Beneath another grey and rainy sky, French luxury house Hermès presented its highly anticipated The Hermès Fall 2025 Men’s Collection, dubbed Inhabiting Time, in Paris. On the final stretch of Paris Fashion Week (PFW), the century-old brand took over the historic Palais D’Iéna—one of the few structures remaining from Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (Expo 1937 Paris)—for a show that reimagined comfort without ever sacrificing style or elegance.
On Jan. 25, artistic director Véronique Nichanian, who has sat at the helm of the label for nearly 40-years, unveiled her latest vision for the modern man. Leaning heavily into dark and muted shades, the new line was strongly dominated by grey, black, and plum hues, often juxtaposed with whites, blues, and tones of black, giving the impression of quiet refinement, calculated minimalism, and balance. Think tailored, shouldered silhouettes, where structure meets ease through different fabrics, from suede, to Oxford cloth, knit and sherpa, mostly drenched in neutral tones.
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Occasional bursts of color cut through the subdued palette, bringing an unexpected jolt of pulse to the collection’s otherwise understated edge. Red balaclava jumpers paired with cream relaxed-fit trousers were amongst some of the pieces that lit the runway, along with turquoise-splashed turtle necks, crimson leather jackets and thin butter-yellow tops. With such combinations, layering became a necessity rather than a choice, adding size and dimension to each look whilst maintaining a sense of composure despite the playful clashes of color, texture, and proportion.
True to herself, Nichanian once again manipulated wardrobe essentials—jackets, shirts, and hoodies—twisting and reworking them, either in isolation or through unexpected pairings, to create new looks, shapes, and forms. As part of The Hermès Fall 2025 Men’s Collection, some coats featured removable linings, allowing them to be transformed into blankets, while some jackets were stitched with double fronts, offering versatile styling options and a modern take on classic cuts.
Suits were also taken out for a makeover, bringing them back to their essence by stripping away excess to focus more on streamlined silhouettes. The once-stiff pieces of formalwear were softened with a ready-to-go feel, allowing prospective clients to own an ensemble purposefully-built for everyday wear (an upgrade to the traditional that could easily be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion). Special mention to the double-breasted blazers— even those cut out of velvet— which stood as an epitome of such an approach.
This fusion of practicality and style could be felt on other fronts as well, notably in the accessory department. Cleverly combining the pleasant with the more useful, Hermès’ latest bag range echoed the collection’s core themes, including the Haut à Courroies à Relier, which reinvented one of the Maison’s classic carriers by removing its signature metallic hardware and leather flaps in lieu of delicate markings. Another highlight was the wool-felt tote, punctuated with small, round-edged holes along its sides, adding a sensory dimension to its simple, yet elegant, design.
Ultimately, it was up to the details to make a difference be it through the high-collars, the eclectic mix of fabrics, cuts, and colors or the à-la-main finishes. Pulling fashion back to its roots, to a certain extent, it can be argued that The Hermès Fall 2025 Men’s Collection deliberately bridge the gap between luxury and lifestyle through pieces that, despite feeling familiar, remain as fresh and imaginative as expected from such a storied house. At a time where fashion seems obsessed with shock value and excess, Hermès is standing apart by championing elegance over arrogance — and we only hope for more brands to follow this exact lead in the near future.