Paris Fashion Week: Jean Paul Gaultier pays homage to James Bond

Until he was chased off the runway at the end of the show by a trio of parkour-vaulting ninjas, we never realized how perfect Jean Paul Gaultier would be as a Bond villain. (Sample dialogue: "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to sit in the last row of seats.")

The designer paid homage to the stylish spy -- and added a dash of androgyny -- with a Fall and Winter 2011 "James Blond" collection. That meant riffing on the tuxedo of course; the first look was a traditional, one-button, peak lapel number accessorized with a bow tie and gun.

But it also meant gray pinstripe wetsuits, suit jackets paired with hot pants and fishnets, shiny black diamond-quilted puffer jackets with fur-lined hoods and double-breasted blazers in metallic gold neoprene with outsize fur collars.

But the chic sunglasses that accessorized many of the looks had less to do with channeling the super-suave secret agent and everything to do with a new eyewear collaboration between the brand and Alain Mikli.

But, unless your day job is being an overly athletic, well-dressed double agent there probably isn't a whole lot in this collection for you. It hardly mattered though; it turned out to be the season's most light-hearted spin down the runway to date.

And it's definitely something to keep in mind next time you're headed to Gstaad for some fashion-forward, slope-side apres-ski.

-- Adam Tschorn, reporting from Paris

Photos: Looks from Jean Paul Gaultier's "James Blond" menswear runway collection, shown Jan.20, 2011, during Paris Fashion Week. Credit: Jonas Gustavsson & Peter Stigter / For The Times.