Timeless Style with Hermes

Hermes is a leader in the fashion world with its shoes, clothing and even perfume, but it’s most recognized for its signature silk scarves, handmade luggage and handbag collections. Hermes does not use an assembly line but instead, only one craftsman works on one handbag at a time, hand-stitching each individual piece, taking up to 45 hours to complete a single item.

Hermes iconic scarves have been worn by celebrities like Grace Kelly, both on and off the big screen. In The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep insisted on a brand new Hermes scarf to be placed on her desk every single morning. All Hermes scarves are hand-printed and hand-stitched. Many scarves feature some sort of symbol of prestige, from a coat of arms to military insignia. Since 1937, more than 2,500 designs have been produced, the most famous being the horse motif. During holiday season in Hermes’ Paris boutiques, the scarves sell on average, one every twenty seconds.

Hermes leather collections have been made from alligator, buffalo, crocodile, shark, lizard, oxen, deer, goat and even ostrich. The Hermes

Birkin bag is one of its most popular handbags, and one of the most famous handbags in history. The Birkin bag was named after the English actress Jane Birkin, who complained to her seatmate on an airplane in 1984 that her Hermes date book should have pockets because her papers were always spilling. The passenger sitting beside her happened to be the chairman of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas.

With a six-year waiting list and a price tag starting between five and six figures for the smallest size, the Birkin bag has become a status symbol for the rich and powerful. Victoria Beckham, known for her extravagant taste in fashion, has a collection of more than 100 Birkin bags. Even the younger celebrity generation, from Lindsay Lohan to Lady Gaga, has been seen carrying the bag.

The Birkin bag has made its way onto TV shows Gilmore Girls, Will & Grace and is the object of desire between Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and Lucy Liu in a Sex & the City episode. This bag should be taken anywhere you want to be the center of attention, and should be taken there with extreme care and haughtiness.

Hermes is about style, elegance, and above all else, luxury and attention to detail. With the mindset that Hermes does not create a piece with the hope that a buyer will like it, but instead with the utmost certainty that the buyer will love it. Hermes design director Gabriele Pezzini designed a unisex suitcase out of aluminum carbon and wrapped in leather details, called the Orion Aluminum Trolley Suitcase. The interior of this piece is reinforced with bullet-proof carbon and has both a horizontal and vertical handle, with leather accents are brushed cowhide. With a price point of $13,100, this 2010 piece gives traveling with a suitcase a completely new flavor and bank account. This
piece of luggage is great for the light-packing jetsetter or a successful no-nonsense businessman, (think George Clooney in Up in the Air).

For the women wanting to stand out from the crowd, the Hermes SilkyPop bag is the latest take on the classic silk scarf. With its ability to fold up into the tiniest pouch imaginable and zipped up into a gorgeous leather case, it has become an adorable beach bag and the trendiest shopping bag on the market.

The unique bag’s bright colors and infamous horse motif, silk lining and silver-plated zipper serve as the perfect statement piece. Carrying this portrays a carefree spirit yet simultaneously erases the need to accessorize in any other fashion. For more information, visit the Hermes boutique at Fashion Valley Mall or shop online at Hermes.com.

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