Hermes Hat and Rectangle.
I frequently use accessories such as hats, scarves, and gloves, and they prove invaluable during the colder winter months. Whilst their primary purpose is warmth, incorporating slightly more refined pieces into everyday outfits allows one to enjoy a more sophisticated look.
This time, I’ll introduce two accessories I use that elevate everyday outfits to a more refined aesthetic: a Hermès hat and a Hermès Rectangle scarf. When one thinks of Hermès, iconic women’s handbags like the Birkin or Kelly naturally spring to mind. However, their menswear and accessories also boast exceptional items crafted with considerable attention to detail.
This time, I’ve paired the Balthazar felt hat with the Rectangle cashmere-silk scarf, combining them with the Boncoura cashmere fisherman’s sweater and Brunello Cucinelli shearling biker jacket previously featured.
The brilliance of Hermès lies not only in the quality of its materials and craftsmanship, but also in its exquisitely French colour palette. Whilst I generally favour conservative colour choices myself, incorporating Hermès’ French-inspired approach to playing with colour adds an extra dimension of enjoyment to styling.
Introduction.
Hats
As I’ve mentioned in past articles, I have a habit of always wearing a hat. This isn’t so much about fashion as it is about being naturally lazy; even when my hair is a mess, putting on a hat tidies it up nicely, so it’s become a natural habit.
Having worn hats for many years, I own quite a collection.
The overwhelming majority of my winter hats are knitted, and I wear them almost exclusively during the colder months. The primary reason I use knitted hats so often is, of course, their warmth. Additionally, knitted hats have the effect of making the head appear smaller.
The hat I’m introducing this time, the Hermès Balthazar, elevates the casual look I usually achieve with knitted hats to a more refined style.
Stoles
During winter, I frequently use scarves and stoles. My go-to is a lightweight cashmere stole by Brunello Cucinelli. When I want a slightly more casual look, I opt for a thicker, reversible cashmere scarf by Cruciani. I generally stick to cashmere scarves, but for pieces with beautiful patterns, I use cashmere-silk stoles as scarves.
A defining feature of the scarves and stoles I own is that they lack fringes. Scarves, often made from soft materials like cashmere, frequently come with fringes that serve a reinforcing purpose. Fringes also have a decorative quality, so wearing a fringed scarf adds a stylish touch. The fringe itself can also lend a rather cute image.
I prefer plain, understated pieces, and I’m not in the habit of wearing decorative items, so I naturally choose scarves without fringes. (It wasn’t a conscious decision; I just ended up buying what I liked, and this was the result.)
The colours I own are mostly muted tones like navy, grey, and brown; I don’t own many bright scarves or stoles. Given my preferences, the Rectangle I’m introducing this time features a bright, glossy blue and a bold pattern – something I wouldn’t typically choose.
Balthazar
The Hermès felt hat, Balthazar, features classic black and the dark brown introduced here as its core colours, with seasonal colour variations each year.
Trends in headwear fluctuate; hats may come into vogue at times. However, with recent apparel trends leaning towards casual styles, items that pair easily with casual wear – such as caps, knit caps, and bucket hats – are currently trending over hats with a more formal feel.
I rarely wear hats myself. I once owned one purchased from Barneys, but as I seldom wore it, I passed it on to someone else and no longer had a hat.
My Balthazar features what’s called an H-loop, a ribbon embossed with the H mark. The colour is “café”, a dark brown, the shape is a classic hat, and the material is rabbit felt (felt made using rabbit fur). It has a lovely feel and is made quite thin.
It was never really a hat I intended to wear often. However, whilst browsing for a Rectangle, I became intrigued by the hat. The combination of the hat and the Rectangle, selected and brought to me by a staff member at the Hermès Ginza store, featured an exquisite colour pairing that I wouldn’t have chosen based on my usual sensibilities. I was so impressed by its refined style that I ended up purchasing it.
Rectangle
The Hermès Rectangle, a cashmere silk scarf, takes its name from the French word “rectangle”, meaning rectangle. True to its name, it is a rectangular cashmere silk scarf measuring 63cm in width and 180cm in length.
Hermès is famed for its silk scarves for women, while its range for men includes cashmere mufflers, cashmere silk stoles, and smaller silk scarves like the Carré and Losange series.
The Rectangle I’m introducing today wasn’t originally intended for my own use. I visited the Hermès Ginza store looking for a scarf that would make a good gift. However, drawn in by the beautiful pattern and lovely feel against the skin, I tried wrapping it around my neck.
The quality of the material and the size were just right. True to Hermès stoles, the way it unfolds beautifully when tied was exquisite, and the interesting colour variations made me want it so much that I ended up buying it myself – a case of the hunter becoming the hunted.
Hermès’s men’s winter season scarves are broadly divided into two categories: 100% cashmere scarves and cashmere-silk stoles. Due to the nature of the material, cashmere scarves have limitations regarding intricate patterns and colours. Conversely, the cashmere-silk stoles feature bold colour schemes and numerous unique patterns inspired by various motifs, much like women’s scarves.
My personal preference leans towards simple colours and patterns, yet Hermès’s magical design prowess ensures that patterns and colours which might appear garish on their own function, when actually worn, not as flashy elements but as sophisticated accents.
I’ve succumbed to this Hermès magic, purchasing rectangles in colours and patterns I would never traditionally have chosen.
When trying on this rectangle, the hat prepared by the staff member became Balthazar’s café. The exquisite pairing of the rectangle’s vivid blue, chosen by the staff to complement Balthazar’s dark brown, was splendid. It felt more refined than the other option available – a rectangle in grey and black – so I selected the blue rectangle.
As a standalone piece, the grey rectangle is splendid, and my conventional sensibilities would have led me to choose it. However, the combination of the dark brown hat and the vivid, deep blue rectangle is one I would rarely select based on my own taste; it embodies the Hermès aesthetic, and that is why I chose it.
Hermes
My perspective may be rather old-fashioned, but French luxury brands like Hermès and Louis Vuitton strike me as catering more to affluent women than to men. They feel somewhat beyond my station, and I don’t see myself purchasing or wearing their items.
The shoulder bag, leather gloves, and cologne I own were not chosen by me, but were gifts from my wife.Given this perspective, I had never before considered purchasing anything from Hermès for myself to wear.
The Ranch shoulder bag, gifted to me 25 years ago, is a high-quality calf leather piece with a refined brick-red colour and a sophisticated one-shoulder rucksack design. However, its structure made accessing contents difficult, leading me to use it less frequently. Nowadays, however, the ingenious “bag-in-bag” solution exists, resolving past usability issues, so I intend to use it more going forward.
I have requested maintenance for the Ranch shoulder bag at the Ginza store. Though it is 25 years old, the leather was of excellent quality from the outset. While I have used it appropriately, there is no deterioration in the leather surface, stitching, or palladium plating. The main work will involve leather cleaning and minor scratch repairs. The cost is not excessively high, and the turnaround time is approximately two months.
The leather gloves gifted to me 20 years ago are still in active use today, having been cherished for over two decades. The leather is exceptionally supple, and with silk lining on the inside, they are comfortable to put on and take off. They exemplify the remarkable quality of Hermès leather goods, possessing such durability that even after over 20 years of use, they remain entirely problem-free.
Although not an apparel item, I have been using Hermès cologne, which my wife keeps stocked for me, for over 20 years. The one I use regularly is called Jardin sur le Nil. Its refreshing citrus scent makes it unisex, suitable for both men and women.
That being said, I recently visited the Hermès Ginza store intending to buy a scarf as a gift for a friend. I was drawn to a beautiful pattern and asked to see the stoles. Trying one on to see what it was like, I ended up wanting it for myself and purchased it.When I was shown the stoles and hats, I handled Hermès men’s apparel for the first time.
While the expected sense of luxury and class was present, it differed from my preconceptions. They offer remarkably interesting garments, quite avant-garde with clever, quirky details in the best sense. Quite remarkable pieces, like a coat appearing as a standard Chesterfield but with double-layered cashmere, or a khaki coat in a stand-collar Balmaquin style. The fabric is a coarse-weave serge, in a subtly bright khaki, with calf leather sleeves.
The collection presents garments that, worn by a gentleman of a certain age, would make for a splendidly distinguished older gentleman – an aesthetic that overlaps with Loro Piana. While Loro Piana uses ultra-luxurious materials like baby cashmere and vicuña, presenting conservative colours and designs, Hermès employs equally ultra-luxurious materials but presents garments imbued with Hermès’s unique aesthetic – or perhaps Parisian elegance – and a touch of humour. While seemingly basic, there’s an intriguing element that makes them feel slightly off. I felt that to truly pull off these garments, one would need an identity and considerable refinement that could stand up to the Hermès label itself.
I hadn’t previously given much thought to Hermès items, but I’ve used their gloves for twenty years without issue; they’ve moulded perfectly to my hands. I stopped using their Ranch for a time, yet after twenty-five years of use, it remains flawless. Reflecting on it, while the leather’s durability is high, the exceptionally sturdy stitching – which never frays or renders the item unusable – is a defining characteristic of Hermès products.
I still feel I lack the identity to truly wear Hermès items, but this hat and the Rectangle bag are simply splendid. While I can’t deny it still feels somewhat beyond my station, I intend to cherish and use them properly. Hermès items are expensive, but if treated with care, they possess the durability and timeless design to last a lifetime.
Wearing example.
Boncoura’s Cashmere Fisherman Sweater Article
Paired with Boncoura’s cashmere fisherman’s sweater and chinos. The beige-toned base allows the hat’s dark brown and the rectangle’s vivid blue to serve as excellent accents.
Brunello Cucinelli’s Shearling Biker Jacket Article
Paired with a Brunello Cucinelli shearling biker jacket. The vintage-processed black fabric typically makes blue a difficult colour to match, but the collar’s light brown hue allows the rectangular blue to stand out beautifully, creating a perfect accent.
Hat
- Design: Balthazar H Loop
- Colour: Café
- Shape: Hat
- Material: Rabbit fur felt
- Exterior: Grosgrain ribbon and rubber-coated “H” lettering
- Made in Italy
- Brim length: 6.5 cm
Rectangle
- Design: Katsouna
- Size: 63×180 cm
- Colour: Blue Turquoise / Blue Gris / Ciel Clair
- Material: 70% Cashmere, 30% Silk
- Loulotage finish (hand-finished edging)
- Features hand-finished fringe
- Designer: Daisuke Nomura
Combination
- Cashmere fisherman sweater : Boncoura
- Chino trousers : Boncoura
- Shearling biker jacket : Brunello Cucinelli
- Five-pocket trousers : Visvim
- Suede boots : Visvim
In conclusion
This time, I purchased an Hermès item, something I’d previously felt little connection to. Hermès designs using the world’s finest materials within its unique aesthetic, crafted by the world’s most skilled artisans. Many pieces command high prices, and beyond cost, they carry an image of sophistication that seems to select its wearer – an image I still felt was beyond my station.
This time, I bought a hat and a cashmere stole, experiencing Hermès’s magical world of colour. However, this sense of style wasn’t mine; it was proposed by Hermès and its staff, making me realise I need to refine my own taste.
The colour palette Hermès suggested this time is extremely sophisticated, but fully utilising that aesthetic presents quite a challenge. I sense a narrower sweet spot compared to the generous tolerance I find in Brunello Cucinelli.
However, I realised that if one can truly harness this narrow sweet spot, these garments offer the potential for exceptionally high-fashion styling. While Hermès’s global prestige is universally acknowledged, it remains an extraordinary brand possessing a truly luxurious aesthetic that cannot be fully grasped through words or images alone.
Though I purchased only a hat and a stole, it is precisely the power of these two items alone to completely transform the aesthetic of the entire outfit that strikes me as the very essence of Hermès, so highly acclaimed worldwide.
This purchase experience made me realise that those who can naturally select such pieces and wear them effortlessly are the true masters of style – a realm I, for one, have yet to reach.
Shop
The hat and rectangle bag featured this time were purchased at the Hermès Ginza store.
This flagship store, known as Maison Hermès, is characterised by its iconic glass structure. Its imposing presence and the doorman at the entrance create an atmosphere of considerable prestige, making it feel rather intimidating to enter.
Upon entering the store, staff will inquire about your requirements and direct you to the appropriate floor. As I was purchasing men’s items this time, I was guided to the basement floor.
The staff also place great importance on maintaining the right distance with customers; unless you state your requirements, you are free to browse the merchandise at your leisure. However, as many items are quite expensive, you do need to call a member of staff to handle them. The staff respond promptly, and you won’t be kept waiting long to pick up and examine any items that catch your eye.
The staff member who attended to me initially presented a selection of scarves and stoles when I mentioned a vague desire for something like that. They explained each item’s characteristics and typical uses in great detail. After asking about my preferences for colour and pattern, they brought items matching my wishes. While looking at stoles, I noticed a displayed hat that caught my eye. When I mentioned wanting a hat, they brought me the Balthazar Café hat I ended up purchasing. Alongside this Balthazar Café hat, they also brought the blue rectangle scarf I bought, which matched my preference for a simple grey pattern.
The staff member’s comment was also very thoughtful: ‘Normally I’d recommend grey, but if you’re going with the Balthazar Café, pairing it with this blue allows you to play with the colour scheme for a more sophisticated look.’ Trying it on revealed a combination I never would have thought of myself – remarkably high-level and refined.
The Balthazar I tried on was size 60, which was slightly large, so I checked the approximate size using another hat. Size 58 seemed just right, so they promptly checked stock and confirmed it could be ordered from another branch.
Thus, impressed by both the hat and the stole, I made the purchase. Arrangements for the Balthazar hat were promptly made, and I was informed they would contact me once it arrived at the Ginza store. I left the shop, and later received a very courteous phone call when it arrived.
Naturally, the items handled are all top-tier, but the staff’s guidance and the sensitivity of their suggestions are also superb, allowing you to select desired items with complete confidence.
Since the pandemic, Ginza’s high-end boutiques have faced ongoing challenges such as entry restrictions preventing access or limited stock on the shop floor. Hermès also implemented entry restrictions at one point. When my wife went to purchase a Colonne, she mentioned having to wait briefly. However, she was highly complimentary of the shop’s attentive service – they brought paper-packaged mineral water and showed considerable consideration, which she felt was truly worthy of Hermès.
During peak periods, you might not gain immediate entry, but the items handled are superlatively top-tier. The selection comprises pieces designed for enduring use, and wearing them elevates your sophistication through Hermès’ unique aesthetic.
It is a shop where you can experience what could be called the world’s true luxury, a place that hardly needs my recommendation.
Every item, including the materials, is selected by Hermès’ discerning eye as the world’s finest and presented to customers through the Hermès filter. Therefore, everything Hermès handles is superlative. This experience truly revealed the essence of Hermès, as taught by a senior colleague: Hermès is the world’s finest select shop.
