The Hermès Fall Winter 2021 Collection Provides the Roadmap for Post-Pandemic Fashion
Hermès is one of the few brands in which the clothes play second fiddle to the accessories. During the Fall Winter 2021 show, all eyes were on the latest update of the Birkin, which features a detachable canvas and leather “pochette” to which the distinctive Birkin flap is attached. You can either use the pochette as a compartment in your Birkin, or use it as a roomy clutch bag. The collection also featured the Kiss Holder, a leather lipstick holder you can wear as a necklace, the new Apple Watch Hermès Double Tour strap, a leather keychain lariat and the new Hermèsway. This practical pouch has four compartments—one for your cards, one for lipstick, another for Airpods and another for your phone. Just enough room for the essentials and nothing more.
The rest of the collection caught the attention of critics and Hermès enthusiasts, too. It seems unlikely the world will have completely opened up again by fall 2021 but, as we begin to reopen our homes to our closest friends and families for low key dinner parties, this chic, muted collection feels entirely on point, bridging the gap between #stayhome slouch and confident casuals. One of the collection’s standout pieces was certainly the blanket coat, providing the comforting reassurance we need to venture back outside after months of lockdown. Collection highlights such as these will make maintaining a strong Hermès purchase history all the easier.
The entire collection feels chic, tough and feminine. It draws from a minimal palette of charcoal black, deep blue denim, mushroom tones, earthy browns and a spectrum of pinot noir to malbec. Naturally, leather plays a major role. Long, flowing dresses with high necks and long sleeves are cinched at the waist and toughened up with leather paneling, its fringed leather skirts are made to move around in and denim is elevated to extraordinary, with fine leather trim and impeccable tailoring.
“The collection draws from a minimal palette of charcoal black, deep blue denim, mushroom tones, earthy browns and a spectrum of pinot noir to malbec.”
In the time of Coronavirus, designers have had to get even more creative in presenting their collections. Hermès’ creative director, Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski nailed the brief with Triptych, the Hermès Fall Winter 2021 collection. The show was a synchronized, multi-city event, based in New York, Paris and Shanghai. Proceedings kicked off in New York with the live-streaming of an oh-so-hip dance choreographed by Madeline Hollander, while a more athletic dance, choreographed by Gu Jiani was performed to a live audience in Shanghai to close the show. These performances flanked the main event, the stunning fashion show, live-streamed from Paris. The effect of this global event was to bring a sense of togetherness, shared experience and resilience. Three perspectives of the same story.
How do you feel about the new Birkin? Is it on your 2021 wish list?
