An iconic fashion brand has launched their latest store in the center of an Ivy League town as Princeton recently welcomed Hermès inside a historic building.
The company opened their 41st store in the United States inside Palmer Square, an outdoor shopping area just off Nassau Street in Princeton. Hermès, founded in 1837, is known for their silk scarves, watches, belts, accessories, perfumes, home furnishings, and more.
Their 3,600 square foot Princeton outpost sports a “bespoke design” that is “a play between the town’s heritage and its fresh atmosphere.” The boutique is housed in a corner brick building in the heart of Palmer Square with a line of bow windows providing abundant natural light.
Envisioned by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, the store design draws on the local academic culture. A palette of deep blue-greens and autumnal reds complement the warmth of the wood in the store, while sofas and chairs, along with the emblematic Faubourg mosaic and Grecques lighting, enhance the warm ambience.
The store additionally features a wide selection of artwork including a paddock oil painting by the French painter Maurice Taquoy from the Émile Hermès collection. To celebrate the opening, American artist Ruby Wescoat reinterpreted Princeton’s scholastic legacy through a special window installation.
The Hermès in Princeton is part of the brand’s expansion strategy to place down roots in smaller towns and cities. Besides their massive locations in spots like New York City and Los Angeles, Hermès stores with smaller footprints have opened in Aspen, Colorado, and Austin, Texas in recent years.
