Hermes Oran Sandal Women Shearling Royge De Turin

Red shearling sounds risky until you see rouge de Turin close up: it is dark, faintly dusty, closer to old brick than to bright cherry. That depth is why it works on a flat sandal. It warms whatever is next to it, white denim or beige linen or a plain cotton dress, instead of competing with the rest of what I am wearing.

The upper is shearling, so the inside is wool and the outside is a soft, matte skin that takes colour beautifully. Underfoot there is wool too, which means no slipping and no edges to soften; the sandal feels broken in on day one. Heel height is a single centimetre, and the sole sits within half a centimetre front to back. Sizes run 36 to 41, made in Italy.

I wear mine mostly in town, with cropped trousers and a linen shirt, and they have survived two holidays where my only other shoes were trainers. The colour is quiet enough for a work lunch but has more character than tan or black, and it flatters a tan without looking tired next to a summer pedicure.

One thing before you commit: dark shearling shows dust more than white does, and rain will spot it. Keep a brush nearby and choose dry days. Store them stuffed so the H keeps its line, and this pair will look the same in three summers.