Paris men's fashion week: Junya Watanabe Man

This Friday, January 23, the Japanese designer revealed his Fall-Winter 2015-2016 menswear collection at the prestigious Place Vendôme in Paris. A chic venue for an equally chic line, which strikes a balance between sophistication and no-frills simplicity.

Not at all extravagant, the presentation of the new Junya Watanabe line was nonetheless elegant, chic and sophisticated. From the décor to the models and -- most of all -- the clothes: refined was the word of the day. This fall, the Junya Watanabe man will be a stylish gentleman, a dandy with an appreciation for menswear classics like top hats and bow ties.

Despite a couple of fuller silhouettes, the collection is dominated by classic tailoring, including impeccably fitted suits. While the pants are lightweight for the most part, the jackets and blazers tend to be thicker, or even cozy in chunky knits. A number of the coats combine multiple materials, and some are accented with sewn-on leather panels.

As seen in other shows this season, patchwork patterns made their way into a number of looks, though always in a subtle, understated way. The color palette is understated as well, and the greys, blacks and blues of the line contrasted nicely with the red carpet on the runway. 

The tailoring was indeed sharp, but it was the accessories and footwear that took the looks to the height of sophistication: patent leather brogues, top hats, bow ties, and even -- in some looks -- socks matched to the models' coats or jackets.