s fabrics.

The German-born designer also like defying commercially conventional wisdom and shows what he likes. It works! And people are embracing more than ever the chaos that he brings to fashion. It’s a unique philosophy and his clients like it.

In spite of Willhelm’s almost wilful defiance, his transparent rain jackets remain very fashionable and in a mainstream way. They are the “I can’t live without them” pieces of the entire collection.

No secret that the designer finds the American flag “cool”. He redid it in black, white and grey. The old stars and stripes were then done again in yellow; blue and white giving a Wonder Man look to some pieces.

In coming out to a sincere and well-deserved thunderous round of applause, Willhelm had the smuggest look of self-satisfaction that screams of “How Do You Like Me Now?”

Bernhard Willhelm

Bernhard Willhelm

Bernhard Willhelm

Bernhard Willhelm