Holy Hermès!

 

Saturday was a glorious day in Paris. Not only was it a beautiful fall day but it was also the weekend of the vintage Hermès exhibit in Paris. And boy, it did not disappoint. Luckily the exhibit was across the street from my apartment at the Hotel du Louvre so we did not have to travel far. Let me just state for the record that walking through the Palais Royal garden on a brisk autumn morning in Paris to get to a Hermès exhibit with my handsome husband doesn’t suck. I recognize that I am fortunate that this is how I am able to spend a Saturday.

The second I stepped into the exhibit, my heart started beating with excitement. Vintage Hermès everything… Travel luggage, toiletry kits, bags, scarves, accessories, clothing… Everything one’s greedy little heart could imagine. The ladies of the 16^th arrondissement came out of the woodwork for this event. It was truly a sight to see. I love a hoity-toity old-school Parisian. They are usually impenetrable but I think because they recognize my plight, somehow their guard is down and they always give me a sweet knowing look. Real Housewives these ladies were not. Demure, subtle, impeccably dressed, perfect lipstick, chic hairdos, sunglasses with husbands, little dogs and euros in tow. Every single woman looked like Catherine Deneuve (current age) and these women were there to shop. There was not a single tourist in sight. There were no bimbos in Hervé Léger bandage dresses asking, “Do you have any new pink Birkins because all of these bags just look so oooooold.”

What surprised me most about the exhibit was the rarity of the items. There was a circa 1969 St. Tropez bag, manufactured for only one year, only 10 in existence. And the colors! Shamrock green suede gloves. Navy blue leather bags. Ox blood red leather travel bags. Sapphire blue crocodile bracelets. And my favorite, a 1958 pearl gray/blue Kelly bag. Unusual bags like the canvas hand-painted sailboat travel bag from a private collection. The collection of vintage scarves was cray cray… Pink and green cashmere, navy blue silks and one very very special scarf with a mink border. Take a look…

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

These pieces were for the true connoisseurs, collectors and lovers of everything Hermès… But in a good way.

*I have to give a special thank you to my husband. For the past 10 years, he has taken me to every exhibit, museum, Château, garden, fleamarket and antique show that my little heart desires. He will wake up at 5 AM, drive 100 miles and grab the lattes to ensure that my happiness is paramount. It was easy in the beginning without ALS. We could just wake up, pop into the car and do as we please. Now, with my ALS, it’s a bit more complicated. Caregivers, wheelchairs, breathing machines, my attitude… It’s not always easy but he still does it because he knows it makes me happy. ALS is a very complicated disease both emotionally and physically. Even friends and family don’t understand what David and I go through on a daily basis. It is a challenge and the ultimate test of a relationship. It’s not always pretty but sometimes it’s beautiful. Je t’aime, Saint David.