Hermes Izmir Sandal Men Matte Mississippiensis Alligator Bleu Floride

Most blues used on summer footwear stay safely inside the lines. This Floride blue does not. It is saturated and unafraid, a real colour on the foot rather than a hint of one, and it lifts plain shorts and a linen shirt in a way that neutrals simply cannot.

The hide beneath the colour is Mississippiensis alligator in a matte finish, so the blue sits flat and even instead of flashing. That is what stops a bright tone from looking plastic. The edges stop square, the vamp keeps its cut-out, and the sole is low to the ground at just under a centimetre and a half.

Sizes 40 to 46, with the usual half-size-up note for this model. I took it, and those extra millimetres are what make the cut-out sit comfortably over the instep rather than pressing into it. With the fit right, I can wear these from breakfast until the light goes, and after a full summer of use the colour has not faded in the least.

Bright blue hides scuffs, which is a small mercy, but it does not negotiate with other strong colours. Pink shorts, printed shirts and green anything stay in the wardrobe when these come out of the box. In evening light the shade turns noticeably deeper and calmer.

Against white, sand or stone the blue carries the entire outfit without help. I would call it the most cheerful pair of sandals I own, and I mean that as a practical recommendation for anyone tired of black.