Hermes Lift Slip-on Sneaker Women Knit and Calfskin Blanc H252003Z 92365

Airport security is where a slip-on earns its keep, and the Lift in white knit and calfskin is the pair that stopped me unlacing anything. Off at the tray, back on barefoot at the gate, no bending or fumbling while a queue watches you.

The upper mixes a breathable knit with calfskin panels, which is why it keeps its shape around the toes instead of stretching into a sock over time. The sole sits at four centimetres with a contrasting band along the side, and the run of sizes goes from 36 through 41.

For long city days the cushioning is honest rather than plush – good for a morning of museums and pavement, less suited to standing eight hours on concrete. Because there are no laces the fit across the instep is fixed, so try them with the socks you actually wear. I have worn mine through an entire museum wing without a single hot spot.

Styling is where the white version does its work: cropped trousers, linen shorts, a shirt dress, anything that would look overdressed next to a leather trainer. The calfskin heel panel stops it from reading like a gym shoe, and the knit texture adds shadow in place of logos.

Worth knowing: white knit collects street dust quickly and relaxes a touch after a few weeks of wear. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and let it air dry rather than machine washing, and the shape and colour hold up far longer than most pale sneakers.