Hermès Spring 2011

Let’s just say Christophe Lemaire has A LOT to live up to. The newly-appointed Hermès designer succeeds Jean Paul Gaultier, whose last show on Tuesday was pure magic, and I, for one, will be scrutinizing the accessories he develops under his much younger watch. He’s a deejay, so perhaps a flat Birkin to hold records or a spin table? A guy can dream. But I digress.For a swan song, Gaultier could not have executed a more seamless and natural evolution of the Hermès brand when it came to the handbags. They were all there: the Suri Cruise-approved mini Birkin, the “sheer” Kelly (with a mini Birkin sitting inside), the wicker Kelly (OMG moment here) and how about the Kelly-inspired belt bag AND bustier! BUSTIER! It’s gonna take some guts to wear that last piece, but it’s definitely doable–and, trust me, it’ll sell out for sure.I am in love with the wicker Kelly. I love it in the black leather; the contrast of colors is simply gorgeous and it’s also very structured and rigid thanks to the nature of the material. If I had the chops, and a couple thousand extra dollars, I’d seriously consider the belt bag. I think it’s very chic and refined–and discreet; not only is it completely wearable but it screams “collectors item!” Lastly, I’m very curious to hear from Hermès what exactly that “sheer” Kelly is made of. A follow-up report to come following a showroom visit.