Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Handmade In Togo Calfskin Leather Gold Hardware 80 Gris Perle

Which grey would I choose if I could only keep one? Gris Perle is the answer on most days. It is a light, pearly grey with a slightly silvery cast, and it behaves like the middle note between a stony slate and a warm dove tone, which makes it remarkably easy to wear across seasons. Gold hardware warms the silver in the colour and stops it feeling cold.

On a 35, a light grey this refined looks generous but not delicate. Togo’s pebbled grain gives the colour texture, so even though it is pale, the surface never looks like a blank sheet. It marks more readily than mid-greys, admittedly, and the handles are where you will see the first signs of life, but a weekly wipe keeps the bag looking crisp.

What I carry in it: a wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses, a compact and a lipstick in the main compartment, a slim notebook in the middle, and a small medicine pouch in the zip pocket. It is the kind of bag that looks equally reasonable at a morning meeting and at afternoon tea, which is more useful than it sounds.

Honest trade-off: pale grey and gold can look quite soft together, so if you like contrast and graphic lines, the silver-hardware version of a grey bag will suit you better. If you want light, calm and quiet, Gris Perle with gold is exactly that.