At Hermès, Martin Margiela created a bridge between things ultra-luxurious and utilitarian. During his tenure, he returned again and again to the humble pea jacket. For Fall 2000, it got the “transformable” treatment; offered in camel, it featured a removable collar and leather closures.
Also multipurpose were reversible toppers that could be rolled up and carried like a blanket on a leather strap. Le pique-nique, c’est chic! As for the showstopping crocodile skirt lined in lambskin, it counted as the absolute ne plus ultra of understated but undeniable glamour—with, Vogue reported, a $31,000 price tag.
