Hermes Evelyne 29 CM Bag Handmade In Taurillon Clemence Leather Gold Hardware 93 Orange

The house orange needs no introduction, and on a twenty-nine centimetre Evelyne it is the most confident thing you can carry in this size. Paired with gold-tone hardware, the leather takes on a warmer, almost amber depth, especially indoors where incandescent light flatters the tone.

Under the colour sits the familiar construction: Taurillon Clemence with its fine irregular grain, an open top, the perforated H across the front and a long woven strap with leather trims. The leather is soft and supple, so the bag drapes as it hangs and settles into a fold when you put it down. Strong colours on soft hides can look dry at the creases over time, so I give mine a light conditioning twice a year and the surface has stayed even.

It carries a phone, a wallet, keys, a compact, sunglasses and a water bottle, and because the top stays open I can manage a market stall or a metro ticket with one hand. The strap works across a coat in winter and high on the arm in summer, and the rear slip pocket keeps cards separate. The perforations stay clean because nothing catches in them, and the metal has kept its warm tone through a year of daily handling.

One honest note: orange draws attention and comments, which is either the point of owning it or the reason to avoid it. If you have wanted the classic shade in a size that carries a whole day, this is the one to choose.