Zebra Pegasus, designed by Alice Shirley for Hermès, has been so popular since it was first issued in 2014 that it has appeared in every format imaginable. Well, just about. I have it in the gavroche size, issued for the Autumn/Winter 2015 season, but it has been offered as a 90cm twill, a maxi-twilly, a cashmere-silk shawl and a mousseline (chiffon).
Zebra Pegasus gavroche by Alice Shirley for Hermès
When it appeared as a 90cm, my usual favourite size, I felt that the design was too bold for me and I did not think that any of the colourways would suit me. The gavroche issue, however, was a different thing altogether. I found the colourway I loved (09) on a reseller site at a reduced price and snapped it up. I adore how this little scrap of silk feels around my neck and the colours are perfect for my wardrobe: teal background, navy and white zebra pattern and shades of blue and purple on the feathered wings. Yes, the scarf shows a zebra as Pegasus – great fun!
I wear this scarf quite often as it goes with so many of my clothes and accessories, particularly my cobalt cable jumper, anything in navy or purple and this teal twin-set. The collage below shows modelling photos from the last couple of years:
Zebra Pegasus gavroche – Hermès – collage #03
As you can see, I also have several accessories which tone with the scarf – earrings from Blue Nile, bracelets from Ferragamo and Halcyon Days:
Accessories which go well with my Zebra Pegasus gavroche
These were the colourways available for the gavroche in 2015:
As the design has appeared in so many formats, I must show some of the other colourways which have been available over the years since 2014:
The design story:
A graduate of the Central Saint Martins College of Art and The Prince’s Drawing School in London, Alice Shirley is a frequent collaborator with the city’s Natural History Museum. Fascinated by the myth of Pegasus, and the famously untameable African zebra, Alice Shirley reinvents the classical legend, transporting it to southern Africa. The celestial mount of Zeus brought forth the fountain of the Muses with a kick of his hoof, and was turned into a constellation by the king of the gods. Here, he swaps his immaculate white coat for the two-tone pattern of his close equine cousins. Completing this highly original portrait, his magnificent wings turn flaming orange, echoing the plumage of African parrots. Has his metamorphosis given Pegasus the power of speech, like them? We cannot know…
The theme of Pegasus appeals to my love of Ancient Greece again – this time Greek mythology. If you are interested in the legend, I hope you find these links useful:
Ancient History Encyclopedia
Pegasus
Ancient Origins
Pegasus: the Majestic White Horse of Olympus
Greek Legends and Myths
Pegasus in Greek Mythology
Theoi Project
Pegasos
The legend of Pegasus was often shown in ancient art from the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. Here are some depictions on ceramics and mosaics:
Pegasus in ancient art
In fact Pegasus, as well as being a favourite of ancient art, also seems to be very popular in Paris. There are several statues that can be seen:
Pegasus on the Pont Alexandre, Paris by Max London on Flickr
Pegasus by Dennis Jarvis on Flickr
Mercury Riding Pegasus by Craig Moe on Flickr
Tuileries Gate Statue by Paolo on Flickr
Image Credits
Pegasus on the Pont Alexandre, Paris by Max London on Flickr
Pegasus by Dennis Jarvis on Flickr
The Librain
The Librain......retired 
I really enjoyed this post, it was excellent, thank you so much! I love your gavroche, the colours are fabulous. I have this design in the 90, in the colourway shown at centre bottom, where the wings are bright pink. I don’t wear it often enough, the borders are a wine colour, so it is more suitable for winter. I liked the details about Pegasus and the photos of the statues in Paris.
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Thank-you, I really enjoyed writing this post and thinking about how I could find more background information. It will be much harder with other scarves, particularly the older ones where I cannot find the design story. Still, I will try to find some kind of angle.
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Hi Anne,
I’ve just bought a silk Zebra Pegasus scarf on eBay for a very small sum. It’s almost too silky so I wondered if it might be faux silk/polyester and wondered who produced the scarf (label cut off). I googled and came across this exceptionally informative article on your blog. How wonderful to be able to read all about the design as well as its inspiring roots in Greek mythology. Would you know if the Alice Shirley design has been used by other (less luxury) brands? I know patents do not last for ever. I wonder if even the likes of Primark could reproduce the design, if desired.
I’m so pleased to have stumbled upon your blog and look forward to reading more articles. All the very best 🙂
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Hello Debra, many thanks for visiting and posting. Hermès designs are all strictly copyrighted, but are heavily faked. Hermès never allow another company to use their designs. The originals are very expensive and would go, depending on the size, for several hundred pounds. Unfortunately, that Scarf of the Moment post was one of my early attempts and doesn’t show all of the colourways that were available from Hermès, but, off the cuff, I can remember a 45cm, and there were larger sizes too: maybe a 90cm and a 140cm. There was also a giant triangle! The fabric would be a substantial silk or cashmere/silk.
I am not an expert, but you could look on the Purse Forum and search for further information. The link is in the sidebar of this site.
Hope this helps, Anne x
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Hi Anne,
Thank you for your detailed reply. The one I bought must be a fake as it was so cheap. I found another site just now selling the same scarf (with pink and grey colours) for £9.50. Its label read: ‘Made in China, 100% silk’.
I think you have answered another question which came from your blog. I hadn’t come across the ‘gavroche’ size before and wondered what that was. I believe, now, it is the 45cm square scarf.
Best wishes, Debra
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Hi Debra, yes, the gavroche size is 45x45cm. Never mind about your scarf. You can enjoy wearing it as a lovely design and you don’t have to worry about theft or damage!
Have fun, Anne x
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