Hermès Writes a New Chapter In Shanghai
Headphones around the neck, sweaters wrapped around the waist, bags slung over the back of the shoulder—this is the modern Hermès woman. Today, the French house took to Shanghai to stage “chapter two” of its fall 2025 collection. The venue was impressive: pivoting panels spun to reveal Lujiazui’s vibrant skyline overlooking the Huangpu River. The twinkling lights of the cityscape set the scene for the dynamic woman that Hermès has come to represent.
Her personal style, like her life, is perpetually in motion, and the effortless styling reflected that. The collection, which was designed by Nadège Vanhée, the maison’s Artistic Director of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, had an undeniably energetic feel. Whether it be fingerless leather gloves or leather microshorts, there were touches of personal flair made to appeal to a younger generation of dressers.
Silk foulards were wrapped and tied every which way, placing them into a contemporary context, while Kelly bags were worn strapped high up on the chest and belted across the waist for hands-free ease that any cosmopolitan jet-setter would instantly appreciate. In some ways, it felt like a evocation of the infamous Birkin origin story—when Jean-Louis Dumas encountered Jane Birkin in need of the perfect carry-all while on a transatlantic flight—a tale where function truly met fashion in a luxurious collision of needs.
However, the collection remained unwaveringly true to Hermès’s “horse girl” roots. In a direct continuation of the show in Paris this March, the sport’s motifs shaped the foundations of each silhouette. Braiding, which draws inspiration from equestrian plaiting, continues to be a prominent accent throughout the pieces.
And if chapter one was defined by a brooding palette of midnight hues punctuated by bursts of citrus hues, chapter two was filled with rich, earthy tones. The saturated oranges paid homage to both the house’s signature color and the natural, rugged landscapes that accompany horseback riding. Between the city lights, the river’s reflections, and the vibrancy of the collection’s colors, the overall experience was a deeply multifaceted and sensory one.
Alexandra Hildreth is the Fashion News Editor at ELLE. She is fascinated by style trends, industry news, shake-ups, and The Real Housewives. Previously, she attended the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Following graduation, she moved back to New York City and worked as a freelance journalist and producer.
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