Which of Hermes red and green are the closest to true red and true green? I think rouge coeur? But I am not sure. Cactus looks pretty close to true green. But I haven't seen enough shades in person to be sure so would love your views. Thanks.
Hermes true green and true red
- Thread starter alwaysneedmorebags
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I think this may be pretty subjective but for how I see real green and real red, I‘d say Vert Vertigo and Rouge Casaque or Rouge Vif (maybe Rouge Piment). There used to be Vert Bengale many moons ago which, to me, also resembled a true green the most. Vert Vertigo has a slight blue tinge but still comes close. Bamboo and Cactus would be too yellow to my eyes.
Red is a primary colour. A true red without shade (black) or tint (white) will always be debatable. Rouge Casaque may have a tinge of blue (giving a 'glow' of pinkness) and Rouge Vif may have a touch of yellow (giving a 'glow' of 'orangeness'). A lot 'true' red lipsticks actually contain some shaded tone (dark grey or dark brown - there is no true black) to counter the brightness. Rouge Hermes was a shaded 'true' red (aded grey) but presently appears more browned.
Green is already a secondary colour so it's basically equal parts blue + yellow. Bambou is slightly more yellow and Vert Virtigo more blue. In the middle but subdued would be both Moyen and Bengale, but Bengale is not bang in the middle having more yellow than blue plus added grey, and Vert Moyen more middle still (in Box 'glows' more blue) but has added grey.
Green is already a secondary colour so it's basically equal parts blue + yellow. Bambou is slightly more yellow and Vert Virtigo more blue. In the middle but subdued would be both Moyen and Bengale, but Bengale is not bang in the middle having more yellow than blue plus added grey, and Vert Moyen more middle still (in Box 'glows' more blue) but has added grey.
Hmmm, I have a Kelly in Rouge de Coeur and I think it leans slightly towards orange (to me at least). I would say Rouge Casaque is the closest you can get to a true red.
I haven't seen enough greens in real life but, to me, Vert Vertigo is a true green.
That's interesting. In the photos I thought Rouge de Coeur looked less orangy than Rouge Casaque. Good to know.
I associate rouge casaque as the most “red” of the Hermes colours. I also have a malachite green bag and it seems to be pretty “green” to me! But I am not a colour theorist by any stretch of the imagination.
I'd also agree with Rouge Casaque or Rouge Vif. I'm less familiar with the greens.
To me Rouge Casaque is still a bit orange. Rouge Vif is what I think of as "lipstick red" so it does have blue but IMO is still quite a true red. Rouge de Coeur is also pretty close.
Bengale, Moyen, and Clair are the closest to true greens IMO.
But because these are dyes, not digital, on leathers, with chemical processes, there is really no way even with a primary color to end up with a completely "pure" color.
Bengale, Moyen, and Clair are the closest to true greens IMO.
But because these are dyes, not digital, on leathers, with chemical processes, there is really no way even with a primary color to end up with a completely "pure" color.
Rouge de couer, rouge casaque, rouge piment, rouge vif, bamboo, cactus, malachite, vert Verone.
I would put Vert Verone/Malachite in one group and Bamboo/Cactus in the other because they are so different.
Rouge Casaque is like fire engine red. Rouge Vif is a true lipstick red in some leathers but has a pink undertone in others IMO.
Here is my Rouge de Coeur in Togo. This was picture was taken inside, near a window.
A great place to look at all the different shades of red is in the Red Color Family . . . Pics Only! thread in the Hermes Reference Hermes Library - Colors section.
A great place to look at all the different shades of red is in the Red Color Family . . . Pics Only! thread in the Hermes Reference Hermes Library - Colors section.