Wearing example.
1.Styling with the Boncoura Cashmere Fisherman’s Jumper
[ Boncoura’s Cashmere Fisherman Sweater’s 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.
The Boncoura cashmere fisherman’s sweater is paired with chinos, complemented by a hat and stole.
Normally, hats aren’t often paired with knits, but Balthazar’s colour and shape make it easy to match, and it doesn’t look out of place even when worn with a fisherman’s sweater. The rectangle scarf also balances well when worn differently.
2.Brunello Cucinelli: Styling with a shearling biker jacket
[ Brunello Cucinelli’s Shearling Biker Jacket’s 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.
Paired with a shearling rider jacket, it creates a sophisticated, grown-up look whilst maintaining overall balance.
Leaving the scarf tucked away and revealing only the neckline creates a more refined look. The subtle interplay of colours between the hat and the rectangular scarf becomes clearly apparent. This is the exceptional sense of colour unique to Hermès – the very essence of Hermès’ magic.
While the scarf can be worn draped, it appears more refined when only the neckline is visible, as shown in the photograph above. Given the complexity of Hermès colours, it is necessary to control the proportion of complementary shades.
Detail
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.