Tucked in a corner on Palmer Square, a new addition to the fashion scene of Nassau’s collection of boutiques, thrifts, and mainstream stores has a unique unveiling to Princetonians. A once ominous store corner waiting to reveal its secrets has finally opened its elite doors in a colorful display of luxury goods ranging from furniture to clothes; and yes, I said furniture. Regarded as the king of high luxury, Hermès is known for their incredible handmade craftsmanship with their bags such as the Kelly and Birkin bags. While I wasn’t expecting a Birkin offer anytime soon, that didn’t stop me from exploring the seemingly hidden products behind the door.
Entering the store, I was promptly greeted by a guard. Making quick eye contact and quicker small talk, I could tell my entire being was judged from head to toe. Though I attempted to blend in with the ideal customer, hiding my true intentions behind well-layered clothes and decorated gold accessories, something in his gaze could tell I wasn’t all I claimed to be. Given a curt nod and encouragement to voice any concerns as I wandered the store, I kept my distance from the suspicious guard. As I took in the layout of the store, I was struck by how much it stuck out from what I was used to in my previous shopping experiences. No signs made attempt to convince my wallet to open, but my empty bank account wasn’t going to complain — yet.
To my right, a makeup line I never knew existed was displayed neatly and plainly. Continuing the business model of an absence of flashy signs or fast deals, it didn’t draw my attention as much as the scene to my right. Following a more museum-based approach, scarves were tied or draped on matching expensive racks. The surrounding decor was designed to highlight the variety of scarves, some a soft silk and others a more hessian-type fabric containing embroidered detailing. The more common silk variant had abstract designs and vivid imagery ranging from clouds to watches, all in shades of beige or in the Hermès signature orange. To me the store felt like what my friends envisioned when I described the Princeton Merch Store with the abundance of the color orange. Laughing to myself at the thought, I instinctively snapped a picture to remember for later: my first red flag to the luxury code of conduct.
As if he had been waiting for me to reveal my true malicious intentions, the guard quickly approached me and asked me to respect their no-photo policy. Quietly tucking my phone away, the snapshot remained preserved within the digital realm of my phone. In that moment I was tempted to play into whatever cartoonish evil rivalry was forming between myself and the guard, but instead, I nodded and moved along.
My contraband photo, which I definitely deleted.
Amanda Hugas / The Daily Princetonian
Following the intended flow of the store, I went up a short set of stairs into the next exhibit. In the new space to my left, walls were decorated with ornate plates that probably could cover my semester's tuition. In colors of whites, beiges, blues, and oranges, the loyalty to this color scheme continued as well with their furniture. From nightstands to small tables, due to the lack of price tags, it was hard to tell what was the decor and what was an intended product. This lack of labeling only enforced the gallery feeling I felt as I walked along the shelves. As I scanned the serveware, it felt weird consuming the delicate dishes as a prospective buyer instead of the more observant onlooker. This line of thinking however was halted the moment I was confronted with a “Touch with your eyes” sign. Taking that convenient timing as my sign to move on, I left the exhibit before the guard had more evidence against me.
In the neighboring room, the walls changed in color as they sparkled with jewels. A glass island in the center definitely could cover my year's tuition, maybe a full ride if I played my cards right. Necklaces and rings taunted me behind their glass cage, substitutes for my good friend the guard. Maybe it’s because my wallet is looking empty currently, but nothing of the sort really kept my interest for long. It all sparkled the same, and I was looking for the quiet luxury that the Hermès brand holds as a signature. Determined to find it, I left the loud luxury behind me. Retracing my previous footsteps and passing the guard on the way back, I crossed to the other side of the store.
Reaching a more familiar element, I gravitated towards the small racks of clothing. Arranged distinctly by two colors, orange and blue, the room’s elements contrasted their products in an attempt to make them stand out more. Upon further inspection, the clothes were divided by style. Athletic and leisure wear were hung across the room from the more elegant pieces. Gleefully immersing myself in the handmade work of each piece, I relished in the fact they were all individually unique. As any critic of clothing quality would tell you, one of the first telltale signs of high versus low fashion comes down to the stitching. Carefully flipping the sleeves inside out, I studied the intricate stitchwork. Similarly to a blanket or cross stitch, the spacing between each mark was perfectly even. Running my fingers along the work, the fabric lacked any friction. No signs of pilling showed on the work I looked at which was nothing less than expected for a store so expensive and praised. I wasn’t surprised to find perfect lines and high-quality fabric, but my expectation was soon broken.
Rummaging further in the deep blues of elegant coats and sweaters, I checked the hems and stitches. It seems that not even high quality can buy you perfection. Located inside a beige shirt with brown elements and blue highlights, on a flipped sleeve, there lies one imperfection. A loose thread that hung out from its proper place stuck out to my careful eye. If this was found in a T.J. Maxx or a Target, it would’ve been an ignored detail in my critical opinion. However, with each piece being handmade and hand-selected, the question of how it made it to the floor lingered in my mind.
Now, truth be told, the shirt was one minor mistake amongst a large group of nearly perfect products, but if I had the means to purchase such a product, I would expect not a single mistake. Satisfied with my little tour and nitpicking, I took a small peek into the last room I had yet to explore. In the small fraction of it I could admire, I saw bag parts such as the body, straps, and types of hardware add-ons. In the center of the room, talking with a worker, there was a couple already being offered their bag as they talked about price points and discussed possible options over the range of bag straps that were laid out in a rainbow of variations. It seemed that if one wanted to purchase the highly famed Birkin, this was the spot. Alas when I tried to book a bag viewing appointment — and failed during the chaos of midterms week — I took that as my sign to not press further until I had the wallet to back it up.
The store presents a very mysterious front and guarded reputation, and their quality — for the majority of it — is held to the standards they claim to have. Even though an intimidating security guard dutifully greets you at the door, there is really nothing else that would stop and capture the interest of a shopper. Whether you appreciate the high luxury of their clothing, or are just an avid fashion enthusiast such as myself, the Hermès storefront on Palmer Square is an intriguing new addition to the Nassau scene.
Amanda Hugas is a member of the Class of 2027 and a contributing writer for The Prospect. She can be reached by her email at ah0942@princeton.edu.
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