Hermes Kelly Pocket 18 Belt Epsom Calfskin Kelly Buckle Silver Étoupe H081120CK18

Palladium hardware on taupe leather is the coolest pairing in this range, and on the Kelly Pocket 18 it gives a belt with a pocket an almost workmanlike seriousness. The strap is 0.71 of an inch of Étoupe Epsom calfskin, the buckle is a Kelly clasp with a silver-toned finish, and the snap pocket measures 4.1 by 2.4 inches.

Étoupe, being grey with a green undertone, does something useful here: it plays nicely with both blue denim and black tailoring, so the belt does not have to be chosen around the trousers the way a tan or white strap often is.

I wear mine mostly with jeans, pocket holding a card, buckle slightly to the left of centre as it prefers. With a grey wool suit at the waist it looks entirely serious, and the pocket goes unnoticed by anyone who is not looking for it.

Honest notes: palladium plating is durable but not unscratchable, so keep keys out of the pocket if you care, and Étoupe differs under daylight and shop light. Made in France.

Two care points with palladium and Étoupe together: the taupe leather shows rain spots if you let it dry in open air, so blot it rather than rubbing, and the silver-toned buckle should be wiped after wear so it does not pick up a dull film. I also move mine between trousers and jeans once a month, which keeps the strap bending in more than one place.