Hermes Evelyne 29 CM Bag Handmade In Taurillon Clemence Leather Silver Hardware ck81 Gris Tourerlle

Turtle dove grey sounds gentle, and Gris Tourterelle is exactly that, a soft grey with the faintest hint of mauve in it, the colour of a morning sky that has not decided about the weather. I find it particularly kind to pale skin and to navy, which is not something I can say for many greys.

The twenty-nine centimetre Evelyne brings the usual pleasures: soft Taurillon Clemence that folds as it hangs, the punched H pattern across the front, and a strap that moves between shoulder and crossbody with one pull. In this shade the leather looks powdery rather than shiny, and the pebble grain catches light gently instead of glaring.

My load is modest and it fits well: phone, card wallet, keys, a compact, a lip balm, sunglasses and a pocket notebook, with a folded pair of gloves in winter. The rear slip pocket is where my phone rides so nothing scratches it against keys. The bag stays close under a coat without bulge, which is why it travels with me on city breaks. In spring it brightens a grey trench, and in winter it softens a black coat, which is more range than a dove grey has any right to.

Silver-tone hardware leaves the tone cool and composed. Honest trade-off: mid-greys of this softness show faint shadowing where the strap rubs and where hands rest, so a gentle brush of the grain keeps it even. Nothing on mine has been more than cosmetic.