Hermès Le Plongeoir

Like at any Hermès shop, it is filled with treasure, the rainbow-colored which make grown women cry and beg. So it is only befitting that at its newest and grandest flagship would contain cages, large, asymmetrical egg-like structures made of ash-wood, symbolic of its precious merchandise.

The building is the former Lutetia swimming pool from the 1930s. It is large, grand and airy – rare in the Left Bank’s St. Germain. The displays are gallery-like, tidy and minimalist, with ample white space so no product outshines the other. Each is a jewel on its own, handmade, artisanal and luxurious.

Make your way to the second floor, up the seductive curve of the grand staircase. Here, along the balcony, is the teahouse, Le Plongeoir, marking where the diving board used to be. From this vantage, slowly indulge in the best view of the showroom, before “plunging” into the exquisite Le Palais des Thés teas and dainty cakes. Surprisingly relaxed but no less elegant, bid your time playing ladies who lunch on fine Hermès porcelain, whether or not you have any in your cupboards.