The end of an era: Véronique Nichanian’s swansong for Hermès is a masterclass in timeless luxury
Last night, after 37 years at the helm of Hermès, Véronique Nichanian took her final bow leaving behind a legacy that will shape the house for generations to come.
Backstage, following her final show for Hermès after 37 years of service, Véronique Nichanian wasn’t feeling wistful. “No nostalgia,” she said. “I put seven or eight outfits in the show that I did twenty, thirty years ago, just to prove that it lasts.” They included look five’s calfskin jumpsuit from fall/winter 1991, look fourteen’s deerskin coat from spring/summer 2001, and look 47’s cashmere turtleneck from fall/winter 2011, all of which looked as though they’d been made for the new collection. For a designer whose impressive tenure has never been about loud fashion statements, it was a rare, cheeky flex. After four decades of sticking to the slowly evolving, enduring wardrobe she’s always believed in, Nichanian proved herself right: her work looks as desirable and wearable through contemporary eyes as it did when she first presented it.
LOOK 14 HERMÈS, FALL 2026 MENSWEAR. PHOTOGRAPHY FILIPPO FIOR
LOOK 5 HERMÈS, FALL 2026 MENSWEAR. PHOTOGRAPHY FILIPPO FIOR
I’m proud of myself. I’ve worked very hard and I’ve worked with passion. I’ve made the style of the Hermès man. It’s a simple line. I’m honest with myself. I’ve never changed my mind.
Véronique Nichanian
Staged in the Palais Brongniart, her final show beautifully illustrated the restrained yet defined messaging that has often characterized Nichanian’s work. From calfskin to crocodile, the swan song went all in on the leathers that epitomize the ultra-luxurious Hermès wardrobe and its durability. As has always been the case with her proposals, the expression was subtle and loaded all at once. On the house’s polished runway, those glistening crocodile suits and coats and head-to-toe leather looks seemed perfectly polite, but as they strode past and disappeared backstage, a certain seductive and subversive—and really super sexy—afterglow lingered in the room. The show notes came with a folder outlining Nichanian’s legacy codes, from “clear lines” to “innovative materials” and “color as punctuation.” But on a more emotional level, her work will be remembered fordelivering bold ideas with an understated hand.
LOOK 13 HERMÈS, FALL 2026 MENSWEAR. PHOTOGRAPHY FILIPPO FIOR
LOOK 55 HERMÈS, FALL 2026 MENSWEAR. PHOTOGRAPHY FILIPPO FIOR
“I’m proud of myself. I can say that,” the designer said after the show. “I’ve worked very hard and I’ve worked with passion. I’ve made the style of the Hermès man. It’s a simple line. I’m honest with myself. I’ve never changed my mind. I’m straight to the point. I’ve made things that, for me, are the best for the Hermès man.” Now, Nichanian said, she’ll devote her life to doing all the things that the never-ending fashion cycle hasn’t allowed her to do: “I made the decision, I said, okay, I want to do a lot of things and I have time to do it. I want to travel, I want to live somewhere else. There are many things to do in life.” As she came out for her final bow—walking the entire runway with a big smile, as she has always done—screens hovering over ourheads showed footage of many bows through the decades. It was the upbeat, life-affirming send-off that Nichanian deserved. Now, she passes the torch to Grace Wales Bonner, who will present her first men’s collection for Hermès next year.
COURTESY OF HERMÈS
LOOK 34 HERMÈS, FALL 2026 MENSWEAR. PHOTOGRAPHY FILIPPO FIOR
LOOK 44 HERMÈS, FALL 2026 MENSWEAR. PHOTOGRAPHY BRUNO STAUB
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