What is #menswear talking about? Hermès reopens in Melbourne, Chanel updates its Allure fragrance, and more
Plus, Omega x Swatch go to the moon, and Anthony Vaccarello designs a new Saint Laurent store in Sydney
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WELCOME TO ‘What is #menswear talking about?’, a weekly dispatch where we discuss the news, rumours and conversations that are dominating the men’s style discourse, and therefore, our Esquire water cooler chitchat.
Scroll on for this week’s edition.
Hermès reopens its Melbourne store with fresh interiors
Located on the corner of Collins and Exhibition Street in a heritage-listed building – up the Paris end, of course – Hermès has reopened its Melbourne store. Inspired by the city’s natural environment, the new space was designed by Parisian architecture agency RDAI who were particularly drawn the use of green eucalyptus, floral and ochre tones, which creates the most warmly lit of spaces.
Inside the store, leather goods, watches, and Hermès’ signature silk scarves are found in an alcove covered in a woven carpet to resemble the bark on a eucalyptus tree. Down the staircase, men’s ready-to-wear and shoes live next to the equestrian range. Exclusive to the Collins Street location, a scarf titled Hermès Parade, designed by English illustrator Jonathan Burton, is available for purchase to commemorate the re-opening, with proceeds going towards Visionary Images – a non-profit in aid of children experiencing hardship to express themselves through art.
The Hermès boutique is located at 71 Collins Street, Melbourne.
Chanel updates its iconic men’s fragrance
The original Chanel Allure Homme Sport has been in a class of its own since its debut 20 years ago. It’s everything more traditional men’s fragrances are not – light and uplifting, rather than heavy or heady. It’s woody, yes. But in a way that’s refreshing, even exhilarating.
Now, a new, strictly limited edition of the fragrance is being released. Called the ‘Superleggera’ – or Chanel Allure Homme Sport Superleggera in full – it calls on refreshing notes to deliver a lightweight yet no less powerful take on the adventurous fragrance.
Italian for “super light”, it references the pioneering automotive construction technology patented by Milan’s famed Carrozzeria Touring in 1936. Supremely lightweight yet striking in structure, the iconic coachbuilder’s luxurious and limited edition designs inspired Chanel’s lauded house perfumer, Olivier Polge.
Polge’s Superleggera pairs the sandalwood, amber and musk hallmarks of the original with a base of patchouli. This grounds the scent with a warm and wearable base, while a cocktail of sparkling grapefruit and mandarin brings the energy. It’s this subtle contrast of finely honed raw materials that gives the fragrance a sense of sports-inspired precision and performance – the pursuit of excellence synonymous with the house’s interlocking C logo.
Even the fine-tuned bottle harnesses the visual codes of sport. With smoked glass and a rubberised lid – which conceals a flash of Chanel red – it will lift your vanity-scape, while enhancing your natural pheromones.
$230; Available in-store and online.
Raw and refined: Saint Laurent opens a new store in Sydney
Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello has brought his new design and concept for the YSL experience to Sydney. Located in Sydney Westfield, there is a clear tension between the austerity Vaccarello is known for and affinity for rough earthy textures. The new two-storey space uses both raw and refined materials throughout, notably back-lit giallo sienn marble to showcase its shoes and accessories to full effect, and a black wood staircase that will take you between the men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, for a distinct and singular experience with the brand.
The store is located at Shop 3016, 3017 & 4015 Westfield Sydney, Market Street.
Omega x Swatch’s limited-edition Mission To The Blue Moonphase has dropped
Released to commemorate the coming warmer months, Swatch has collaborated with Omega for a new addition to their MoonSwatch range, the Mission To The Super Blue Moonphase. As outer-orbit as it sounds, the limited edition watch features a multi-shade blue moon phase, intricately painted with UV ink, positioned as the 2 o’clock subdial. A panda dial design, the silver-opaline dial illuminates a contrast from the deep space blues.
The watch will be available in select Swatch stores and pop-ups from August 1 to 19.
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