Hermes Oran Sandal Women Shearling Natural H231288Z A4350

What do you wear when the day starts at a farmers market and ends at a nine o’clock table? For me it has become these natural shearling Orans: pale as oatmeal and soft enough that I forget there is a structured sandal on my foot. The colour sits between cream and sand, which makes it forgiving with almost any summer outfit.

The specification reads like a slipper: a natural leather sole, a natural leather edge, and lambskin through the insole and lining. On the foot that means cushioning and breathability rather than grip and structure. With a heel of one centimetre and only half a centimetre of drop from front to heel, the sandal stays low and close. The reference is H231288Z A4350, made in Italy in sizes 36 to 41.

I have used mine for exactly the kind of long, unplanned day described above, market in the morning, a museum after lunch, dinner outside in the evening, and they never felt like the wrong choice. They suit wide linen trousers and a plain dress equally well, which is rarer than it sounds.

Keep in mind that natural finishes mark more visibly than dyed ones; a splash of olive oil or a scuff on the pale edge will show until it is cared for. I accept that, because the colour is what makes them work. Wipe the edge, brush the wool now and then, and let a little patina happen.