If you’re like me and love the classic look of the Hermes Oran sandals but not the price, then you may be looking for an alternative. Over the years I’ve been trying to find a sandal that looks almost exact, but I always came up short. Until now! Here’s a brief rundown on the classic Hermès sandals as well as quite possibly the best Hermès sandal dupe!
What Makes Hermès Sandals So Expensive and Iconic?
Hermès is a French luxury brand that’s famous all over the world. They are most known for their expensive handbags (the Birkin, for example) that can reach a price similar to that of a new car. If you don’t recognize them for their expensive handbags, then you may know them for their classic silk scarves.
Fashion influencers and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Alessandra Ambrosio started wearing these sandals, driving up the value even more. Whether it’s a scarf, bag, or designer shoes, Hermès accessories are well-crafted, good quality, and the epitome of luxury.
The iconic Hermes sandals are natural calfskin leather and made in Italy. Comfortable and timeless, these are a pair you won’t regret having in your summer capsule wardrobe or in your suitcase for vacations to escape to some warmer weather.
The “H” cut-out feature stands for Hermès and is simple enough to match every outfit, but interesting enough to add some pizazz, too. This type of sandal can easily be dressed up or down!
Plus, they’re versatile enough to be worn with anything from jeans to summer dresses. The bad news is that a new pair will cost you around $630. The good news is that you can get a great alternative for a fraction of the peace!
Key Hermès Oran sandals details:
- “H” cut-out
- Brown leather (the authentic sandals come in 10+ different colors, but brown is the most popular)
- White stitching
- Very minimal heel lift
Popular Hermès Sandal Dupes
Now, if you’ve searched for Hermès sandal dupes in the past, then you’ve probably come across a similar style: Steve Madden Greece sandal. Though this style is very similar to the original, it could have been better. The cognac color looked more orange than brown, it lacked white stitching, and the cut-out looked bigger and less defined than the original. It did, however, have many great reviews!
More recently, Steve Madden stepped up their game with the Hadyn Cognac Leather sandals. This newer style is an almost-perfect dupe for the Hermes sandals, with only a few minor details setting them apart. The Steve Madden sandals still do not have white stitching, but the color match and other details do their part to make this a great option.
Another Hermes sandal dupe style you’ve probably come across is the Sam Edelman Bay Flat Sandal. Now, I love some Sam Edelman shoes as I find this brand to be very comfortable. This sandal is a closer dupe to Hermes in some ways, but further in others. It has a rich brown color and white stitching, but it doesn’t have the exact iconic “H” cut-out.
And lastly, Amazon offers a super affordable pair that is a pretty good dupe as it has the stitching and defined “H” cut-out. It’s worth noting that these sandals are available in various different colors but are not made out of real leather.
Okay, we’ve talked about some different options, but now I want to share what I think is quite possibly the best Hermès Oran sandal dupe!
The Best Hermes Sandal Dupe
French Sole Alibi Sandal Camel Leather
Now that I’ve had a chance to test out these sandals all over Tulum, I can now confidently say they are worth it! It’s worth noting that the pair I own & wore on my trip were the French Sole Alibi Sandal Cognac Leather. They seem to be identical with the exception of the color, but it’s good to keep in mind!
They are pretty comfortable, as far as sandals go. I’ve certainly walked a lot more in a lot less. For $150 they are more expensive for dupes but think of them as a solid player in your summer capsule wardrobe instead of “just” a look-a-like.
They are 100% leather and are very well-made. I didn’t have any issues with them sliding off my foot either. (Though to be fair, I don’t have that issue with many sandals.)
In full transparency, there are some mixed reviews about them on Amazon. To be honest, I don’t know why, but keep that in mind as it sounds like some women got sent some bad pairs!
Now, are they 100% like the Hermès Oran sandal? Well, no. The Hermes sandal is a light gold chestnut brown, while the French Sole sandal (that I have!) is darker – the one linked here is lighter! Also, the contrast of the white stitching on the Hermes sandal is a lot more noticeable than the stitching on the French Sole pairs.
That being said, they are a good purchase as they are not only beautiful and high-quality, but they are the closest dupe I’ve found!
If you pick up a pair of these, don’t stress about what to wear them with. Jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts, you name it, they’ll match it all. And if you get a classic neutral color, then you don’t have to worry about color matching either!
2024 Update and New Affordable Designer Dupes
One great recent find is the Dune London H sandal which has lots of color choices and a fancy look without the Hermès price.
It’s well worth it to take a look at the Patricia Green “H” slide, too. This stylish sandal goes well with everything in your closet. Throw it on with a t-shirt or a summer dress and you’ll add a touch of class to your wardrobe.
Don’t forget Tuckernuck. The brand carries a bunch of designs, from simple to complicated, that make sure you’ll find sandals to match any outfit or taste. But most importantly, they carry the French Sole brand with an updated style that is one of the best for 2024 and beyond.
These brands offer a bit of wealth without a high price tag and they work well with the simple yet classy style that we want!
The Perfect Hermes Sandal Dupe For You – & Much More!
At the end of the day, it’s all about finding shoes that fit your life. They should match your style, and work with your budget – but that’s not all. They should also be comfortable and high-quality, right? You want shoes that let you look stylish and feel great every time you put them on!
If you’re looking for other outfit inspiration for your spring and summer wardrobe this season, keep reading!
After wearing the French Sole Hermes dupes for a few years, I splurged for the real thing. Here’s what I think of them: French Sole Alibi Sandals vs Hermès Oran Sandals • I’ve Had Both and These Are My Honest Thoughts on Them
I don’t get the end game with dupes. No one that actually owns a pair of Orans (or has looked at them for more than five minutes) will think any of those are Hermes. It is very obvious when someone thinks the are getting away with the implied status with a knock-off luxury item. It does the exact opposite, any one in the know zeros in on the knock off and thinks “lame” vs just wearing normal fashionable items that look good on you. Just get a sharp pair of non-H shaped sandals and be you. That is much more impressive.
Hi, Carrie! Thank you for sharing your opinion. The point of dupes for most people isn’t trying to “fool” anyone into thinking that they have more status than they do. It’s because they like the style and want to find something similar for less. Sure, it might be more impressive if a wardrobe had a lot of designer items, but not everyone can or wants to spend designer money on items. And some people are not out to impress. That being said, I do agree that a knock-off (logo on a fake designer item) is a turn-off!
Hi Carolyn. Thanks for this review. I really like these and I agree that they are the best dupe I’ve seen so far. I think Steve Madden would have a good one if they were all croco. So I think your pick is a winner. Would say your favorite dupe is medium or narrow cut? I have a narrow foot. So I always struggle with sandals.
Good one!
Hi Carrie!
It’s more about the design of the shoe that is desired, not status or faking it. The style is pretty but we don’t want to pay $600 for it.
ive actually heard that the french sole is much more padded and comfortable than the Hermes. Its obviously not Hermes, but if you just like the Oran for the style, its a practical choice.
And to respond to the post about people thinking its lame, i agree that some wealthy and not so wealthy people might. But who cares about what judgemental people think?
However, there are also many wealthy people – especially old money, who are well-bred, down to earth, practical, non judgemental people who prefer to live below their means and focus more on growing and preserving their generational wealth rather than spending it. if anything some of them would see high end fashion labels as a bit tasteless, if worn around in public amongst those who can’t afford them.
I have even known very wealthy people who never set foot in an Hermes store. None of these people would judge you at all, in fact, if you told them you bought a similar but more comfortable sandal than Hermes, for a fraction of the price, they would applaud you, quite frankly. And any sensible working class person would as well 🙂
Love your dupe of the Oran sandal. How about the Hermes Oasis — what do you recommend?
Arya, we’ll said! I completely agree with you.
Since the toe on your H sandal is rounded instead of the squared shape from the authentic Hermes Oran, I don’t think it’s that great looking. So I would pass on it for that reason.
Yep, that’s the big difference! I ended up getting and reviewing/comparing the two shoes in this post if you’re interested.