Véronique Nichanian is finally bidding adieu to Hermès.
The French Armenian fashion designer, who has served as the artistic director of the maison’s menswear division for 38 years, presented her final collection at the Palais Brongniart in Paris on Saturday. The runway combined fresh new looks with a few archival classics, reflecting the scope of the 71-year-old’s creative canon and showing exactly why she has sat at the top of men’s fashion for almost four decades.
Nichanian holds the title of the longest-serving creative director in fashion, with only the likes of house founders Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani designing in one place for longer. She jumped into the saddle at Hermès in 1988, just as Jean-Louis Dumas, the great-great-grandson of founder Thierry Hermès, was in the midst of reinventing the house. Under her fastidious eye, Hermès became known for more than silk scarves and Birkins, establishing itself as a purveyor of outerwear, leatherwear, knitwear, and shirting.
Hermes Men’s Fall 2026 Ready-to-Wear Collection.
Victor Virgile/Getty
Nichanian has an incredible knack for knowing exactly what modern gents want and delivers it in the best, most luxurious way. There’s a reason Hermès continually scores top honors in Robb Report’s annual Best of the Best awards, after all. The latest collection tipped an earflap cap to aviator style, showcasing shearling bombers, leather trenches, and coats with stand-up buckle collars. There were also pieces from earlier collections on the runway, including a pinstriped leather suit from 2003 and a calfskin jumpsuit from 1991.
At the end of the show, Hermès paid tribute to Nichanian by showing clips of her taking bows on previous runways. As she closed this particular show, she received a standing ovation from a star-studded audience that included fellow designer Paul Smith,…