Collection SS2016: Cheval Surprise Coloriage

You must certainly remember the original Cheval Surprise of 2004, by the talented Dimitri Rybaltchenko.  The design had such a strong effect on me, I could not resist the temptation to acquire the scarf (as a gavroche, in 45x45cm) frame it and display it prominently in my living room.

This year, a variation on this theme is sure to enchant us at least as much as back in 2004.

Collection SS2016: Cheval Surprise Remix

You must certainly remember the original Cheval Surprise of 2004, by the talented Dimitri Rybaltchenko.  The design had such a strong effect on me, I could not resist the temptation to acquire the scarf (as a gavroche, in 45x45cm) frame it and display it prominently in my living room.

This year, a variation on this theme is sure to enchant us at least as much as back in 2004.

Horses and riders emerge from a cloudburst of colour.  Dimitri Rybaltchenko leads us on a visual adventure of his own making. Lost at first in the formless splashes of yellow, orange, magenta, blue and green, we gradually discern the hidden silhouettes. It all depends (quite literally) on the viewer’s perspective.  In Rybaltchenko’s own words, ‘disparate, apparently meaningless elements are connected, and take on meaning, a life of their own.’  His design echoes the thought processes that lead to the birth of a new idea: ‘we must let ourselves dream, let our gaze float free. 

A few splashes of colour are all it takes to break the silence.’  Here, silence gives way to the thunder of hooves, the cadenced breath of galloping horses. There’s a moment of calm, in the figures of the iconic horse, carriage and groom, symbols of the house of Hermès (based on a painting by Alfred de Dreux). 

And Carle Vernet and Jonny Audy, equestrian painters of the 18th and 19h centuries, are along for the ride, too.  In the purest spirit of the house of Hermès, classic, foundational motifs take on new, thoroughly modern forms.  Originally conceived in monochrome, and re-cast now in vivid colour, Cheval surprise remix continues to captivate the imagination.

Collection FW2015: Cheval Fusion

Metal in fusion. Mercury, perhaps? The substance is sleek, glossy, somehow alive… and supremely seductive.  Impossible not to think of another carré – Vif argent, created a few seasons ago by the same designer, Dimitri Rybaltchenko – at the sight of this design.  Mercury is unique: a metal in a naturally liquid state, sensitive to the slightest pressure, so that it scatters in a multitude of fluid, free-flowing baubles.

Cheval fusion: the protean liquid suggests an array of potential forms.  Bits, buckles and stirrups coalesce, and a proud steed is born.  The magic of metamorphosis!  Could this be the lair of Hephaestus, the Greek god of the forge and volcanoes, inventor of magical objects?  Could this outburst of metal hold a clue to the secret art of alchemy?  Remember – Mercury is also a planet, named for a Roman god, whose Greek ancestor bore the name… Hermes.

Collection FW2015: Minuit au Faubourg

The clock strikes twelve.  Midnight in Paris, and the city seems calm and quiet.  But a signal beams out from the Eiffel Tower: a call to Super H!  Something’s afoot.  Masked and cloaked, the proud horse atop the Hermès building undergoes a strange metmorphosis, ready for action.  We watch breathlessly as he prepares to take flight – a modern Pegasus for the world of the comic strip.

A few seasons ago, another carré – Quand soudain (‘When suddenly…’) – showed him with his rider, galloping, mane rippling in the wind.  Here, watched from a discreet distance by his groom, standing behind a nearby window, he sports a super-hero costume all his own.  What’s about to happen? Find out next time, in the adventures of Super H.

Collection FW2015: Pégase Pop

Mount of the gods, friend of the Muses, Pegasus, the winged horse of Antiquity is transfigured by the magic of Pop culture… He can summon a spring, gushing forth with one strike of his hoof, but his name is associated with storms, too – Zeus chose him to carry thunderbolts and lightning to Mount Olympus. 

And it is in this role that Dimitri Rybaltchenko chooses to depict the winged brother of the beloved Hermès horse, bursting out from behind the clouds in a brilliant flash of lightning. Hatched lines, bold forms and contours, flat expanses of colour, dots, and explosive energy, coupled with simple, effective line… American Pop Art is a wingbeat away!

Collection SS2015: Cheval Mirage

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful !!!  A series of H's change directions often to depict - and also hide - the majestic head of a horse.

The very picture of metamorphosis: this delicate, trembling cloud, this mist in motion, is in fact a horse’s head, glimpsed fleetingly, vanishing as we approach to take a closer look, reappearing as we step back.  Framed by halters, the animal seems released: the straps encircle the empty air, a reflection, a mirage of the creature itself. No doubt about it, this carré is a symbol of freedom. 

And as Dimitri Rybaltchenko suggests when talking about his design, his original idea was to realize a dream we’ve all shared, at one time or another: to catch a passing cloud in our lasso. 

Of interest is that the colour palette in which this design is being offered there's a very similar scarf as the one above, yet in softer colours.

Pay attention to the horse while reaching for the stars !!

Collection SS2015: Glitch

Initially, the word “glitch” was used to describe an electronic malfunction that distorted the image on the screen. This phenomenon gave rise to a new aesthetic developed by the glitch art movement. For this scarf, designer Dimitri Rybaltchenko ushers the Hermes Ex-Libris into the digital age, subjecting it to this unexpected effect.

Collection SS2014: Les Facéties de Pégase

One of the most impactful designs of this season is the "Les Facéties de Pégase" ("the Pleasantries of Pegasus") - a mythical creature born from Medusa's cut off head, who took flight towards the sky.

A gorgeous design from one of my favorite artists - Dimitri Rybaltchenko (whose father Vladimir preceded him in offering beautiful designs to be captured on silk and who offered one some of the most unforgettable designs, of which "onde de chic" - another reissue of this season - and "cheval surprise" - which I have framed in my living room)

Collection SS2010: H comme Histoires

The concept behind this scarf has been the ubiquituous designs found on older, leather-bound story books, so rare yet so dear to children and parents alike.  Glacing over such sophisticated lettering carries my thought to the excitement that every child experiences upon seeing the parent, grandparent or otherwise the special person holding a story book, ready to enchant the little ones with the searches, voyages, free spirit, bravery and gentleness of heroes of times past.

My fascination with this design stems from the illusion of (time) traveling that this pattern induces - as my eyes glance over the entire scarf, from the lower half of the design (which is the focal point on the scarf) across its upper part, I perceive the design as one of those images associated with the sensation of gliding over territory from an airplane, or more appropriately a time capsule, at ever increasing speeds.  The horizontal lines, reminiscent of the lines across a musical partition, send the viewer on a journey to the right of the book cover, expecting the reader to uncover the pages and dive into the fascinating worlds hidden beneath.

The scarf ties surprisingly gracefully, with its pattern showing only discreet elements of its design.  Really wonderful !

Collection SS2005: Onde de Chic

I settled on this scarf today not only because of its playfulness, but also because the image of the horse inside the pattern is like a treasure discovered in the days before Christmas - when, as a kid, I used to rummage through the entire house in search of "Santa"'s gifts. Often times I managed to find them successfully, and the excitement increased exponentially in anticipation. As a grew older, I gave up the searching part, but I held on to believing that a gift is even more impactful if it's something I want, and less so if, upon opening the package, I'd discover something I didn't care for. So ordering my own gifts continues to be a way of life for me.


Dimitri Rybaltchenko created this design in 2005, depicting two super-imposed images of the same "onde de chic" ("wave of chic") pattern, slightly off-center relative to one another, with the one in the background of the same colour scheme but faded in intensity. Within the pattern there's the image of Pegasus, a winged horse that appears to be in flight towards the viewer, wings spun across the entire upper part. The horse, its noble spirit transcending its image, gives both distinction to the scarf and instills the element of surprise, so treasured by many.

For me, the horse image inspires freedom and fills my lungs with energy and my spirit with enthusiasm.


This scarf ties wonderfully, and the same colour palette allows the wearer to emphasize his/her best features through it.

Collection SS2005: Hola Flamenca !

Today is my birthday, and so it's only appropriate that I feature a scarf that I consider to represent me best.  At first, I picked a dip dye scarf for I thought both it and I are unconventional.  Yet, a very dear friend of mine disagreed, pointing out that its overall spirit does not encapsulate mine.  So I embarked on a search for a scarf that exudes vitality, exuberance, love of life, sophistication, and - naturally - artistry.  What came to mind is the "Hola Flamenca!" design of 2005, by Dimitri Rybaltchenko (a tremendously talented and prolific designer whose unconventional creativity often results in truely magnificent creations), and indeed, now I can say decidedly that THIS is the one !

There's something else fascinating about this scarf: its intense (yet subdued) colours, suggestive of a profound spirit, sensitive, compassionate and very generous. Definitely Costin !

I love how vibrant the design is, and how full of life the entire picture is, and how its name denotes the sensuality of the female artist displaying her grace on Andalusian rhythms. A wonderful design that shows beautifully knotted.

I would equally venture to say that this entire scarf is "bigger than life" - as I would like to be remembered - and I consider it a good reflection of me as well.

My friend has also confessed to wanting, one day, to own a dress like this one, to spread open, twirl and be drawn into its mesmerizing waves.

Collection SS2009: Faubourg Express

A very intriguing pattern is this "Faubourg Express", a deceptively simple scarf that features tastefully bright colours and emphasizes the beauty of pure, white silk. Depicted is a series of thin lines of various colours, drawn parallel to each other, and suggesting the sequence of images as perceived from within a train in motion. This picture does not reflect the shapes of things, yet when the scarf is perfectly flat, the images become apparent. In addition, I consider this knot very elegant and refined, for those adept of making an impactful statement with discrete elements. The artist is Dimitri Rybaltchenko, a very talented designer whose works of art are expressions of supreme artistic creativity.

Collection FW2006: Les Toits de Paris

This scarf is an absolute delight to study and discover because it depicts something as uniquely identifiable and as intimate to every city as any recognizable tourist attraction: the skyline, or more appropriately the rooftops. Hermès skillfully depicted "les toits de Paris" ("the rooftops of Paris") with grace, wit and innocent playfulness: the apparent monotony of the rooftops is interrupted by domestic scenes, household lights and even the ubiquitous "friends" that have found comfort in the human beings' existence - birds, cats and even mice. I was somewhat disappointed with the way the scarf displays when knotted, because the playfulness (and the spirit) are lost, but it's nevertheless a scarf I'm very fond of.

The Hermes add, featuring this very scarf, is a beautiful picture of a girl, her hair wrapped inside the scarf, leaning on the window to le her face be carressed by the fairytale snow flakes, and looking out across what we can only anticipate to be the Parisian skyline.

Collection SS2007: Vif Argent

An interesting design by Dimitri Rybaltchenko, "Vif Argent" ("Quicksilver") depicts drops of mercury that form, by way of continuous lines, the famous Hermes brand. It is a stirring design, beautiful in its simplicity, but one that does not have a particular impact when knotted traditionally around the neck - unless a good part of the middle design is displayed, as in a headscarf fashion, or perhaps in a knot where a good quarter of the scarf is displayed in front.

Collection SS2004: Cheval Surprise

In keeping with the holiday spirit, I thought it wise to start the year with a scarf that echoes the wonderful display of fireworks that celebrate an accomplishment or mark new beginnings.

I took note of this scarf when it was first released, several years back, without understanding the significance of its title, or the intrinsic message of the design. Since I channeled my passion for scarves and my energy to understand and share the beauty of each, I paid closer attention to this scarf and realized how fascinating the design actually is. On closer inspection the ink-blot design, remiscent of Jackson Pollock's creations, reveals horses, horseback riders, carriages and drivers - each one in a dynamic pose (check each corner, plus the areas between them). The author is the very talented Dimitri Rybaltchenko, the son of another designer in the service of Hermes, Vladimir Rybaltchenko (who is connected by marriage to yet another one of Hermes famous designers, Phillipe Ledoux).

A true visual feast, which I'm only too happy to have added to my modest collection (in the gavroche size), thanks to a kind and sensible person in my favourite country, Japan, who since became a close friend. Thank you MF-san !

So here's to the hope a new year brings and to new beginnings !!

Collection FW2004: Noel au 24 Faubourg

An all-time classic, "Noel au 24 Faubourg" ("Christmas at 24, Faubourg") depicts the Maison's Paris flagship boutique at No. 24 in an apparent snow globe (with the accompanying snowflakes peacefully making their way onto the ground). The globe is surrounded by snow-covered pin tree branches. Of amazement are the ornaments on these branches, in the shape of elves in different poses, some playful, some enjoying winter sports. The ubiquitous - and emblematic - "bolduc" (a thin ribbon or thread, now associated with "gift ribbon") adds a discreet touch while its curls further enhance the spirit of celebration and playfulness - and evoking magical childhood memories.

This design, created by Dimitri Rybaltchenko in Fall/Winter 2004 and reissued in Fall/Winter 2006 in 45cm pochette and 90cm cashmere/silk, has been highly popular and a sought-after collectible.

Collection FW2007: Cheval de Caractère

Soon I'll celebrate my birthday, and so it's only natural that I speak of scarf that depicts a remarkable animal, admired and respected the world over, whose relationship with the human being has flourished over the years, yet now is to be found in only a handful of places (such as the countryside): the noble horse!

The image of the horse in "Cheval de caractère" ("Horse of Character" - the title bears a double entendre, as "character" in French refers to printed letters) is rendered by the shapes and shades of the five letters that make up "Hermes".  They repeat along lines across the entire scarf.  This particular orange is very vibrant and balances very nicely the more "mature" design. A spectacular sensorial feast.

I find this design particularly impactful for the image it reveals on close inspection (or rather per ensemble, or "from awar") - and thereby likely hidden to the uninitiated eye.  I find it equally elegant for the sophistication of the pattern - no longer individual objects, but a series of letters.

Since I started the blog, I seldom came across instances where this scarf became available for sale - but never in this colour combination, which is a strong testament to it appeal.