Who could have made a calfskin flat sandal pierced with saddle nails? Or another in yellow suede and goatskin? A clue: the favoured colours are mango and orange.... So it must be Hermès.The house of saddles and silk scarves has expanded in many directions - but nowhere more so than its shoe collection, now shown each season along with the newest Hermès bags.The theme for spring/summer 2017 was - well - summer. With mounds of sand as the display cushion, the high-end house seemed to be trying to prove that the beach, as much as grand Paris avenues, is a good place to step out in Hermès.Designer Pierre Hardy said that he wanted to capture the spirit of summer - hence the warm colours and soft materials.
His idea of transforming shapes that might normally be created in beach friendly canvas, made this seashore - or perhaps poolside - footwear, glamorous.Although there was also a cotton canvas sandal with a print that might have been Moroccan inspired, the focus was definitely on fine fabrics. The Hermès sneaker came in woven silk.The bags seemed more obviously high-end with soft leather strapping and discreet hardwear. The effect was on the surface, as in a box-shaped octagonal bag in burnt orange Indian goatskin, with two textures and colour shades on its front.But pride of place went to the Kelly bag with an undulating print of horsey straps named cavalcadour. Its base is canvas, trimmed with black calf skin, but such glamour deserves to be by the sea only for a regatta.
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