RUNWAY: Hermès FW18

A dramatic, medieval setting quickly set the mood at Hermès' Fall/Winter 2018 collection. A dozen or so braziers lit up the runway and sent embers abound and gave the clothes a richness and depth that only real fire could bring. The clothes were not as dramatic as the setting but it was far more capital-F Fashion than Hermès tends to be. There were plenty of quiet luxury, like the super-soft leathers and cashmeres, the latter offering an arty mountainscape pattern while more ostentatious fashions like a hooded crocodile trench and furry overcoat were also present. The usually-reserved label, still family owned, brought a new willingness to try new things this season and while not everything worked (like the ultra-thin down jackets), most achieved the goal: offer unparalleled luxury at nosebleed-inducing prices.