Thursday, November 20, 2008

Daydreaming with Hermès





I don't know about you but I could really use a little getaway right now. Unfortunately, that wish will remain a fantasy and not a reality for the next month or so. So in the meantime, I'll just play hooky and spend some time dreaming about these Hermès vignettes. I love the Hermès website, and it's a great way to get lost for an hour or so. But by far my favorite section of the site is the slideshow of past and present images of the Faubourg Saint Honoré shop windows. Are these gorgeous or what? And even better, the trip didn't cost a dime!


(Navigating the site is a little tricky. Go to hermes.com, then click on "travel the world of Hermès." Find the "Indian Fantasy" photo like that at the top of the post and click. The slide show will begin.)


1989 window decorated in the theme of "In Praise of Silk".


"Cheval d'Orient" from 2006. Don't those columns remind you of Brighton Pavilion?


A detail from the "Cheval d'Orient" window. Fabulous.


Leopard prints, Greek keys, red stars... enough said. Oh, except about the saddle, which makes me want to take up riding.


A window from 1954 with fantastical seahorses.


"Iridescent Fountain" from 1984.


Gorgeous colors in this 1977 window.

Image at top: 2008 window- "Indian Fantasies". All images courtesy of the Hermès website.

18 comments:

  1. In a rush, but LOVE the examples you chose today. LOVE!

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  2. Courtney- I love these images so much; wish I could take credit for them! ;)

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  3. Anonymous10:13 AM

    Wow! Love these. I will spend some time studying these images and the web site. I'm always drawn in by lots of pattern, layers, the odd and unusual! Fun fun!
    Christy

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  4. Christy- There are so many more images on the site- so much to see, so little time! ;)

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  5. All wonderful, no surprise. If I ever see a "shell" chair like the one in the 1989 "silk" window, I might have to sell my soul to have it. There is one in the George Cukor layout in the, now, von Kersting house. Heaven.

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  6. Patricia- I love those grotto chairs too. I may have to fight you for one!

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  7. I love that they showcase their window displays going back so far! I wish more stores did this. A real history lesson in style and pop-culture.

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  8. Anonymous11:01 AM

    Very Chic.....all of them! Sorry this economy is so horrid and not many will be able to enjoy such luxury.....but we can still dream!

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  9. hi jennifer: these are all so gorgeous!...the "iridescent fountain'' is insanely beautiful...love the calm and colour of the last image!

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  10. Paul- Aren't they??!! I so admire all of the people who created these windows. What imagination!

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  11. Anonymous5:08 PM

    Gorgeous and timely escapism, merci Hermès and Jennifer for the post!

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  12. ohh, actually it is one of my must every time i visit Paris: windowshopping at Hermes Faubourg boutique. They are gorgeus...it's a fantasy ...so much work ...and so much imagination...

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  13. THIS is SOOOOOO Tony Duquette!

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  14. Anonymous11:59 AM

    Gorgeous indeed. I can see this turned into beautiful illustrations. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. how timely! three weeks ago i bought a vintage scarf on ebay and dug out the two i bought in the early 80's (remember when they were affordable?) i have had hermes on the brain lately!

    what a lovely post. thank you for the reminder about their site!

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  16. Jennifer, These windows are luscious! Thank you for sharing this treat with us.

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  17. I love so much their window displays

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