Hermes Izmir Sandal Men Matte Mississippiensis Alligator Blue Pale

Pale blue is the compromise I recommend to anyone who wants colour without having to explain it. On a bare foot in sunlight it reads closer to grey than to sky, quiet enough for a city lunch, and yet clearly not another black sandal in a crowd of them.

The hide is matte Mississippiensis alligator, scales laid flat, so the pale tone stays even instead of reflecting every passing shadow. The edges are cut straight, the vamp carries the H opening, and the sole is the thin one this model is known for, about fourteen millimetres of quiet underfoot.

Sizing runs from 40 to 46. My first pair came up slightly tight at the strap, so I took the half size up the maker suggests, and the fit settled immediately. The leather softens within a week over the toes and stops feeling new, which is when I stop noticing I am wearing them. That, as far as I am concerned, is the highest compliment a sandal can earn.

Worth flagging: a pale upper shows dust, and I mean any dust at all, so a beach afternoon ends with a wipe before they go back in their bag. It is also the sort of colour that can look washed out indoors, where a deeper blue would hold its ground better.

Set against cream, white or stone it looks considered; worn with strong navy it looks almost white. Either way it is the most understated shade this model comes in, and the easiest of the pale options to wear hard.