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Pantographe desk lamp, $9,950 T here's a slew of stylish new home and fashion store openings throughout Houston this fall, but perhaps no launch is more anticipated than the new 8,848-square-foot, two-story Hermès flagship, which opens in River Oaks District Friday, October 16. The architecture and interiors are designed by Denis Montel of Paris-based RDAI, who conceives all Hermès stores worldwide (including the newly renovated Dallas boutique, which reopens Friday, November 20, in Highland Park Village). Montel takes his creative cues from the luxury company's landmark flagship in Paris at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré by referencing historic design elements in fine stone and rich woods, along with sleek modern updates in steel and glass. The double façades of the two-story Bayou City flagship form an angle overlooking Westheimer, an apparent homage to the city's grid layout, while also serving as protection from the intense Texas sun. Large, high windows flood the building with filtered natural light. Outfitted in exquisite materials, the Houston location has a staircase fashioned from Continental oak that leads to the second level, and glittering terrazzo floors that contain splinters of Botticino marble, nacre shell and amber, silver Murano glass and St. Louis glass. Both Texas stores have ample space to present all 16 of Hermès' product categories, including men's and women's ready-to-wear, handbags, silk scarves, fine jewelry, watches, belts, gloves, shoes, hats, fashion jewelry, perfume, small leather goods such as diaries and luggage, equestrian clothing and leather accessories. Especially stunning is the iconic equestrian motif in the gold and diamond-studded Filet de Selle bracelet, first produced in 1927, and the Harnais bag, expertly crafted with hand-sculpted reliefs, visible seams and a strap that evokes a harness. Many of the leather pieces incorporate the hand saddle stitch for which Hermès has been known since the company's founding in 1837 as a saddle and harness maker in Paris. Finally, we'll be able to see and touch more from the Maison collection, including tableware from the Art of Living, and Hermès furnishings, the first time Hermès had furnishings available in Houston. A stunning, but limited selection, of furniture from the Les Nécessaires collection, includes a classic leather club chair and floor and table lamps from the recently launched Hermès en Lumière collection. To celebrate the two new Texas boutiques, Hermès has reissued its Faune et Flore du Texas silk twill scarf, originally designed in 1986 by Texas artist Kermit Oliver and sold in limited quantities ($300). New scarves by celebrated young British artist Alice Shirley, who began designing for Hermès in 2014, references classic English gardens, the poetry of William Blake and the highly colorful metamorphosis of Pegasus. Hermès, 4444 Westheimer Road in River Oaks District, 713.623.2177, hermes.com. With a dazzling new flagship store in Houston and a newly renovated boutique in Dallas, the French luxury house Hermès is having a très bien year. OCTOBER | PAGE 26 | 2015 Hermès' STEP Les Nécessaires Table à cachette stool-table, $9,350 Voyage en lkat tea pot, $1,520 Voyage en lkat large vase, $2,960 Faune et Flore du Texas silk twill scarf, designed by Kermit Oliver in 1986 and reissued for the new Houston Hermès store, $300 Filet d'Or bracelet, $3,575