Hermes Evelyne 16 CM Bag Handmade In Taurillon Clemence Leather Sliver Hardware 5H Glycinc

Glycinc is a lilac with grey in it, which is why I can wear it with a dark coat and not feel dressed as a cupcake. It is a soft, powdery violet, warmer than lavender and less sweet than the name suggests, and in Clemence it takes on almost a smoky quality.

The small Evelyne is the right canvas for a colour like this: contained, useful, and small enough that the lilac is an accent rather than a costume. The frame measures eighteen by sixteen centimetres, five deep, and the strap has enough length for a crossbody carry on most frames, with adjustment to spare. Silver hardware keeps the tone cool and grown-up.

What I carry is my usual list: phone, cardholder, key pouch, lip colour, plus a compact on days I need one. The bag stays flat and tidy, which is its great virtue. It has been to concerts, museums and one very long train journey, and it never became annoying to carry, which is more than I can say for most small bags.

An honest note: lilac is a colour that photographs differently every time, so if you are matching it to a specific outfit exactly, expect the leather to hold its own opinion. Mine looks warmer in evening light than in daylight, and I prefer it that way.

For anyone who wants a soft purple that reads as a choice rather than a phase, this small Evelyne delivers.