The Judges Awards

09.4 Hermès A/W10, by Véronique Nichanian

Véronique Nichanian's collection was a masterclass in taste and refinement. First came sumptuous blue, grey and brown jackets, in cashmere flannel or dip-dyed wool seersucker. She paired them with narrow trousers in cashmere, corduroy or velvet. Knitwear was equally appealing as she gave standard V-necks and turtlenecks new dimension through trompe l'oeil colour blocking. There were also plenty of incredibly crafted leather pieces, including a hunter-green bomber. As Nichanian wrote in her programme notes, the collection was all about 'laid-back sophistication'. What she didn't say is that this is achieved through painstaking craftsmanship.

Men's design director: Véronique Nichanian

Joined brand: 1988

Based: Paris

Key features: Pared-down, classic pieces, such as cashmere jackets, velvet blazers, suede overcoats, corduroy trousers, and leather and crocodile bombers

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