PARIS, Jul 3, 2006/ FW/ --- With Bernhard Willhelm, it is always expect the unexpected and this season, he paid homage to his native Germany by creating a collection based on his homeland’s costumes while adding pop culture overtones in the mix.

With the traditional German costume as the template, Willhelm designed pageboy trousers and snug fitting modern short-cropped jackets cut straight in the shoulders that you can actually wear in a club.

Of course, the venue had a club atmosphere to it with the black lights and laser, so it was easy to assume that this collection is geared towards the club going set, specifically the Japanese.

And though the shoes suggest that the clothes are meant for climbing and frolicking on the Alps, the different ‘Smiley’ faces hinted urban wear. Take the straight leg pants with two zips in front worn with a suspender, and then paired with a vest and long sleeved shirt. It’s a get up that lads from Gotham to the City of Angels will wear.

Big checks, tiny plaid, polka dots and stylized flowers – Bernhard Willhelm did a lot of graphic work with this collection.

Still, amidst this very colorful collection are a lot of very wearable items like the V-neck pullovers and boat neck blousons.

The snug fitting shorts might be too costumey for some, yet the round piping defining the pockets and flaps can actually be attractive to a certain segment of fashion-forward lads.

As had been said before, there is no limit in Bernhard Willhelm’s creativity and this collection more than pass muster.

Bernhard Willhelm

Bernhard Willhelm

Bernhard Willhelm

Bernhard Willhelm