My Visit to Paris - the Hermès Women's Spring-Summer Runway Show
If you love fashion, do try to visit Paris during Fashion Week.
I've always been drawn to the world of fashion - and of course, the French luxury label Hermès, one of the most successful design companies in the world. While in Paris last week, I attended the Hermès Spring Show 2024, which was held at La Garde Republicaine, the training center for the horses of the French Republican Guard. For this runway show, Hermès womenswear creative director, Nadège Vanhée, was inspired by springtime, wildflowers, and grassy meadows. The Collection highlighted a luxurious palette of reds, browns, and blacks on natural fabrics of leather, cashmere, silk, and cotton to showcase easy early summertime staples such as skirts, coats, trousers, and dresses. It was a presentation of elegant simplicity - just leave it to Hermès. During this trip, I also ate at a handful of delicious restaurants including L'Avenue, Mieux, and Cloche. It was a full itinerary, but also full of fun and good company.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Hard to pass by all the beautiful and historic buildings in Paris without taking photos. This is The Palais de l’Institut de France, formerly the College of the Four Nations. This majestic building is on the left bank of the Seine directly across from the south wing of the Louvre’s Cour Carée. Cardinal Mazarin, Louis XIV’s Prime minister, is buried under the Institute’s grand dome.
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- And here is the Notre-Dame de Paris, referred to simply as Notre-Dame, the medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. If you recall, it caught fire five years ago. Sad to see it under all the scaffolding, but the giant restoration project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2024.
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- Joining me on my short trip to Paris are my longtime publicist, Susan Magrino, and my makeup artist, Daisy Schwartzberg Toye.
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- We ate lunch at the outdoor bistro L’Avenue on the corner of Avenue Montaigne – well known for its classic French dishes and people watching from its terrace.
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- Among the dishes we enjoyed – minced beef fillet tartare.
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- And a flavorful steamed salmon fillet with fresh green beans.
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- Here I am in front of our hotel ready to attend the Hermès Womenswear Spring-Summer Runway Show. Did you catch this on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48? My bag is a vintage Hermès Birkin, 2001.
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- Both sides of the runway at the Garde Républicaine were decorated with a “meadow” of wildflowers, reeds, and tall grasses. There was also straw dust on the floor of the venue.
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- The Collection included many womenswear basics, such as this skirt and top, easy-flowing for springtime.
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- This ensemble is in a bright white-gray color – very fresh, sporty, and casual.
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- More suit-like fashions were roomy and loose to catch the spring season’s gentle breezes.
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- Top coats were also easy-going in natural colors with a professional style. Models also wore comfortable flat sandals.
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- The color palette included shades of dark burgundy – this to showcase a leather skirt and cotton bralette.
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- Here is another dark burgundy set – a leather coat and dress combination.
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- Here is a bright red cashmere coat to warm one on chilly spring evenings.
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- All the styles in this Collection are professional, yet simple and very clean.
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- This black top resembles a suit vest, matched with a long, tailored skirt.
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- Guests sat on tiered benches among the wild grasses. It was a very full audience. And not to worry, all the plantings used were replanted outdoors after the show.
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- While at the show, I bumped into Stefano Tonchi, Italian journalist, curator, and consultant. Always nice to see him and catch up.
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- After the show, a group of us gathered at Cloche, the revamped historic brasserie on the corner of Rue Coq Heron. We were there to join Hermès creative director, Nadège Vanhée, for dinner.
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- Some of the dishes on the menu included beautifully presented fish…
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- … and the most tender filet mignon.
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- Here I am with Daisy and Susan – all dressed for the afterparty. No, this was NOT planned.
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- Do you know who this is? It’s Ghali Amdouni, also known by the mononym Ghali – the Italian rapper and record producer – offering his signature “peace” sign in this snapshot.
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- And here I am with Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation member of the family that founded Hermès.
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- Here is the famous Eiffel Tower – the wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars. This photo was taken at midnight with the full moon in the background. It was a quick but very enjoyable three days in Paris, the beautiful ville lumière, city of light.
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