Hermes Hermes

Chanel just had a price increase. Did you know this? I did not, until last week, when almost simultaneously I received what appeared to be the same 4-5 panicked must purchase now! emails from personal shoppers – I saw the prices and was really surprised, but then I realized they all mostly went up only 5%? I thought they looked so high! I guess it’s been a long time since I bought a bag from Chanel!

To be honest I haven’t really looked at luxury brand offerings for a while (shoes and bags are the exception, muhaha). I guess I’ve been taking a break due to everything else going on, but now that the book is out and I have a little bit of breathing room, I’ve been thinking of getting a treat. And the first place where I think about going to find a little goodie – the same as always, Hermes. Even though I’ve gone away from the brand time and time again, I always come back. A shawl? A bracelet? A silk? I don’t know!

I was thinking about this the other day, how much I like Hermes, when I happened to be flipping through my Departures magazine and found this little article. At first I thought I would just find the online version and link it in a future Weekend Update  -but then I realizde it’s print only (how quaint, no)? But I really wanted to share it, so finally I scanned it. A great piece about Bali Barret, the women’s artistic director, and her philosophy on leading the house.

I’ve been doing a big closet clean. Not just of the little t-shirts and stuff but also some major, expensive items. It’s so heartbreaking when you find something that you paid a lot of money for, only to realize that you never really liked it, or, that even worse, the quality isn’t great, or (worst) that the company doesn’t stand behind it. I realize that I rarely feel that way with Hermes – yeah sometimes I outgrow an item, or something was impulsive and not really me, but I never doubt that what I’m holding in my hands is something really beautiful, something made with care, and something that is timeless. I know that like with many houses Hermes, is after profit and growth and with that there come pains (sometimes disappointing ones). But I really hope that the core doesn’t change, because I really think there is no substitute. I don’t know of too many places left where I feel like the pieces were made with consistency in mind, with wanting to create something of quality and beauty. Do you? Just my little ode.