Hermes Chypre Sandal Men Techno-sandal Calfskin and Epsom Calfskin Gold

The Chypre is one of those shapes you recognise at ten paces: wide vamp, one strap across the instep, and a footbed that curves up under the arch. This version mixes gold calfskin with Epsom calfskin, and the two surfaces behave differently in light, one soft and matte, the other pressed and faintly reflective.

Anatomical rubber sole is the phrase on the label, and it means exactly what it says: the bed rises gently through the middle rather than staying dead flat, so the foot lands the way it does on a decent insole instead of a plank. The sole sits at half an inch. A black calfskin insole gives the gold upper a strong dark base, and the adjustable strap closes through a buckle on the outer side.

The fit works for a slim foot and a wider one alike within sizes 40 to 46, and the sandal is made in Italy. I have worn mine through airport terminals and long lunches without the strap loosening on its own, which is not something I can say for every buckled sandal I have tried.

Honest caveat: gold leather is the least forgiving finish for water marks, and the anatomical bed takes a week or two to feel natural if your feet are used to flat slides. Both settle with wear. The gold also warms a shade in sun, which I count as a gain, though anyone expecting the original tone to hold forever should know it will shift.