Artist Shaun Daniel Allen takes us inside his first Hermès show in Paris

WORDS Cassandra Dimitroff PHOTOGRAPHY Kitty Callaghan & Shaun Daniel Allen PUBLISHED Fri, 31 Jan 2025 - 2:15 pm

Paris in winter is a study in contrasts – grey skies and electric energy, business as usual and the spectacle of fashion week. For artist Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal), stepping into his first Hermès show was like stepping into another rhythm, one where time slows and every detail is intentional. Front row, Kelly bag in hand, he felt part of something both timeless and deeply personal. The collection, wrapped in the idea of inhabiting time, unfolded in layers of suede, velvet, and blanket-lined coats – pieces that felt lived-in, not just worn.

Shal’s own look was a seamless extension of his artistic sensibility – earthy, effortless, entirely his own. As the music pulsed (King Hannah’s New York, Let’s Do Nothing still looping in his head), he soaked in the moment. Here, he divulges all the details from the trip...

What does the energy in Paris feel like right now?

Dynamic and diverse. High energy, especially for winter and the only occasional appearance of blue skies this last week. It’s been really fun riding the metro and watching different demographics get on and off around the city… There’s 1000 pop ups and events on. Lots of walking/talking, and admiring people’s creativity. I also love that half of the city is just business as usual, and the mix of people walking in the streets is so eclectic.

This was your first Hermès show – was the experience different to what you had imagined? What was a standout moment for you?

I always just imagined it being more segregated, but it was the complete opposite! Everyone just casually hanging out pre and post show was such a great feeling. Felt surreal to be in that room. Standout moment was sitting front row for the show! And feeling the buzz from the spectators and paparazzi surrounding the show outside upon arrival.

Tell me about your look – what did you love about the pieces you styled? Did you have a favourite runway look or moment?

I love the bag as you can probably tell from the photos. Who doesn’t want to carry a Kelly. And that sweater is 100% my colour pallete. I feel like it was all made for me. Felt very comfortable and myself, which is all I ever want above everything. There’s a great line in the show notes - ‘to dress with the feeling of being welcomed’. I could see that with a lot of the collection. The materials and the cuts. Favourite looks were any of the velvet and suede outfits. They looked timeless! And I loved all the big coats with the blanket linings.

The collection was rooted in the concept of inhabiting time – as an artist, do you often think about this concept in relation to your work?

This could be an incredibly long answer! I definitely think about time a lot outside of deadlines and how long things take. How where I sit geographically determines where I sit in time to others. And how where I’ve spent time in the past dictates where I will be within the future. This is a whole thing! So I’m just going to say in a word, yes. I think about this concept in relation to my work.

What was the soundtrack of the show – were there any pieces of music that stuck with you?

Thierry Planelle did a great job with the music.

Cog in the Wheel – Baba Ali
New York, Let's Do Nothing – King Hannah
Rock and Roll – Gap Dream
Strange – Leo Hellden & Rocket Mike
Rain (feat. Coco Solid) – TimParis

That King Hannah song was stuck in my head for quite a while afterwards.

Was there a fellow show attendee that caught your eye?

Kyle Smith - @kyleforserious - Fashion Director for the NFL and stylist for a bunch of the top athletes. Doing great things in a space that feels all new, and unexplored. Alex Dobé - @alextrescool - incredible Ivorian-French photographer based in Paris. I only recently discovered his work, but his photos of the Olga De Amaral show at Foundation Cartier blew my mind. He also has a really beautiful and unique way of capturing people and movement. He also shot some great photos from the show - check them out. (I photographed both of these people together and feel they both deserve some words).