Hermès SS22 Sweeps You Away to an Unrestricted Post-Pandemic World
Véronique Nichanian takes the luxury house to more accessible realms, all while serving optimism and ease.
Nothing says “luxury” like Hermès, but this world is full of surprises and somehow even Hermès felt relevant for a post-pandemic lifestyle as it presented its Spring/Summer 2022 collection. Designed in collaboration with the theater director Cyril Teste (who also designed the set) for the third time now, Véronique Nichanian captured typical house design cues and all the expected levels of extravagance all while nurturing familiarity, approachability, and common sense.
Debuted in the courtyard of Mobilier National in Paris, Teste constructed a triangular array of screens that showed off every angle of the models in high-definition glory to hundreds of poncho-clad onlookers, blurring the lines between the digital world that fashion weeks have adapted to (for better or for worse, we’ll let you decide) and the real world.
As for what was actually debuted on the catwalk, we find it all perfect for a post-pandemic world. As we’ve succumbed to comfort and ease, it’d be wrong for Hermès to deliver something that’s both physically and visually uncomfortable — we can’t all jump right back into looks. So, fan-favorite technical-meets-formal trousers that are typically fitted now come in a generous cut like our lounge pants, summer-ready shorts are knee-length like our boxers (or served up in leather if that’s your thing), and overall, everything felt unrestrictive and breezy — the shirts, for example, billowed and draped from the shoulders, but took this look up a notch so not to look too “I just got out of bed, and this is my bed shirt.” Instead, it was the perfect hybrid attitude of formal pieces with casual prints and an unrestrained cut, coming together for something very welcoming.
Elsewhere, though, were more typical Hermès tropes. Crocodile shirts anyone? Cardigans reminiscent of a shepherd’s delight? There really was something for everyone, and for all occasions too.
For a collection that’s even more laidback, check out the latest season from OAMC.
