Hermes Oran Sandal Women Epsom Calfskin Gold Etoupe

I bought these for a summer of dinners where the invitation said smart and the venue said gravel. Heels were not going to happen. Gold etoupe gave me a flat that still read as dressed: a warm, muted gold with the etoupe tone underneath it, so the shine is soft rather than bright, and the pressed Epsom grain keeps the surface even from the strap to the sole.

Made in Italy, sizes 36 to 41. The H cut-out is the only ornament, straight-cut edges keep the outline sharp, and the heel is a low centimetre that lets you walk on uneven ground without thinking about it. Epsom is firm, so the sandal holds its shape and the metallic finish stays smooth instead of stretching and creasing.

They work best with dark things, black, navy, deep green, where the gold warms the outfit, and they are surprisingly good with white for an evening look. I have worn them to rehearsal dinners, gallery openings and late restaurant tables, and they have never been the reason my feet hurt. The muted gold also photographs well indoors, without the flare a brighter metallic produces under flash.

As with any metallic finish, abrasion is the enemy: keep them away from gravel and rough stone where you can, and wipe with a soft dry cloth rather than a cream, which can dull the shine. Some softening of the metallic surface where the toes flex is normal, and on this colour it is much less noticeable than it would be on silver.