Collecting Hermès Grail Scarves: Part 1 | Are They Worth It?

Watch this video for the background on some of the higher profile grail Hermès scarves and my thoughts on whether they’re worth collecting. Special shoutout to Sara for suggesting this topic.
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Ex Libris en Kimonos by Anamorphée
02:51 Parures de Samouraïs by Aline Honoré
04:49 Into the Canadian Wild 90 by Alice Shirley
06:25 Savana Dance 70 by Ardmore Artists
08:16 Acte III, Scène I, La Clarière by Edouard Baribeaud
10:15 To Chase or Not? Past Seasons Hermès Scarves
Follow me on Instagram @official_cranleyplace for scarf styling ideas and be sure to check out my Knotty Corner playlist for scarf knot tutorials!
#scarfreview #scarftutorial #hermessilk

[@deniseg3562]

I love your channel Maya … these vids are so informative… I am a relatively new hermès scarf admirer and have but a mere 2 in my collection… but I love and cherish them both equally and celebrate each time I hold them, wear them or simply observe their sheer beauty … so I agree with the overall theme of this video in that these works of art are so personal and subjective … please continue to publish content … I look forward to them greatly … be well and safe my friend ❤️

[@cranleyplace]

Thanks so much for your feedback, Denise!

[@fluctuatnecmergitur19]

Thanks a lot for the video Maya, interesting as always! I cannot wait to watch the second part. Like I had said in previous comments, grails can be tricky. I learned the hard way it's so difficult not to buy one when it pops out of nowhere, especially if the price is good, and end up with a scarf you're not wearing for a reason or the other. Luckily I was able to sell or swap the grails that did not work for me, but now I try to be more careful. Speaking of Alice Shirley, I recently found a beautiful Tyger tyger in the 90 cm format for a fair price, pristine in its box. Truly amazing design!

[@cranleyplace]

My pleasure, Sara, thanks again for the suggestion! How lucky you were able to find a pristine Tyger Tyger, it’s so beautiful, congratulations 🎉🎊🍾

[@ME-or2yz]

Great Video! I love Alice Shirley and her designs as well and I´m very lucky to live in Germany where the stock is great most of the time - especially in Munich, Germany´s largest boutique. I´ve been collecting Hermes Scarfs in the 90x90cm for over 25 years now and was lucky enough to get my hands on her Into the Canadian Wild, Wild Singapore in two color ways, The yellow green Blue Dans Un Jardin Anglais, Acte III, Scène I, La Clairière in rouge/vert/mauve and some more that are beautiful as well, but not as rare and sell for retail or a little less, but I buy them because I love them and not to sell them.

[@cranleyplace]

So lucky that you live near a well stocked boutique! Thanks for sharing your experience 🧡

[@claremcgann7570]

Thank you so much, very informative. Your time stamps are much appreciated..i can flip forward and backwards to my hearts content🥰

[@cranleyplace]

Thanks, Clare, glad you found it helpful!

[@marthahoffmann8674]

Hi Maya, I agree with you on not to chase particular scarves just because they have become collectibles. I buy them for my personal use and hope to enjoy them for a long time. Like everything today prices are exploding and I am very, very careful as to what I buy. Love most of Hermès things but when I get something I make sure it is right for me. That goes for scarves, belts, cosmetics etc. Usually pick a scarf that I can easily combine with many things. Your background explanation on grail scarves was very worth waiting for. 😊

[@cranleyplace]

Thanks, Martha, 100% agree with you about being careful on what you choose. Like you, l love versatile palettes for many years of wear and enjoyment. Great minds think alike!

[@jasminebagga2167]

Love your videos Maya, very informative. I really enjoy Hermes craves especially CSGMs, they keep me warm in cold winters here in Canada. When I purchase new scarves, I can’t wait to wear them. Don’t understand how people keep them unworn.

[@cranleyplace]

Thanks for your comments, Jasmine! Definitely see why you would love the CSGMs, beautiful and functional 😍 And I’m with you about wearing the scarves, I’d much rather enjoy wearing them than as decor. But to each his or her own!

[@pattorelli3451]

I’m fortunate enough to have the Ex-Libris en Kimonos in a lovely color way with blue and pale green on the outside, and the large H in bright green with red and pink flowers. Other colors are mauve, golden yellow, and golden green. It’s one of my favorite scarves! Other favorites are Laboratoire du Temps, which I have in blues in the 90 and with the dark brown background in the 140 (bought 2d-hand). Third holy grail is a double-sided C’est la fete in dark grey, black, silver grey, and maroon. A stunning piece! Just found your channel yesterday and am having great fun watching your videos.

[@cranleyplace]

Ooh, how lucky you are indeed! Welcome to the channel, Pat, and thanks for sharing!

[@cherr-winfavis532]

I have recently just became a follower so I am watching your previous videos as well. The only scarf I have in this feature is the original Into the Wild 90x90 which I got from Hermès online after missing out on the first 500 issue in my local store. But I did get it before the July 1 launch that coincided with Canada Day 150. Hermès reissued it on the F/W of the same year with more colourways. Happy to have the original colourway, this one in your video. Cheers!

[@cranleyplace]

How lucky you were able to get that, it’s lovely! Thanks for sharing 🧡

[@Gadgetlily]

Looking forward to part 2.

[@cranleyplace]

Thank you!

[@coralraeartandthings]

The second scarf you showed was stunning.

[@cranleyplace]

Oh yes, Coral, it is indeed. Fascinating backstory too how Aline Honoré came across the samurai collection that inspired it. True grail!

[@yee-mancheng684]

I recently bought Into the Canadian Wild in teal/brown colourway and also have the Midsummer's Night Dream 90x90. Love them equally. Stumbled upon your channel recently and this video convinced me to buy Into the Canadian Wild after hesitating for a few months.

[@cranleyplace]

Both beautiful, hope you enjoy for many years to come!

[@chrisdu4107]

What was the price range you bought the scarves?

[@KraftyPaws]

I also love Alice Shirley and Robert Dallet scarves. So msny Gorgeous designs I have trouble controlling all my wants. LOL

[@cranleyplace]

Haha, I am with you on that one! Thanks for your comments. 💕

[@hikki6089]

Hi Maya, I just ordered the Acte III Mid Summer one today on FP in my favorite color way (the one with purple and green!). I discovered this design after this colorway was sold out and have been wanting it since but most in the preloved market are WAY over retail! Though the one I order today from FP is still over retail but is definitely not double like a few I saw on eBay! I was actually a bit surprised that FP listed it cheaper than pretty much all other resellers I see on eBay who have this cw available. Anyway, I hope I’ll love it IRL. But this is probably the only preloved one I’m willing to pay over retail! I guess that’s why it’s a HG lol!

[@cranleyplace]

Ooh, how lucky for you, Hikki! It is quite a striking design and I hope it turns out to be everything you dreamt it would be! Thanks for sharing your experience. 🧡

[@handbagaddicted]

I was lucky enough to score “Into the Canadian Wild” in boutique in the color way I prefered (navy/green). Alice Shirley is my favorite I’m such a sucker for her designs. I asked in store building up this question… “ok I have to ask, I know you are going to say no, but I have to ask….” And I’m sure they thought I was going to ask for a quote bag. Alas I asked for the 90x90 Canadian silk, and the woman was so excited I didn’t ask for a bag she immediately said YES! I think I do have that scarf let me check! I nearly cried as much as I would have for a quota bag, lol!

[@cranleyplace]

Ooh, how lucky, amazing that they still had one. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@handbagaddicted]

@@cranleyplace I didn’t mention, but this wasn’t just recently. It was about 6-9 months after it originally came out and was already widely sold out.

[@cranleyplace]

Good lesson to share: it never hurts to ask, especially if you’re in store! 🧡

[@frenchstyle7038]

I totally agree with all you said. Thank you for this video. I started chasing Hermès previous seasons scarves a couple of years ago and I stopped because of all the reasons you mentioned. I would also like to add that most second hand Hermès scarves are not in very good condition and when they are, they are more expensive than a new Hermès so I avoid it. There are also many ugly Hermès scarves on the market, let's be honest. Many prints and colors not worth the price in my opinion. I enjoy my other designer and not designer silk scarves as well, I own a few very beautiful vintage ones, even though the Hermès scarves are higher quality and value but I am still on the hunt for the perfect Hermès silk scarf with a design I love and colors that suit my skintone and wardrobe. I love your channel, I learn a lot. My favorite is The Canadian Wild but they are all so beautiful.

[@fluctuatnecmergitur19]

I agree, there are some Hermès scarves that are plain ugly! Or maybe they aren't nice enough for modern day standards, but they were considered beautiful 50 years ago. Who knows! I made the mistake of buying grail scarves just because they were famous, in fact I owned Ex libris en kimonos and Parures de samourais... I ended up selling Ex libris and swapping Parures with Jaguar quetzal in a limited edition colorway, so I don't mind, but I learned that a grail doesn't always work. One of my personal grails is La cité cavaliere: I paid a steep price for it (considering my own budget of course), but it was money well spent in this case.

[@frenchstyle7038]

@@fluctuatnecmergitur19 Glad you were able to sell your grail scarf Sara! I am trying to sell a vintage Hermès myself which might be great for a collector but does not work with my style and wardrobe. I learned from my mistakes... Now, I take my time. Yes, many vintage Hermès scarves are ugly but I find some contemporary scarves are as well or just too plain for my taste.

[@fluctuatnecmergitur19]

@@frenchstyle7038 absolutely, in fact I don't like a lot of modern designs from Hermès. Or I like them as works of art but I would not buy them and wear them. I guess it's the best thing that could happen to my wallet! I would love to find another Ex libris, in the cw shown in this video actually, but I don't love it enough to spend 800 or more euros for it.

[@frenchstyle7038]

@@fluctuatnecmergitur19 I can definitely relate to that. I only love a few of the Hermès contemporary designs and most of them are unavailable or in color schemes that would not suit my wardrobe and skintone. I take my time to find the one that I will really fall in love with.

[@cranleyplace]

Thanks for the comments, dear, you made me laugh…especially about the ugly ones 😂 truly something for everyone, right? So glad you’re enjoying the channel and have fun finding the right one!

[@barbette1564]

OK, I have to admit the 'thing' stopping me from my personal grail search is fear of buying on the second hand market. I hear about bad stories and don't trust myself to be able to look at pictures and recognize authentic (except for the more obvious basics). Do you recommend sites that say they authenticate or are those just as much as a gamble?

[@cranleyplace]

I hear you, Barbette, it’s a valid concern. I have never used an authentication service, so can’t really speak to that. I can say that even when I buy from an online site that claims to have expert authenticators, you can bet the first thing I do on receipt is to thoroughly inspect and weigh the scarf. Scarf weight is a dead giveaway. Check out my video on ways to weed out the fakes and feel free to LMK if you have more questions.

[@barbette1564]

@@cranleyplace Thank you! Weight is such a good thing to use, I'm weighing everything now.

[@ccartwright2348]

Hi Maya- Just love everything you share in your videos... I'm learning a TON! I have two senior cat bosses so I was drawn to Savanna Cat without knowing it was a grail. I got a big one on Fashionphile last fall and got it for a significant discount from its retail. Now I know it's story. I just LOVE it. Trying to figure out how to tie it as I'm used to 90cm scarves. Thank you again!

[@cranleyplace]

Love it, a scarf choice inspired by your cat bosses 😂 Be sure to check out my knot tutorials; you can use many of the same knots as with the 90s. Thanks for sharing!