Hermes Chypre Sandal Women Techno-sandal Epsom Calfskin Blanc

White sandals live or die on their surface, and Epsom is the right surface for the job. This blanc Chypre has a pressed, slightly glossy grain that repels dust and wipes clean in seconds – nothing like the smooth white leathers that show every mark like a confession.

The technical side is simple: anatomical rubber sole with a black rubber outsole and black calfskin insole, adjustable calfskin strap, half-inch heel, sizes 36 to 41. The black sole line under white leather is the sharpest colour combination in the whole range.

I wore a pair to a seaside lunch and then kept them on for the walk down a dusty lane afterwards. Sand brushed off, an ice cream drip came out with a damp cloth, and the colour held. That resilience is exactly why I would choose this version over a softer white leather for a holiday.

In styling terms, white Epsom does something black cannot: it lifts the whole outfit in sunlight. Set against tan skin and a white dress it disappears into the look; against a navy jumpsuit it draws a clean, deliberate line at the foot and makes the outfit read as planned.

The honest maintenance note: sun cream is the real enemy here, not dirt, and any that gets on the grain will leave a faint film if left. Wipe them at the end of each wear, dry them out of direct sun, and avoid wearing new ones with self-tanning products on your feet. Treated that way, they stay white.