Hermes Oran Sandal Women Swift Calfskin Blanc Gold

White and gold goes wrong easily: too bright a white, too yellow a gold, and a sandal starts to look like costume jewellery. This pair avoids that. The swift calfskin is smooth and lightly matte rather than patent, and the gold sits quietly along the edges and lining, where you notice it and then forget it.

Swift is the softest of the smooth calfskins I know. It bends immediately, takes a deep colour and needs no breaking in, so the H cut-out lies flat across the top of the foot on the first wear. The lining is lambskin, which keeps bare feet comfortable once the day turns hot. Heel height is one centimetre with half a centimetre of difference front to heel. It is made in Italy in sizes 36 to 41.

I keep these for the days that photograph well: a christening, a lunch by the water, an evening where I am wearing something pale and want the shoes to match rather than argue. White leather reflects light upwards, so a tan looks better in them than in dark sandals, and they slip on in a second when the day is already running late.

The obvious trade-off is maintenance. White calfskin picks up dye from denim, marks from city pavements and the small scuffs that only show on white. I clean mine with a soft dry cloth after wear and store them away from direct sun. A small effort for the cleanest pair in the drawer.