Hermes Lift Slip-on Sneaker Women Knit and Calfskin Multicolore Blanc H252003Z 91350

Some knit uppers are coloured; this one is patterned. The multicolore Lift reads as texture first and colour second, a fine speckled weave across the vamp that gives the eye somewhere to go without looking printed or seasonal.

Construction follows the rest of the Lift family: knit for breathability, calfskin where the shoe needs structure, and a light sole at four centimetres with a contrasting line along its edge. The white calfskin panels anchor the pattern so it never tips into novelty.

I wore these with a plain black dress to a gallery opening and they did the talking for the whole outfit – strangers asked about them twice. They work the same way at a weekend market with wide denim, which says something about how neutral the base colour really is. They also packed flat into a carry-on beside a pair of sandals, which is more than most structured sneakers with padded collars can claim.

Because the upper is flexible, the shoe folds flat enough to tuck into a carry-on, and there are no laces to dig into the instep on a long flight. Sizes run from 36 to 41, and the slip-on opening is snug enough that I never worry about them sliding off.

The honest catch: a patterned upper narrows what it pairs with, and anything busy underneath it starts a fight. Keep the rest of the outfit plain, wipe the white leather panels when they grey over, and the multicolore knit keeps doing the work. Just keep an eye on the white panels at the heel after rainy days.