This scarf is a Unicorn
And I’ll tell you why.

I’ve officially dubbed this my unicorn scarf, and for good reason—this combination is truly something special. The scarf is actually called “Pampa,” designed by Jean De Fougerolle, and it first made its debut in 1988 before being reissued for the SS24 collection. Typically, I don’t gravitate towards this type of pattern at Hermès. My preference usually leans towards the more whimsical designs, which might be why I initially overlooked this one.

However, the washed silk and dip-dye combination of this scarf completely changed my perspective. It gives the design a modern, casual vibe that I absolutely love. Plus, I think my ongoing “As Seen In” series, where I feature more traditional Hermès scarves, might be subtly shifting my tastes. The 70cm format also adds an interesting dimension, which has a history of its own.

A trip to Hermès is always full of surprises, and today was no exception. I walked in wanting to check out the latest scarves, but, as usual, I ended up discovering more than I anticipated. One of the new arrivals from the FW24 collection caught my eye—Precious Paradise 45 by Katie Scott. It was absolutely adorable, though I didn’t manage to get a clip of it. Another standout was the Parade Twilly by Jonathan Burton, a tribute to the late, legendary window designer Leila Menchari, complete with her signature Rhino featured towards the middle. Both designs were beautiful in their own right.

While browsing, I also encountered the Grand Manege by Henri d'Origny in a versatile 70cm size. The different corners of this scarf provide so many styling options, which is always a plus. However, the piece that truly stole my heart was the Pampa 70, a reissue of a pattern first released in 1988 by Jean De Fougerolle. Despite usually gravitating towards more whimsical and contemporary designs, I found myself drawn to this traditional pattern—perhaps due to my recent deep dive into classic Hermès scarves for my “As Seen In” movie series.

What really stood out about the Pampa 70 was its washed silk fabric, which adds a beautifully soft and matte feel to the scarf. This scarf also has the dip dye look, but there is no mention on the Hermès website about either of these features. This combination of traditional design with modern elements has won me over completely. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the pieces we least expect to love end up becoming the ones we cherish the most.

This scarf was released in 3 colorways in the washed, dip-dye version, as seen below. Photos from hermes.com

Beige Doré / Kaki
Bleu Jean / Bronze
Coral / Marine

And here are some photos of the beautiful Bleu Jean that I brought home and the description of the pattern from the Hermès website.

“The gauchos gallop from one corner of this scarf to the other, across the plains of Argentina and southern Brazil. With their colorful tunics and silver stirrups, reins in one hand and lasso in the other, these horseback herders sometimes even carried messages from one country to another. Presented for the first time in 1988, this elegant design by Jean de Fougerolle is inspired by objects in the Saumur horse museum and the Emile Hermès collection.” - From hermes.com

So, who is Jean De Fougerolle?

Jean De Fougerolle has designed 8 Hermès scarves (that I’m aware of) and they follow traditional equestrian motifs and were designed between 1974 and 1994.