Why I Wear My Hermès 140 Shawl More in Summer Than Winter

When I think of Hermès scarves, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic 90 carré.

They're beautiful. Truly beautiful.

But for some reason, I never wore mine as much as I expected. Silk keeps slipping off my neck. And when I do tie it neatly, I suddenly look a little too put-together. Throw on a casual outfit, add a carefully tied silk scarf, and I end up the most elegant person in the room by accident. 😅

So it stayed pretty, and mostly unworn.

My Hermès 140 shawl turned out to be different. And the biggest surprise? I wear it more in summer than in winter.

White from a distance, full of delicate detail up close.

A shawl that's easier than I expected

Mine is a white-based silk and cashmere shawl, 140 cm square. The fabric is thin, so it's nothing like a heavy winter cashmere wrap.

At first, I worried it might fall in between. For winter, I already have warmer cashmere scarves. And wearing cashmere in summer? That didn't make much sense to me either.

But once I started using it, its purpose became very clear.

The answer: air-conditioning

Korean summers are hot and humid outside. Then you walk into a café, a department store, or a hotel, and it's suddenly freezing.

That's when I pull this shawl out of my bag and toss it over my shoulders. It's thin, so it never feels stuffy. But it's not like wearing nothing either. It's right in between, and that turned out to be incredibly useful.

Why I reach for it more than the 90 carré

With a 90 carré, I always feel I need to style it properly. I have to think about how to fold and tie it, and the silk shifts out of shape as I move.

The 140 shawl? Unfold it, put it on your shoulders, done.

• Drape it over both shoulders like a cardigan
• Loop it loosely around your neck once
• Or simply rest it on your shoulders like a wrap

I love things like this: pieces that don't ask me to try hard.

Mine is mostly white, so it goes with almost everything. It looks good over black, blends naturally with beige and ivory, and doesn't clash with color either. I never stand in front of the mirror wondering what to do with my scarf today. I just take it with me.

The ease of a bigger size

When you hear "140 cm," it sounds huge. I thought so too.

But the size is what makes it easy. Unlike a small scarf, it doesn't need constant adjusting around the neck. It just drapes. Worn like a shawl, it leaves a soft bit of space between the fabric and your body, so it looks relaxed rather than formal.

It turns out Hermès doesn't have to be saved for days when you're dressed up head to toe. Jeans and a T-shirt, the AC gets cold, you throw it on. Honestly, I like it best that way.

Still unmistakably Hermès

That said, it isn't a plain shawl. The pattern and the border have that unmistakable Hermès feel.

From a distance, it's a large white shawl. Up close, you see the delicate details. So it has a quiet presence over whatever I'm wearing. There's no big logo, which I like even more.

Some things make you say "Wow, that's pretty" the first time you see them. Others make you say "Wow, I really use this a lot" after a few months. For me, this shawl is the second kind.

The price: ₩2,320,000

At ₩2,320,000, I definitely thought about it before buying it. I bought it earlier this year in Korea.

But looking back, what matters more than the price is how often you actually use it. An expensive piece that just sits in your closet never feels worth it.

And this one gets used. Especially in summer.

I assumed it would be a winter piece. But in winter, I have thicker cashmere shawls and scarves, so I rarely reach for this one. In summer, it's a different story: hot outside, cold inside. It fits that strange "season within a season" perfectly.

I keep it in my bag (in a zip bag)

Yes, even at 140 cm, I carry it in my bag. Not loose, though. I keep it in a zip-top bag so nothing else in my bag can stain it. A very practical move. 😂

When I get cold in a café or department store, I take it out. When I warm up, I fold it back in. The fabric is thin, so it doesn't take up much room, and I don't have to baby it about wrinkles.

At some point, my thinking changed from "Should I bring the shawl today?" to "Just put it in the bag."

Yes, this is a winter photo. Funny enough, summer is when I actually wear it most.

An Hermès shawl isn't just for winter

Before I bought it, I thought of shawls as fall and winter things. Using it changed my mind.

It's a completely different kind of piece from a 90 carré. If a 90 carré says "I styled my scarf beautifully today," the 140 shawl says "I just threw this on, and somehow my outfit looks good." I much prefer the second one.

With expensive things, we often wait for a special occasion. This shawl comes out on ordinary days instead, the moment I feel a little cold.

So for quite a while, I think I'll be reaching for it more than my 90 carré.

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Do you have a luxury piece you use in a way you never expected? Tell me in the comments! 💬