Hermes Jet Sneaker Rose Antique Rouge Sépia H242153Z RA350

Most sneakers this bold come in one loud colour. This Jet uses two – rose antique across the main panels with rouge sepia providing the contrast, and the pair of dusty tones together looks more grown-up than either would alone.

The whole upper is suede goatskin, so there is no smooth leather anywhere to break the matte surface, and the H detail sits in the same low position as the rest of the family. Sizes 36 to 41, made in Italy, on a slightly taller 0.9 inch sole, with a spare set of laces in the box.

I wore these travelling in late summer, mostly with ecru trousers and an olive jacket, and the dusty palette made them look considered rather than novelty – several people assumed they were vintage rather than new. The suede stayed breathable on warm afternoons under a lot of walking. They also brushed clean in a minute after dusty streets, no spray needed mid-trip.

Because both tones are muted, this is a bold sneaker you can be lazy with: it sits happily next to denim, khaki, charcoal and rust without asking you to build an outfit around it. The thicker sole adds a bit of height and a lot of comfort on hard floors.

The trade-off is suede itself. Rose antique darkens slightly in heavy rain and picks up marks from raw denim, so treat the pair before first wear and keep a suede brush handy. Do that, and the colour deepens evenly instead of developing patches.