Hermes Oasis Sandal Women High Heel Sandal in Epsom Heritage Calfskin Craie

Craie is chalk, and that is close to the truth: a white left in the sun long enough to lose its sharpness, with a hint of cream along the edges. On a sandal it is more forgiving than pure white, which is why I suggest it to anyone worried about keeping a pale shoe clean. It is the colour I hand to people who say beige is boring.

The Oasis cut does not change to accommodate the colour — the cut-out H on the vamp, five-centimetre heel, four and a half centimetres lower at the front, sizes 36 to 41, made in Italy. The surface has a low sheen, so craie catches light without ever looking wet.

Mine have handled a seaside lunch, a long walk through a market and a dinner afterwards, and the slightly warm tone never looked grubby the way a cooler white can at the end of a day. With beige, navy, olive or soft pink it looks composed rather than matched. They have been to beach clubs and city balconies and looked right in both.

What I would tell a friend: craie is still light leather, so sunscreen and new denim remain the two things to keep it away from. But it hides dust far better than a cold white sandal, and that is worth a great deal in a busy month. A neutral cream every few weeks keeps the finish from dulling.