Hermes Oran sandals review – Lauren Grace Harding

One of my favourite and most used pair of shoes are my Hermes Oran sandals. They’ve been my go-to footwear choice throughout the last couple of summer seasons. When I think about my warmer weather casual and holiday outfits pre-Oran sandals era, they were the missing piece for me when it comes to summertime styling. And it was whilst walking along the cobblestoned streets in Santorini during June this year when I realized just how worthy of a purchase these sandals are…

Wearing: Saint James striped t-shirt; Zimmermann white shorts; Hermes Oran sandals; Chloe Nile bag in biscotti beige; Chanel cat-eye sunglasses.

After having owned these sandals for almost 2 years, I feel it’s time to share an in-depth review. I’ve previously shared an unboxing review video of these shoes on my YouTube channel which I’ll link at the end of this post. Today on the blog, I’m going to share as much detail as I can as well as photos if you’re considering whether it’s worth the money to purchase a pair of these sandals. So, let’s get into the review…

Design and quality

The Hermes Oran sandals are classically simple in design. These slip-on sandals feature a leather upper designed in a “H” cut-out shape which is a subtle nod to the Hermes brand. There are no logos on the exterior of these sandals, and they feature a contrast stitching on the leather which harmonizes with the colour of the leather.

At the time of purchasing the Oran sandals in early 2021, these shoes had a contrasting lighter coloured lining with the Hermes logo on the slightly padded footbed with the contrasting material stopping just before the upper part of the leather cut-out. It wasn’t long after I purchased my sandals from the Hermes boutique in Sydney that the French luxury house decided to redesign the footbed of these sandals, meaning they no longer feature a contrasting lining and looks more streamlined in appearance.

Quality is synonymous with Hermes, and this is one of the apparent features of these sandals. From the moment you slip the Orans on, you can feel the leather is of high quality and that significant thought has been given to the overall design and how they feel on your feet.  Apart from the care given to the manufacturing of these sandals, the sense of quality extends to the protective shoe bags in terms of the material.

Material and sizing

The Oran sandals are available in variety of materials, from leather to metallic leather to suede. For the purposes of this review, I’m going to focus on the leather version. Crafted from box calfskin, these are made in Italy. The soles are also leather, and this is one area to be mindful of as the leather soles are quite soft and will show wear very easily. I took my Oran sandals to the cobbler after the first wear to add protective rubber soles on the bottom as I noticed the leather soles were going to get quickly ruined after the first time that I wore them. It’s well worth the additional expense to extend and prolong the life of these sandals.

In terms of sizing, I purchased mine in my actual size so I would suggest these are true to size. If you have wider feet, then you may need to consider sizing up half a size. One point I’d like to share is that the leather has slightly stretched over the last almost 2 years – it’s not a significant amount of stretch, more of a “relaxing” with the leather. If you’re in any doubt as to which size, try to visit in-store to try them on – this is what I did, and it brought me comfort knowing I had tried on a variety of sizes to ensure the perfect fit.

Wear & tear and are they comfortable?

Possibly the most important question and the answer is yes! The Hermes Oran sandals are very comfortable. I wore these sandals for hours a day whilst I was on holidays in Europe, walked along cobblestoned streets and in hot weather. At no point did I experience any discomfort or blisters with these sandals. I wore my Orans for 5 days straight in Santorini and they wore very well in terms of comfort. However, in terms of wear, honestly, I think they fared so well due to the protective soles that were added.

After almost two years, there are minimal signs of wear…the only signs are slight wrinkling on the leather upper which is to be expected with footwear over time and usage. I can see that the protective sole is starting to detach from the top of the shoe so I will need to get that replaced in the months to come especially as we’re heading into summertime here in Australia.

Colour range and pricing

According to the Hermes Australia website there are currently 18 different colours within the Oran sandals range – the most classic and recognizable shades are black, white and tan. Although initially I thought I’d purchase these in white leather, ultimately, I decided upon the tan (“gold”) version as I realized this would be a great starting point in terms of versatility with my warmer weather outfits and tan coloured accessories. If you prefer vibrant colours over neutrals, Hermes offer a rainbow of colours in this footwear style.

Pricing is another factor which I’m sure many people consider when deciding whether or not to make a purchase – it certainly was the case for me. subject to change and location – I purchased my Oran sandals around February 2021 for $930 AUD. The current price in Australia has since increased to $1,035 AUD. So, are these sandals worth the price? That’s obviously a question which is personal to you. My advice to you if you’re thinking about buying these sandals is to ask yourself: Do I love the design of the sandals? Will these work in with my personal style and lifestyle? Can I see myself reaching for these regularly? Would I be able to wear these with at least 5 different outfits?

My overall thoughts on the Hermes Oran sandals

The above questions are ones which I asked myself prior to purchasing the Hermes Oran sandals. In fact, the toughest decision for me in-store was deciding whether to purchase in white or tan/gold. After seeing how comfortable, classically stylish and versatile mine have been, plus how regularly I’ve reached for them over time, I’m planning to purchase these again in either white or black leather. The Oran sandals have become such a core component of my spring and summer wardrobe that I can’t imagine warm weather dressing without them and not once have I regretted this purchase.

I hope this review has helped you if you’re considering whether or not to purchase these sandals. If you’re interested, you can watch a couple of my YouTube videos where I’ve featured a dedicated and a mini review of the Oran sandals. I’ll link these videos below along with some dupes if you’re interested in alternatives to these shoes. If you have any questions on the Oran sandals, then feel free to reach out to me!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

WATCH MY YOUTUBE REVIEW VIDEO

DUPES / SIMILAR SANDALS

WATCH MY SHOE COLLECTION VIDEO ON YOUTUBE