Hermes Evelyne 29 CM Bag Handmade In Taurillon Clemence Leather Silver Hardware 8Q Beige Marfa

Beige gets accused of being boring, and Beige Marfa is the answer to that charge: a sun-warmed sand tone with a slight pink undertone that reads like desert light rather than oatmeal. It is the bag I take when the destination involves whitewashed walls, dusty roads and very little time for outfit decisions.

On this twenty-nine centimetre Evelyne, the colour and the soft Clemence grain work together in a way that photographs beautifully. The pebbled surface lifts and falls across the front, and the perforated H reads as texture rather than logo. The bag slouches with whatever it carries, which suits a relaxed look. The grain also lets sand and dust brush away rather than settle in, which matters on a holiday where no one packed a lint roller.

Packing it for a trip: passport, phone, a small pouch, sunglasses, a scarf, a paperback and a sunscreen stick, and there is still give in the body for a folded shawl. The rear slip pocket keeps the phone handy. I like that the strap spans from shoulder to across-the-body without fuss, so the bag adapts from walking tours to dinner.

Silver-tone hardware keeps the sand tone clean and slightly modern. One caution from experience: because the shade is light and warm, oil-based sunscreen is the enemy, so I keep a small cloth in the bag for hands. Small attention, big difference. The strap also stays comfortable over sun-warmed shoulders on long walking days, and the bag hangs close to the body when the streets fill up.