Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Handmade In Togo Calfskin Leather Silver Hardware B5 Ruby

The last time I carried a ruby bag it was to a winter dinner, and it did more for a plain black outfit than any piece of jewellery I own. Ruby on Togo is a deep, faintly blue-toned red – a true red in daylight, near burgundy under candlelight. Silver hardware keeps it cool and modern; gold would push it into something more vintage and, to my eye, less useful.

For a red bag to earn its place it has to be usable, and this one is. The main compartment takes a slim laptop or a document folder, a zip pouch, sunglasses in their case, keys and a card case with room to spare, while the 25 cm height keeps a scarf or a light jumper tucked upright against the side panel.

Two honest points. Red leathers are the hardest thing in a wardrobe to match to another red, so treat this as the only red you wear. And on pebbled grain, deep red collects dust in the valleys; a soft brush once a week brings the colour straight back up.

In terms of wear, ruby holds its depth well. This is one of the few colours that looks better in its second year, when the surface has picked up a faint sheen and the red reads richer than it did out of the box.

If you own one statement colour, a deep red at this size is the one that keeps working after the novelty has gone.