Post-Émile-Maurice Hermès[edit]

Robert Dumas-Hermès (1898–1978), who succeeded Émile-Maurice after his death in 1951, closely
collaborated with brother-in-law Jean-René Guerrand. [5] Dumas became the first man not directly
descended from Hermès père to lead the company because his connection to the family was only
through marriage. Thus, he incorporated the Hermès name into his own, Dumas-Hermès.
The company also acquired its Duc-carriage-with-horse logo and signature orange paper boxes in
the early 1950s.[5] Dumas introduced original handbags, jewelry, and accessories and was
particularly interested in design possibilities with the silk scarves.[5] Ironically, during the mid-20th
century, scarf production diminished. [6] World Tempus, a Web portal dedicated to watchmaking,
states: "Brought to life by the magic wand of Annie Beaumel, the windows of the store on the [rue
du] Faubourg Saint-Honoré became a theatre of enchantment and [established the store as] a
Parisian meeting-place for international celebrities."[5] In 1956, Life magazine featured a photograph
of Grace Kelly, who had become the new Princess of Monaco, carrying the "Sac à dépêches" bag.
Purportedly, she held it in front of herself to disguise her pregnancy. Thus, when the public began
calling it the "Kelly" bag, a name subsequently adopted by Hermès, it became hugely popular.
The perfume business became a subsidiary in 1961, concurrently with the introduction of the
"Calèche" scent, named after a hooded four-wheeled horse carriage, known since the 18th century,
and is also the company's logo since the 1950s. (In 2004, Jean-Claude Ellena became the in-house
perfumer or "nose" and has created several successful scents, including the Hermessence line of
fragrances.)[4]