Catwalk report: Hermes

Lucky for Hermes then that new creative director Christophe Lemaire shares less of a fondness for expensive skins than his predecessor Jean-Paul Gaultier causing prices to drop a little. And we do mean a little, but everything helps...

Lemaire's second collection for Hermes continued where the first left off by persuading its customers in to a more modern, youthful way of dressing. White loose blazers and pleat skirts, ankle-grazing trousers and hooded kaftans pointed to an Amish version of summer backed by headscarves and the accompanying soundtrack of crickets. She travelled to the desert in tobacco suede coats over taupe kaftans, then the orient with that brilliant Hermes orange finding a fresh lease of life on mandarin collar shirts and 7/8th trousers. The scarf print was used on camisoles and robes and on a great introduction of swimwear too.

'What I'm looking for in my work is a balance between something rich and simple, something that is easy to put on, easy to wear and that is evocative of travel,' said Lemaire. He certainly achieved that. Hermes is not just about the scarves and bags anymore, Lemaire has reinvented the label as a wanted daywear brand to the same degree as Phoebe Philo did for Celine.