Hermes Royal Belt Buckle & Reversible Leather Strap 38 mm Epsom Calfskin Palladium Buckle Silver Noir Rouge Sellier

Saddle red is one of those colours that sounds louder than it looks. Rouge Sellier is deep, brown-tinged and matte, closer to old riding leather than to scarlet, and on the reverse of this 38 mm strap it stays a private detail until you decide to flip it.

The noir Epsom face does the everyday work, and the Royal buckle is set in palladium for a cool, low-key finish. Epsom calfskin is heat-embossed, so its surface is even and firm, resistant to scuffs and moisture, and the strap holds a straight line across the waist instead of sagging. At 38 mm the belt has the weight to anchor denim and heavy cotton.

Wearing notes from my own closet: I pair the red face with navy, grey flannel, ecru and dark denim, where a deep brownish red behaves like a dark neutral that happens to have interest. Against an all-black outfit the red reads as a deliberate accent, which is why I keep this belt for evenings out rather than the office.

The honest trade-off of a firm Epsom strap is break-in time, and the honest trade-off of a strong colour is that it refuses to disappear; if you want one belt that blends with everything, a quieter colourway will serve you better. As on any reversible piece, the hidden face shows along the strap edge and a slight curve settles near the buckle.

The size you want is your waist measurement, offered between 80 and 115 cm.