When I entered Hermès on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, I thought I had officially died and gone to heaven. The traffic at the boutique was like in a grocery store, with a crowd from people from all around the world – from eccentric fashion lovers to classic appreciators of the iconic brand, such as a chic gentleman with a croc Birkin the size of a suitcase.
In one of the rooms, craftsmen were working on the bags, finely perfecting all the details. It felt like a museum that had an incredibly popular exhibition on, with the only difference being that everybody was buying the showpieces, from scarves and handbags to jewelry and fragrance. The whole atmosphere had that frantic energy that makes you want to grab something and run to the register… It was the place to be.
The Fall 2012 collection is designer Christophe Lemaire’s second Fall season at Hermès. Seeing all the new pieces in person in one place was amazing, and it really explains why Lemaire’s work has been receiving such great reviews. He’s really on it! -Jesse