Hermes Giulia Sandal Women Calfskin Silver Kelly Buckle Noir H231056Z 02350

Two black Giulias exist in this collection and they are not the same shoe. This one wears the palladium buckle, a cooler silver against the calfskin, and sits on a roughly one-centimetre heel with a gentle drop to the forefoot that quietly helps the walk.

The rest is house standard: black leather sole, black leather heel, goatskin across the insole and lining. In daylight the effect is of a black line drawn around the foot, broken only by the buckle, which makes the sandal read as modern rather than classical.

I use mine as the evening answer to a long day: change nothing but the shoes and the same outfit works after dark. Sizes run 36 to 41. With tailored trousers the flat silhouette is almost brisk, and with a black dress it simply gets out of the way. They also survive an airport, which no heel I own can claim.

What to watch honestly: a smooth black footbed is unforgiving with dust and shows pale marks from lotion, so keep a cloth in the drawer, and the leather sole is delicate at the toe tip, which is where pavement claims its first victim. Sole protectors, again, are money well spent, and they cost less than a single heel rebuild.

Aged with care, the calfskin stays glossy at the straps and softens at the toe, and the palladium keeps an even, slightly brushed grey. Made in Italy. Black, silver, flat, done properly.