The silk scarf is a timeless luxury accessory, evocative of glamour, Grace Kelly and the reigning monarch of the traditional carré; Hermès.
Following successful collaborations with the famous Colette in Paris and Liberty of London, Hermès this month staged a pop up store within the walls of South Yarra luxury designer boutique Le Louvre.
Quintessentially, and sophisticatedly French, Hermès have appropriately chosen the Melbourne store with the decidedly Francophile name as the collaborative muse for a new scarf design.
The design, reworked by Hermès artistic director Bali Barret, is based around the traditional “Monsieur et Madame” scarf, also incorporating the classic ocelot print that has been associated with Le Louvre since its inception in 1923.
The signature scarf print features the silhouette of a man and a woman, scattered with classic Hermès items, including the Kelly bag, classic buckled belt, and the Amazone perfume.
Scrawled with the words “Monsieur & Madame”, as well as the name of the late Le Louvre founder Lillian Wightman, the scarf design pays homage to the latter’s influence on Melbourne boutique history.
Indeed, the Le Louvre narrative is a parable of spectacular success; Wightman moving to Melbourne from Ballarat in 1923 with visions of Parisian parlours and sumptuous salons, and building the Le Louvre brand to be the icon it is today.
Le Louvre’s Amelia Coote says that there have been major changes to the aesthetic of Le Louvre, since the move from the Collins Street building to their South Yarra location, but affirms that the emphasis on quality remains paramount.
“Le Louvre at 74 Collins Street was modelled on a classical French salon, while now it has a more relaxed, modern approach, filled with furnishings from varying decades of the 20th Century including both aboriginal and street art,” Ms Coote explains.
The recent makeover saw the glamorous Le Louvre salon fitted with Lucite furniture, enormous gilt-edged mirrors, gleaming surfaces and glacial mirrors, incorporating a bold pink graffiti mural by street artist Dan Wenn.
“Like Colette and Liberty, it is one of the most unique, eclectic and interesting stores in the world,” Ms Coote says.
“Service, discretion and the pursuit of acquiring the most beautiful pieces from around the world remain the identifying facets of the Le Louvre aesthetic.”
Juxtaposed with the classic orange of the Hermès pop up shop in the centre of the floor, the bold decorative elements and maze of mirrors in-store are stunningly opulent, and highlight the perfect union between the enduring elegance and style of Le Louvre and Hermès.
Image credits: Camille Gower
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