Hermes Oran Sandal Women Shearling Beige Camel

Leather Orans or shearling Orans? I own both, and the answer changes with the weather. Once the temperature climbs past the point where any shoe feels like a favour, the beige camel shearling pair wins, because camel is the colour that disappears into a summer wardrobe of straw, denim and bare skin.

Shearling keeps the wool inside, so the sandal hugs the top of the foot without rubbing, and the footbed is wool too. That is why I can wear them barefoot from morning onwards and never get a blister. A 1 cm heel and a front-to-heel drop of only half a centimetre keep everything flat and stable; the sandal is made in Italy in sizes 36 to 41.

Camel is the shade I pack for a week away because it never clashes. I have worn this pair to the beach and straight to dinner with a long shirt over a swimsuit, and nobody looked twice. It reads a little warmer and softer than the leather version, which is exactly why I keep both.

The trade-off is upkeep. Sand, salt and dry grass all find their way into the pile, and once wool is flattened it needs brushing to come back. Mine get a quick groom every few wears and live in a cotton bag rather than the bottom of a suitcase. Treat them well and they stay soft for years.