Hermes Chypre Sandal Men Techno-sandal Suede Goatskin Etoupe H222856ZHX3390

Suede changes a colour completely, and etoupe is the clearest example. In smooth leather it is grey-brown and fairly formal; in suede goatskin the same tone becomes softer and more casual, closer to the grey of a worn sweatshirt, which makes this Chypre a much more relaxed sandal than its calfskin sibling.

Goatskin lines the inside, a black calfskin insole takes the base of the foot, and the anatomical rubber sole curves under the arch as it does across the line. The strap adjusts over the instep through a buckle, the base is a low black rubber unit, and sizing runs 40 to 46 with the pair made in Italy.

In daily use I treat these as the quiet pair. They go with olive shorts, with light grey trousers, with everything in a hot city where you do not want to look like a tourist. The nap also softens the shape of the foot, which I find forgiving in photographs.

One thing I would not gloss over: suede absorbs. Sunscreen, sweat and street dust all leave a trace, and because etoupe is mid-tone the marks appear as darker patches rather than bright ones. Brush after wearing, keep a protector spray going, and expect the nap to flatten slightly under the strap. It will still look good, just lived in. Mine have gone through a full summer of city days and the nap has settled without going shiny, which is where cheaper suede eventually fails.