Hermès

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There's a heady whiff of old money the minute you step into Hermes' plush, wood-paneled confines—quite literally, in fact, since the air carries the faint scent of its signature perfumes. The upscale French retailer is best known for its classic leather handbags; the coveted Kelly and Birkin bags, named for Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin, respectively, can fetch prices that exceed a year's Ivy League tuition. (The bags are emphatically not in stock, but special-ordered, often requiring a two- to three-year wait. Patience is an expensive virtue.) The store also carries a full line of luxurious men’s and women’s clothing, elegant housewares that give a new meaning to domestic art, as well as shoes and accessories, quite a few carry a relatively manageable three-digit price tag. Items like china and cufflinks are frozen behind glass cases, making Hermes feel more as much museum as store. — Geeta Dayal

Key Departments

Children – Clothing

An oft-overlooked section of Hermes is the merchandise for coddled kids, which includes tiny and adorable terry bathrobes, wool and cashmere baby blankets in pale pastels, booties, and a woolen plush "Hermes Horse" toy.

Men's Scarves

The iconic Hermes silk scarves and ties are colorful without being loud, and are available in scores of different shades and designs. Scarves range in price from a three figures (for a hand-rolled silk neck scarf) to four figures plus for a generous cashmere shawl.

Cuff Links

Hermès' sleek cuff links and hand-folded silk twill ties make a tuxedo even more debonair. Expect nothing less than master craftsmanship and classic designs, many of which boast the ever-iconic signature H-stamp. Popular sterling H-bearing examples include the traditional Eclipse and modern Cipy cuff links.

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