Hermes Kelly 2424 24/24 Bag 21CM Handmade In Evercolor and Swift Calfskin Leather Silver Hardware 0L Gris Meyer

Can a grey bag feel warm? Gris Meyer argues that it can. It is a soft, slightly dusty grey without the steeliness of colder tones, and on the mini 2424 it reads more like a pale stone than a cloud. I wore it for a full week straight to test the theory, and it never once read as cold.

The frame is twenty-one centimetres wide and sixteen tall, made in Evercolor with Swift where the leather wants to give, and the silver hardware stays clean rather than glossy. The proportions feel almost architectural until you pick it up and realise how little it weighs.

In practice my phone, two cards and a keyring ride easily on an ordinary day, with room to spare for a compact when I go out after work. The strap adjusts short enough to sit high on the hip, which is how I wear it most. Weight is another point in its favour: loaded, it is barely there, and the strap does not dig in on a long walk.

A mini this soft invites overstuffing. Fill it past the gusset and the flap sits proud of the body instead of flat against it. I learned that on a busy market Saturday; now the bag and I have an understanding.

Grey like this bridges black and cream in a wardrobe, so it ends up on my shoulder more days than not. It also travels well when the bag I packed turns out to be the wrong one, which happens more often than I admit.