L’Essentiel–Retaining a reserved elegance for the fall/winter 2012 season, Hermès creative director Veronique Nichanian kept to a dark color palette in which the fabrications did the talking. With impeccable construction, in a sea of somber suiting and outerwear, pieces like a soft trench from leather created a wow factor when not embraced by sleek trousers as well as carryalls. Introducing hints of velvet and a smoky graphic towards the show’s end, Hermès latest collection played to the house’s conservative nature while also illustrating a natural luxe factor.