A Guide to Hermes Oranges

studio image of hermes orange bags and orange box FASHIONPHILE

There’s more than meets the eye with Hermes orange.

 

If you’re curious about the world of Hermes orange, you’ve landed on the right post. We’ll take you through some of the most iconic Hermes oranges you can shop for at FASHIONPHILE. From rich hues like Orange and Sanguine to salmon and earthy tones such as Crevette and Terre Battue. Similar to Hermes pinks and Hermes blues, you’ll notice colors differ in appearance depending on the textile. This guide shares the history of orange, the various Hermes orange hues out there, and some invaluable style tips on how to incorporate a splash of orange into your wardrobe! 

If you’re a true Hermes connoisseur, you know the level of prestige behind the color orange. Not only is it closely associated with the house of Hermes as its signature color, but the story of how orange became its chosen color is quite fascinating. As a result, orange has become a sought-after and go-to shade in nearly every growing Hermes insiders’ collection over the years. As the more bold neutral, compared to Hermes beiges, Hermes orange takes it up a notch.

The Meaning of Orange & Historical Significance for Hermes

With a glance, the bright, citrus-shaded Hermes box sends fashion hearts ablaze. Indeed, Orange H or Classic Orange, as it’s known within the halls of the brand, is a staple of the Hermes brand. In color psychology, bright orange has rejuvenating characteristics and signifies shelter from grief and disappointment. 

Did you know that this iconic orange shade didn’t always deck the sides of Hermes boxes and signature accessories? In the 1920s and 1930s, Hermes packaging was designed to resemble pigskin, first in a supple, cream shade with gold accents and then later to a rich marigold yellow with dark chocolate brown trim. 

In the midst of WWII, when supplies were slim, Hermes was unable to get the previous dyes from its packaging supplier – the only color the supplier had left was, happenstance, bright orange. Thus, the myth of the Hermes orange was born. In 1949, the dark chocolate Bolduc ribbon was added to the Hermes orange boxes, adding the perfect finishing touch.

Iconic Hermes Orange Colors

Orange

This is known as the classic Hermes orange, which remains iconic today and also used for Hermes boxes.

swatch of Hermes orange in epsom FASHIONPHILE
Orange Epsom
swatch of Hermes orange in togo FASHIONPHILE
Orange Togo
swatch of Hermes orange in ostrich FASHIONPHILE
Orange Ostrich
Potiron

Translates to pumpkin! This is a darker orange that came out 2003 with brown undertones. We love this color on Hermes’ cashmere wool Avalon blankets!

swatch of Hermes potiron in taurillon clemence FASHIONPHILE
Potiron Taurillon Clemence
swatch of Hermes potiron in cashmere wool FASHIONPHILE
Potiron Cashmere Wool
swatch of Hermes potiron in toile FASHIONPHILE
Potiron Toile
Feu

Introduced in Spring Summer 2009, “feu” means fire. It is more orange and less pink than Orange Poppy.

swatch of Hermes feu in togo FASHIONPHILE
Feu Togo
swatch of Hermes feu in epsom FASHIONPHILE
Feu Epsom
swatch of Hermes feu in taurillon clemence FASHIONPHILE
Feu Taurillon Clemence
Sanguine

This orange is a pretty red hot orange, like lava and we love it. It translates to “blood” in French and came out for Spring Summer 2011. Bags and accessories with this color can also have contrast stitching.

swatch of Hermes sanguine in shiny alligator FASHIONPHILE
Sanguine Shiny Alligator
swatch of Hermes sanguine in vache FASHIONPHILE
Sanguine Vache
Capucine

Launched in 2012, this orange closely resembles vermilion.

swatch of Hermes capucine in evercolor FASHIONPHILE
Capucine Evercolor
swatch of Hermes capucine in swift FASHIONPHILE
Capucine Swift
swatch of Hermes capucine in togo FASHIONPHILE
Capucine Togo
Moutarde

Translates to “mustard” in French. Hermes Moutarde has more yellow undertones and came out in 2012.

swatch of Hermes Moutarde in Negonda FASHIONPHILE
Moutarde Negonda
swatch of Hermes Moutarde in Togo FASHIONPHILE
Moutarde Togo
swatch of Hermes Moutarde in Taurillon Clemence FASHIONPHILE
Moutarde Taurillon Clemence
Crevette

Literally translates to shrimp what else? Hermes Crevette came out for Spring Summer 2013 and is a soft creme coral color.

swatch of Hermes Crevette in Chevre Mysore FASHIONPHILE
Crevette Chevre Mysore
swatch of Crevette in Togo FASHIONPHILE
Crevette Togo
swatch of Crevette in Taurillon Clemence FASHIONPHILE
Crevette Taurillon Clemence
Orange Poppy

Launched for 2015, this is a deep orange with light pink undertones. It came out for Fall Winter 2015. You may also spot items in this color with brown glazing and a red/orange stitch. 

swatch of Orange Poppy in Evercolor FASHIONPHILE
Orange Poppy Evercolor
swatch of Orange Poppy in Chevre Mysore FASHIONPHILE
Orange Poppy Chevre Mysore
swatch of Orange Poppy in Taurillon Clemence FASHIONPHILE
Orange Poppy Taurillon Clemence
Terre Battue

Introduced for 2016, this name translates to clay, a more muted orange with a hint of brown.

swatch of Terre Battue in Togo FASHIONPHILE
Terre Battue Togo
swatch of Terre Battue in Epsom FASHIONPHILE
Terre Battue Epsom
swatch of Terre Battue in Taurillon Clemence FASHIONPHILE
Terre Battue Taurillon Clemence
Cornaline

A rusty orange often on Grigri Rodeo bag charms.

product image of hermes carnaline rodeo bag charm FASHIONPHILE
Grigri Rodeo Bag Charm in Cornaline

Watch our YouTube Short on Hermes orange: 

How to Style Orange According to Melrose Max

In terms of styling orange, the fashion forward Melrose Max suggests, “a color-classic orange Hermes scarf around the neck. It’s the perfect method to elevate any outfit, adding a touch of class and Parisian chic. Pairing it with a super mod Hermes bag in a unique material is a sure-fire way to turn heads on the streets of Paris to Los Angeles.”

lifestyle image of influencer wearing hermes orange scarf and hermes bag FASHIONPHILE
Pictured above, Melrose Max wearing the Hermes Silk Bolduc Pocket Square Scarf, and the Hermes Canvas Small Bride-A-Brac Pouch Orange Burgundy
And there you have it. Orange is a true color staple for the Hermes brand. Because orange carries a unique meaning and story for Hermes, why not explore all Hermes orange items at FASHIONPHILE? Give your collection a fun, luxe and bold upgrade!