Hermes Chypre Sandal Women Techno-sandal Shiny Java Lizard Vert Fonce

Dark green is what I choose when black feels too easy. Vert Fonce lizard looks almost black indoors, then flashes its forest tone the moment daylight hits, so the same sandal reads reserved at the office and alive on a terrace. Sizes 36 to 41 sit true on a normal-width foot.

The silhouette is the Chypre one, in shiny Java lizard with calfskin panels and a black rubber sole curved under the arch. Practically, that means a sandal you can actually walk in: the strap adjusts across the instep, the footbed carries a layer of black calfskin, and the lambskin lining keeps bare feet comfortable through a long warm afternoon.

I treat this colourway as a neutral. It handles navy, olive and grey better than brown does, and it will not fight a patterned dress the way a brighter green would. That flexibility is why it lives by the door all summer.

Two things to know. Lizard takes scratches the way varnish does, and a healed scratch on dark green is more noticeable than on black, so watch door frames and stone steps. The strap is also stiff at first and needs several wears before it stops pressing.

Kept dry and wiped after wear, the finish holds beautifully; mine has kept its depth through two summers without polish. If you want a Chypre that looks considered rather than merely colourful, this is the one I would point you to.