Hermes Kelly 32 Bag Handmade In Epsom Calfskin Leather Silver Hardware 3Q Rose Sakura

The garden wedding ran late into a cool evening, and the pale pink Kelly 32 under a rented marquee was the only thing in the room that looked like the season it was. Rose Sakura is a soft blossom pink with a grey undertone, so it never tips into candy, and on Epsom leather the colour sits evenly, fine-grained and calm, with silver hardware keeping it cool.

Epsom is the right leather for a pale bag you actually use. The embossed surface resists water and wipes clean with a soft dry cloth, and because it is rigid, the 32 by 23 by 10.5 cm body keeps a crisp shape from morning to midnight. Inside go the evening essentials and then some: wallet, phone, keys, a lipstick and a flat cardigan for later, with the flap still closing on the first try.

Beyond occasions, I wear mine with grey knitwear, denim and white shirts through spring and early summer, and it lightens an all-black outfit in a way jewellery cannot. The strap sits neatly on the shoulder or crosses the body for the walk home.

Here is what to know before choosing pink. It is more practical than people assume, but it will never look as serious as a dark bag, and in a formal office it can feel like the odd one out. Also, pale Epsom forgives water and dust but not ink, so keep pens capped and bags of fruit away from it. Bought with open eyes, it is the happiest Kelly you can own.