IT’S A GUY THING: Close to 1,000 guests gathered at the Palais Brogniart, the former seat of the Paris stock exchange, on Thursday evening for a party organized by French luxury brand Hermès to showcase its men’s wear collection by designer Véronique Nichanian.
After a fashion show, which featured professional models alongside neophytes including art gallerist Kamel Mennour, tennis player Paul-Henri Mathieu, artist Erwin Wurm and architect Maxime d’Angeac, chefs in white toques wheeled out carts groaning with Champagne, oysters and cheese.
Guests tucked in while taking in exhibits on the first floor of the building, including photo booths where they could pose in a selection of Hermès scarves and hats, a life-size sculpture of a rhinoceros made from white ostrich leather, and mountain of folded clothes with a sign in front that read “Please Touch.”
Hermès is making a big push this fall to highlight the breadth of its men’s offering, with an in-store event in New York last week to be followed by additional promotions in San Francisco and Seattle.