Hermes pocket square

rbstc123 · Feb 5, 2009

Have any of you gents ever purchased or do you currently own a Hermes pocket square? Do you enjoy it? Is it good quality or is it another fashion brand with inflated prices that doesn't deliver?
I am considering this one...see link below
Thoughts?
Tell us about other Hermes items you own or have considered.
Thanks gents!

https://usa.hermes.com/webapp/wcs/s...oryId=88266&topCategoryId=58003&parentCategoryId=10605&productId=35887&nbItem=0

Vita Su Misura · Feb 5, 2009

I own the square you're considering in a few colors. It's made with a very soft jacquard, foulard weight silk, which will give you a very "puffy" (for lack of a better word) appearance.

I worked for Hermes for a while, and the quality is very high, in my opinion. The COST however, is a bit much. As with many labels, you are probably paying 40% for product quality and 60% for a name.

That being said, Hermes makes some fantastic products, (I own a few leather accessories, ties, pocket squares and such). Hermes owns John Lobb (not the institutional, original bespoke shop in England, but they took over the Parisian Lobb workshop and store in the late 70's) so many of the men's shoes are made by Lobb. I'm actually not wild about the shoe styles though. If you want Lobb, buy Lobb.

All of the men's clothing is insanely over-priced. The outerwear/leather coats/jackets are made by Seraphin in Paris, and you'll pay a premium for the Hermes label. Suits/tailored clothing is made by Belvest and same there, inflated price for Hermes name. A super 190's suit from Belvest might normally run you $4,500, but at Hermes we're talking $7,000.

The leather goods are also VASTLY expensive. But, you are buying a completely hand made, (in many cases, hand-sewn also) product. They have several quality control stages and many products are rejected for the tiniest of imperfections. As a saddlery in the 1800's originally, they believe in the legacy of their leather craftsmanship and (hopefully) will remain committed to a high standard for years to come.

The ladie's scarves are the most popular product, next to the Birkin bag perhaps. They release hundreds of patterns in dozens of colors several times a year. No one does scarves like Hermes. All hand-printed in Lyon, one color at a time. For silk goods, (ties, scarves, squares, ascots papillions) you won't be disappointed.

Buying Hermes is a status thing. And be that as it may, I do love Hermes and if I was vastly wealthy, or at least better off, I would shop there more often. You can be assured if you buy something Hermes, it won't be crap.

The Louche · Feb 5, 2009

I was looking at some Hermes PSs in Needless Markup the other day. They were nice but I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a PS if I were Bill Gates. Frankly, I think that PSs are an item with which quality isn't really all that important. I buy almost all of mine from joints like Filene's Basement for about 7 bucks.

Blueboy1938 · Feb 5, 2009

The one pictured is very interesting in the way the Hermes "H" is used as the design. The orange one came up, and it seems to me that, if you are picking a color, the red one would be more versatile. Hermes quality is great, but I'm not convinced that it's always worth the price.

That said, purchasing a logo item is always fraught with the "walking billboard" connection. If that doesn't bother you, and the price doesn't either, go ahead.

By the way, I just recently picked up a Giorgio Armani silver pocket square on sale at Nordstrom's. Even the sale price gave me pause. Now I'm trying to come up with a casual fold that subtly but prominently (is that contradictory?) displays the name in a readable orientation. Who says I'm just a designer's whore:icon_smile_big:

Bertie Wooster · Feb 5, 2009

I have that exact square !
It's my second favorite Hermes PS ( out of about 7 or 8 designs ) and gets plenty of use in my rotation. It's actually quite subtle as the "H" motif is woven and self coloured rather than printed.
So, is it worth the money ? Well, thats the most subjective question of all. Bottom line, as with anything I'm ever shopping for, if I like it, can afford it and am going to actually use it, then yes, it's worth it......to me. YMMV of course.

printemps2001us · Feb 5, 2009

Though I have no pocket squares, I own about 2 dozen Hermes ties and I can tell you the silk, colors, and silkscreening are second to none. Though the style and price are not to everyone's taste, if you like them you will not be disappointed by the quality.

Dashing1 · Feb 5, 2009

I've got that square in a different color and must say that I really like it. I generally use a puff fold, and that square particularly seems to hold the puff well. The construction & fabric are both very good. Despite the fact that it is fairly plain (with only the subtle "H" pattern viewable at very close range), it almost never fails to draw compliments when worn.

I did buy mine at a significant discount & would probably rather by 2 or 3 other squares instead, if I had to pay retail.

Taxler · Feb 5, 2009

Hermes can, and sometimes does, make very elegant pocket squares without any "h"'s or logos. Those are worth having- the rest I can do without.

Srynerson · Feb 6, 2009

rbstc123 said:
Is it good quality or is it another fashion brand with inflated prices that doesn't deliver?
I am considering this one...see link below

Not being the owner of any Hermes pocket squares, I can't speak to their quality. I will note, however, that Sam Hober (formerly Mulberrywood), who is a member here offers a slightly smaller (15"x15" versus 16"x16") hand-edged silk pocket square in what appears to be a nearly identical color for about 1/5 the price of the Hermes square:

I'll venture that it is very unlikely that the Hermes square is five times better in terms of quality than the Sam Hober square (not to mention that it's a pocket square, so it doesn't really suffer wear in the way articles of clothing do), so it comes down to the question of whether you like the pattern (and the extra inch in length/width) enough to justify the price difference.

Bog · Feb 6, 2009

A must for snotty noses.

deanayer · Feb 6, 2009

I have owned Hermes ties in the past and yes the quality is top flight so I would assume they know enough about silk to make a great pocket square which (assuming a minimum of high competency which they have) is more about the material than the construction, making one isn't rocket science.

My concern and, its similar to others here, is that really great silk isn't impossible to attain so I think high quality companies can quickly get to the point where a PS can't really be improved on and that goal post isn't far down the field.

The one thing hermes can do is weave one with a great border and do all kinds of things with prints and weaves and patterns etc. but when you consider that the majority of the PS is stuffed into a pocket with just its tails sticking out you are paying a great deal for detail that cant be seen and even if they were the greatest ever at making them I dont think the premium makes any sense to pay.

You may be a Hermes junky and "need" this for your collection but if not I am sure you can find many companies using great english silk who will be as good for less than half the price. Last thought: I am really not a fan of anyones logo being on display anywhere outside a tag either affixed or inside an item of clothing, I am wearing clothing not working as a billboard for anyone.

rbstc123 · Feb 6, 2009

Srynerson said:
Not being the owner of any Hermes pocket squares, I can't speak to their quality. I will note, however, that Sam Hober (formerly Mulberrywood), who is a member here offers a slightly smaller (15"x15" versus 16"x16") hand-edged silk pocket square in what appears to be a nearly identical color for about 1/5 the price of the Hermes square:

I'll venture that it is very unlikely that the Hermes square is five times better in terms of quality than the Sam Hober square (not to mention that it's a pocket square, so it doesn't really suffer wear in the way articles of clothing do), so it comes down to the question of whether you like the pattern (and the extra inch in length/width) enough to justify the price difference.

Thanks for the referal to Hober. I should have looked there first. I really do like the bright orange. It's a Sinatra thing. I just want a quality piece. $25 is a much more realistic price. Thanks again.

rbstc123 · Feb 6, 2009

Although I do like the Hermes products it is well known that the prices are inflated for namesake. I just wanted to be sure they were still a "quality first" brand. As I stated above I will probably go with the Hober square. Maybe the Hermes will follow in a more versatile color or not at all. As was also previously mentioned, the PS is not a wear and tear item. I even flinch at $25.
Thanks for all the responses.
Happy Friday!:icon_smile:

Hermes pocket square

rbstc123

Vita Su Misura

The Louche

Blueboy1938

Bertie Wooster

printemps2001us

Dashing1

Taxler

Srynerson

Bog

deanayer

rbstc123

rbstc123

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