Hermes Chypre Sandal Men Techno-sandal Suede Goatskin Noir

Black suede does something black leather cannot, which is to stay matte in strong light. These Chypre sandals hold their darkness even in full sun, and the nap gives the strap a soft edge instead of a hard gleam, so the pair reads relaxed rather than dressy even though the colour is serious.

The upper is suede goatskin, the insole black calfskin, the base a black rubber sole shaped anatomically under the arch. One strap crosses the instep and adjusts through the buckle, and the vamp is cut wide, which keeps the sandal looking deliberate with a rolled trouser or shorts. Italian-made and offered from 40 to 46.

I use mine the way I used to use black leather sandals, only more often, because suede does not stick to a hot foot and does not show every fingerprint of dust the moment you step outside. They survive a city day better than the material suggests.

What you should know: suede collects lint and hair far more visibly on black than on lighter colours, and a wet pavement will flatten the nap into darker patches that need time and a brush to recover. Ten seconds with a suede brush after each wear is the whole trick, and it is worth doing. After a summer of near-constant wear, these have held up better than any black suede I have owned: the nap has stayed deep, the insole has taken the shape of my arch, and the rubber sole has worn evenly without flattening at the heel.