Hermes showcases modern day minimalism in the most luxurious form imaginable at Paris Fashion Week

Creative director Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski has previously worked at Céline and The Row
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Karen Dacre8 March 2016

Its handbags are among the most financially savvy investments on the globe, beating the S&P index and gold, but when Hermes unveiled its latest ready-to-wear offering in Paris, accessories barely figured on the agenda.

With a clear cut plan to assert itself as a luxury giant dealing in contemporary clothing as well its £150,000 Birkin bags, Hermes unveiled its latest offering under creative director Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski.

Showcasing modern day minimalism, albeit in the most luxurious form imaginable, Vanhee-Cybulski presented wide-leg cropped trousers, shearling overcoats and double faced silk knit ballerina dresses.

The show served as a roll call for opulent fabrics with cashmere and what the collection notes described as virgin lambswool on offer alongside lambskin and fur.

Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty

In essence it was the perfect example of a brand looking to attract discerning fashion fans with clothes which sit subtly in their wardrobes.

Hermes is not for fashion showboaters but for those who value craftsmanship and a reassuring high price point ahead of any desire to stand out from the crowd - or have their photograph taken by a street style snapper. It is this dedication to anonymity that made Vanhee-Cybulski such an attractive proposition.

Having previously worked under Phoebe Philo at Céline, Vanhee-Cybulski stepped down as design director at The Row, the American brand established by Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, in order to take the top job at Hermes. Without fuss or fanfare, she unveiled her first collection last year.

Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty

A quietly confident designer, Vanhee-Cybulski prefers to let the clothes do the talking. Accordingly, there were no gimmicks or any strong visual themes on offer yesterday - just straightforward clothes which came with a sense of their own superiority.

Highlights came via the tailoring which looked set to delight high-spending fans of the label, including Kris Jenner, who sat front-row.

Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty

A striking colour combination of cornflower blue and chocolate brown injected moments of excitement into a collection heavy with neutrals.

Not surprisingly, given the brand’s standing as a purveyor of nonsense-free luxury, easily interpreted trends were notably absent from Vanhee-Cybulski’s vision for next season.

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