Hermès Silk La Femme Semelles Scarf

La Femme aux Semelles de Vent by Aline Honoré for Hermès

La Femme aux Semelles de Vent was designed by the amazing artist Aline Honoré for Hermès’ Autumn/Winter 2009 season. The design was available as a 90cm silk twill and a 140cm cashmere/silk shawl. I have the silk twill.

The scarf pays homage to Alexandra David-Néel (1868-1969), a French/Belgian explorer, spiritualist and writer, who was a true ‘femme aux semelles de vent’ (a woman with wind for her soles). The central image depicts Alexandra David-Néel and her companion, Lama Yongden, heading towards Lhasa, the forbidden capital of Tibet. She reached Lhasa in 1924, and this amazing feat made her famous throughout the world.

Around the centre are bands of decoration in Tibetan style, some floral and others geometric, surrounded on two sides by life-like animal print of leopard and tiger skins. There are also images of metal and gem stone jewels placed around the borders, with the largest and most striking examples on the four corners. The whole design has a depth and and 3D quality created by the glorious use of color and shading..