Champs-Elysées, at Home on Madison
WHEN Hermès opened its 22,000-square-foot store at Madison Avenue and 62nd street in 1999, there was a small sigh of relief among the more aesthetically concerned - oh, I'll just come out and say it - the snootier neighbors. The building, a landmark limestone mansion built in the 1920's, had been home to a branch of the Limited, and there was a jarring disconnect between the $8 hoop earrings sold there and the majestic environment.Full Story (Requires free registration)
Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times
The Hermès store, on the Upper East Side, carries plenty of the trademark scarves, along with a Birkin or two.
The goods on sale now at Hermès are a better fit in the luxurious space, with its skylights, spiral staircase and custom-made leather handrails. But one of the continuing charms of Hermès, as at any serious purveyor of high-quality merchandise, is that there are baubles of many prices.
A shopper of humble means can buy eau de parfum or a silk tie, leaving with the totemic burnt-orange bag to signal one's participation in the mercantile riot of Madison Avenue. And the wealthy might spend $5,000 on a men's suede jacket, or tens of thousands on a Birkin handbag (although the storied waiting list for a made-to-order bag is now closed).
Whether you want to try a new look or your locks are in an "in-between stage," wearing hair accessories is a great way to glam up your evening ensemble. These aren't the plastic barrettes your mother used to buy for you at Woolworths; in fact, you can practically think of these pieces as jewelry. Here's a list of favorites to jazz up your tresses for your next evening occasion.
