Hermes Izmir Sandal Men Matte Mississippiensis Alligator Black Gris Eatin

Two-colour sandals usually look like a compromise to me; this one looks decided. The black carries most of the shoe, while the grey-taupe note keeps it from reading like evening wear at noon, and the combination is easier to live with than the colour list suggests. It also photographs well in both sun and shade.

The leather is matte Mississippiensis alligator, its scales flat and even, so nothing gleams when the light moves across the foot. Edges are cut square rather than rolled, which gives the flat profile a graphic line, and the vamp is pierced with the letter this model is known for. Underfoot the sole measures fourteen millimetres, low enough to feel a stone terrace through it.

Sizes run from 40 to 46, with the half-size-up advice I now follow on every Izmir. My usual number felt tight along the strap line; the larger size sits properly. The cut also leaves the toes free, which is the whole pleasure of a flat sandal on a hot afternoon.

Where this colourway asks for attention is the grey half. Mid-tones collect dust and faint marks faster than black does, so the instep is the first place I look after a long day out. A dry brush handles almost all of it in seconds.

I wear the two greys with dark denim and a linen shirt, keeping the rest of the outfit tonal rather than busy. Two seasons in, the pairing still looks deliberate, which is more than I can say for most two-tone footwear I have bought.