Hermes Oran Sandal Women Box Calfskin Noir H021056Z 01340

Box calfskin is the most old-fashioned leather I own, and I mean that as praise. It is smooth, dense and lightly glossy, with a finish that polishes up rather than soaking everything in. On a black sandal it produces something almost formal: an outline that looks drawn rather than moulded. The black leather sole and black lining keep the whole shoe dark from the top down.

Reference H021056Z 01340, made in Italy. Note that the sole on these can vary between production batches, so what arrives may differ slightly from a photograph without being the wrong shoe. The H cut-out is the only decoration. The heel is low, the profile flat, and the sizing runs from 36 to 41; I take my usual size and wear them comfortably from the first day.

Where do I use them? Evenings where I refuse to wear heels, dinners in town, and any occasion where an open-toe sandal would feel underdressed. They turn a plain black dress into something deliberate, and they are the only flat I would wear with a dark tailored trouser.

The honest note is that box calf shows scuffs as light surface marks, especially on the toe edge. They lift with cream and a cloth, but if you expect an untouched finish after a year of city pavements you will be disappointed. Most people who own box leather come to like the patina; I did.