Hermes Jet Sneaker Noir H242924ZH01390

All-black sneakers often apologise for themselves by staying plain, and this Jet does the opposite. Nappa leather forms the panels, suede goatskin wraps around them, and the two blacks sit at different depths in daylight, which is exactly where the H detail starts to make sense.

The sole is 0.87 inch high, honey rubber beneath, white rubber midsole above, dark natural leather welt at the edge. A white midsole on a black shoe is a deliberate choice and I think it is the right one here, because it stops the silhouette from reading heavy. Made in Italy, sized 40 to 46.

Black lambskin lines the insole and the shoe itself, soft enough that I stopped noticing it by the second wear. A second pair of laces comes in the box, and I swapped mine out within the first month simply to keep the original set clean.

One honest note: black nappa shows dust and hairline shine marks more than a lighter colour would, and the suede around the heel collects lint, especially in winter with a wool coat. A soft brush and a lint roller handle both, but this is not the pair to throw in a bag and forget for a month. What I would say in their favour is that black hides creases better than any light colour. The nappa panels soften across the vamp after a month, the suede keeps its nap where it does not rub, and the sole has worn evenly across two seasons of pavement. Treated well, these are the least conspicuous sneakers I own.