Biker Boots and Curtains of Rain at Hermes Runway Show in Paris

Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 2, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 2, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
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Biker Boots and Curtains of Rain at Hermes Runway Show in Paris

Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 2, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
Models present creations by Hermes for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 2, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Hermes designer Nadege Vanhee added country and western flair to her fall/winter collection, sending biker boots and studded leather jackets down a catwalk lined with curtains of rain.
Models marched past the falling droplets parading the sleek lineup of leather ensembles that included flat, high-waisted trousers, flared in a boot-cut and worn with sharp-toed ankle boots - cowboy style.
Slit pencil skirts paired with trim bomber jackets looked youthful while cinched trench coats carried a more traditional flavor.
Show notes referred to "braving the elements", and cited resilient leathers, robust twills and supple cashmere.
For her bow, Vanhee lifted her arms and wiggled to the thumping soundtrack - Romeo Void's "Never Say Never" - as audience applauded.
Paris Fashion Week runs through March 5, featuring runway shows from some of the industry's biggest names, including LVMH's Louis Vuitton and Dior, Kering labels Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, and Chanel.



H&M First-quarter Sales Weaker Than Expected

A woman is reflected next to the logo of the H&M fashion retailer in the Mall of Berlin shopping center in Berlin, Germany, in this September 25, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
A woman is reflected next to the logo of the H&M fashion retailer in the Mall of Berlin shopping center in Berlin, Germany, in this September 25, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
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H&M First-quarter Sales Weaker Than Expected

A woman is reflected next to the logo of the H&M fashion retailer in the Mall of Berlin shopping center in Berlin, Germany, in this September 25, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
A woman is reflected next to the logo of the H&M fashion retailer in the Mall of Berlin shopping center in Berlin, Germany, in this September 25, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M reported weaker than expected sales for its first quarter on Thursday and said sales were up 1% so far in March, in a sign of a slow start to its spring and summer season.
H&M reported sales of 55.3 billion Swedish crowns ($5.52 billion) for the December to February quarter, missing analysts' mean estimate of 55.9 billion Swedish crowns, Reuters said.
"Our sales and earnings in the quarter were somewhat weaker than planned – but the first quarter is the smallest quarter of the year for us in terms of sales and margin, and we are confident going forward," CEO Daniel Erver said in a statement.
Increased discounting and marketing investments impacted H&M's profitability in the quarter, the company said, with the operating profit margin falling to 2.2% from 3.9% in the same period a year ago.
Erver, leading H&M for just over a year, is trying to turn its fortunes around and has ramped up marketing, spending on pop stars like Charli XCX to model its collections as he tries to make the brand more desirable and better compete against Zara and Shein.