Hermes Chypre Sandal Men Techno-sandal Calfskin Army Green

Green sandals sound like a risk until you see this shade in daylight, where army green turns out to be the most useful neutral in my summer rotation. It sits beside navy, stone and washed denim without argument, and it hides the dust of a park or a building site far better than tan ever did.

The upper combines calfskin and Epsom calfskin, so part of the sandal is smooth and takes a soft shine, while the pressed Epsom sections stay matte and keep the vamp from collapsing. Underneath, the anatomical rubber sole follows the arch instead of lying flat, with a half-inch rubber base and an adjustable strap that buckles over the instep.

This one is made in Italy in sizes 40 to 46. I sized true, and the strap has enough holes to sit comfortably whether my feet are cool in the morning or swollen after a long walk.

The trade-off with any green this deep is that scuffs show as pale marks rather than dark ones, so a knock against a kerb reads more clearly than it would on black. A little neutral cream buffed in at the end of the month evens the colour out. Otherwise this is a pair that gets more comfortable every week, and the leather softens right where the strap bends. In the heat of July, these have become the pair I leave by the door. The green has held its depth surprisingly well, and the anatomical bed has moulded to my arch after a month of use.