Hermes Picotin Lock 18 CM Bag Handmade In Taurillon Clemence Leather Silver Hardware 71 Bleu France

Every wardrobe has one colour that ends arguments, and for me it is navy. Bleu France is the deep, true French navy — darker than denim, warmer than black — and it has never clashed with anything I own, from camel coats to white trainers.

This is the Picotin Lock 18 in Taurillon Clemence, so the numbers are familiar and friendly: eighteen by thirteen by eighteen centimetres, an open bucket with one rolled handle and the small lock that the top straps thread through. The pebbled Clemence is soft from day one, with that slightly dusty matte finish that hides life well — a navy bag aged gently is a navy bag improved.

What I actually carry: phone, keys, a cardholder, and on office days a pocket diary that slots against the back wall. It is a hand-carry by nature, which suits city errands more than long commutes, and the compact footprint means it never knocks into people on a crowded train.

Longevity note: mine is stored away from direct light, because dark pigments age more evenly in the shade, and the crossing straps keep their shape best when the bag rests gently filled.

The one thing I would flag: in dim light, this blue can pass for black, so it will not scratch the colour itch if you want people to notice a blue bag. What it will do is quietly match everything for a decade — and Clemence will keep softening the whole way.