Hermes Izmir Sandal Men Epsom Calfskin S2 Trench Brown

Two earth tones on one sandal should read as camouflage, yet this pairing does the opposite. The trench beige upper and the brown note work like canvas and leather on a good bag: one is pale and matt, the other is warm and dark, and together they look like a decision rather than a compromise.

Both sections are Epsom calfskin, pressed with a fine grain that keeps each tone flat and stable, so nothing pools or streaks as the leather ages. The model keeps its straight edges and the H opening at the vamp, and the sole stays at fourteen millimetres, low and unobtrusive.

It comes in 40 to 46. The firmness of Epsom means this sandal keeps its proportions, and the strap across the instep does the adjusting. If your feet are wide, take the larger size, because the leather is not going to give you room later.

What to expect honestly: the darker sections hold up better than the beige, so the pale leather is the part that will show the season first. The brown also darkens a shade in the sun, which changes the contrast slightly, and I happen to like the result.

Worn with chinos and a plain shirt it looks settled, and the two tones make it an easy answer to the question of what to put on your feet with earth-coloured clothes. Two summers of wear have also eased the beige slightly at the strap, which only deepens the resemblance to a well-loved pair of chinos.