Hermes has a long history of uniquely beautiful designs, many of which rise in popularity due to their presence on the company's famous silk carres. With such a rich legacy and so many famous designers contributing to that success, who has the time to keep track of it all? It dawned on me that I couldn't be the only person who wanted to know so much about each creation, and more importantly that it would be great to have a place to keep track of it all. In this blog I aim to share the fine details of each piece that we've come across along with the amazing history attached to them. Enter Napoleon, the first we'll cover of many designs in the fantastic past of the Hermes brand.
A Style Fit For Royalty
Hermes has made it's way into the hands of many famous figures throughout modern history, most notably the Queen of England. There is no denying the presence of fashion when it comes to royalty. It only made sense for designer Philippe Ledoux to bring these worlds together when creating this design in 1963. One of many styles coming from the artist, Ledoux found a way to create and emblematic statement of Napoleon's rule while using a somewhat geometric layout to give the scarf a non-chaotic look when worn. Each corner displays a portrait representing the historic feel Napoleon gave as he undertook military conquest during the French Revolution. The design clearly signifies the ruler and his love for horses, but probably more so for his love of the height he gained from riding them. Just as the scarf makes a statement for those wearing it, the swords, outfits, and famous hat did so for the man who was briefly known as Emperor of the French.
What it means to "bee" Fashionable
The most interesting thing you will notice about this scarf design is that Ledoux chose to spread small honey bees with an embroidered look across the background. For many who don't know Napoleon's history, this can seem like a unique choice meant to fit the scarf for Hermes to a have a purely stylistic outcome during the year of it's release. This designer knew what he was doing though, as the honey bee had a prominent purpose during Napoleon's time as a ruler. This bee can actually be seen on the Flag of Elba, an important piece in the reign of this leader. Although still debated among historians, there is no doubt as to the importance of this symbol in fashion during his time, making it an equally important symbol for a release of this style.
One theory suggests the bee is a reference to the original founders of France. Another more relevant theory suggests that when Napoleon took control, he actually had to make a fashion choice himself. By flipping the seals of the previous ruling monarchs he created what looked like a bee, and thereafter became a synonymous with the rule of the new leader. Regardless which you believe, there is no doubt that this scarf is emblematic of what the man tried to do in representing himself through that of fashion - not just on flags but on curtains, coronation robes, and more. This is an approach that seems to carry over to Ledoux's finished design, not merely by wearing pictures of the man but also by wearing what the man actually wore himself.
There are plenty of other inspirational designs coming from Hermes over the years. This is just the starting point. Countless artists have created countless looks and we plan to cover them all. So the question becomes - which one will conquer your wardrobe?
Photo credit of http://piwigo.hermesscarf.com/
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