HERMÈS VINTAGE & COQUETTERIES

They swirl, curl, attach and collect: Hermès carrés are everywhere, especially where you least expect them. On the occasion of the HERMÈS VINTAGE & COQUETTERIES sale, in which 180 models unfurl their designs and invite you to travel, PENELOPE’S pays tribute to them. A joyful immersion in the world of an accessory that is not an accessory.

An absolute symbol of French chic, the Hermès carré has stood the test of time without ever going out of fashion. Created in 1937 by Hugo Grygkar with Jeu des omnibus et dames blanches, this silk scarf has become much more than an accessory: it’s become an icon. Manufactured in Lyon with meticulous expertise – frame engraving, printing and hand-rolling – it embodies the artisanal excellence and discreet elegance of the House of Hermès.

But behind this tradition, the carré is also a style manifesto. It can be tied endlessly: as a lavaliere, a headband, around the wrist, neck, bag, hair or even as a top. It dialogues with the silhouette, completes it, sometimes upsets it – revealing the wearer’s personality.

The illustrators who have shaped it have each left their mark: Philippe Ledoux and his equestrian scenes from another time, Pierre Marie and his baroque, dreamlike universe, or Rei Kawakubo, who dared to divert it with the boldness typical of Comme des Garçons. The square thus becomes a visual tale, a graphic abstraction, a cultural archive or a contemporary talisman.

Other must-haves include purple or grey crocodile Birkins, vintage Kellys with discreet or flamboyant charm , whimsical gloves and ashtrays that make you want to smoke…

Tradition, creation and expertise: the House of Hermès embodies it all. But it’s also a boundless playground, always ready to reinvent itself to enchant us…