Hermes Chypre Sandal Women Techno-sandal Calfskin Noir H222100Z 02340

Every summer wardrobe has one sandal that gets worn until the sole shines, and for me it has always been the black one. The noir Chypre is not the most eye-catching pair in a drawer, but it is the one that leaves the house most often.

The make-up is straightforward and sound: a single calfskin strap over the instep with an adjustable closure, an anatomical rubber sole shaped to the foot, a black rubber outsole and a black calfskin insole, with black goatskin lining inside. Sizes span 36 to 41, and the heel is flat enough to forget.

I have worn mine through a city summer of trams, staircases and late dinners, and the comfort is the quiet kind – no rubbing, no sliding, just a footbed that holds the foot where the strap put it. On hot days the black insole warms in the sun, so bare feet feel it, though never unpleasantly.

Black situates this sandal beyond seasons: with a black slip dress it almost vanishes, with white linen it draws a sharp line across the foot, and with denim it simply agrees with everything. That range is why one pair in this colour sees more pavement than three pairs in brighter tones.

Small caveats. Black leather shows pale scuffs from kerbs and pedals more than you would expect, and the adjustable strap creases at the buckle over time. Both clean up with a little leather cream, and neither has ever made me reach for a different pair.