On a June evening in Shanghai, Hermès unveiled the second chapter of its Fall 2025 collection along the North Bund. While many luxury brands have recently staged grand events in China—despite the 2024 luxury slowdown—Hermès’ arrival felt particularly fitting. Artistic director Nadège Vanhée’s modern take on the house’s heritage blurred the lines between past and present.

Backstage, Vanhée described the collection’s muse as “a confident, assertive woman—only this time, she’s in Shanghai.” Exploration became the theme, expressed with clever subtlety. The show unfolded on a sleek orange set by the Huangpu River, where guests sipped champagne infused with rice wine, its glass adorned with floating wildflowers. As the lights dimmed like a sunset, a paneled wall parted to reveal the river and the glowing Lujiazui skyline. Models walked as neon-lit boats drifted past, the Oriental Pearl Tower bathed in red light behind them.

Titled Au Galop!, the collection opened with Virginie Jamin’s Dressage Tressage silk scarf, while braids—echoed in hairstyles and the handwoven trim of a Kelly bag—served as a recurring motif. This nod to Hermès’ equestrian roots also symbolized the fusion of tradition and modernity, Paris and Shanghai. Vanhée emphasized timelessness, designing pieces to adapt effortlessly: “How can you transform your clothes to last all day, all season, all life?”

Wine-hued fur jackets and double-faced cashmere lined with Dressage Tressage prints stood out. Styling drew from Shanghai’s streetwear energy—think knits and button-ups tied at the waist, but rendered in luxe cashmere and leather. Mini Kellys swung cross-body or strapped like backpacks, accented by silk scarves. Some models sported Hermès’ new leather headphones from Atelier Horizons, reimagining quiet luxury.

Each piece offered versatility, a smart response to the luxury slowdown. A leather dress unzipped into a skirt and vest; a coat’s printed lining detached to wear separately, while its top half transformed into a jacket—no visible fastenings needed. Playful yet discreet, the collection embodied Hermès’ elegance: understated, but unmistakable to those who know.