French Sole

Alibi Sandal

Women's

These shoes are pretty clearly “inspired” by the Hermès Oran sandal. I decided to buy both and see which one I liked better. (See side by side photo.) In terms of pure look, the Hermès is a bit sharper - the white stitching and the slightly more caramel colored leather are nice. The lines on the Hermès are a bit sharper, less rounded. However, on comfort and fit, the French Sole was way better. First, the FS footbed is much softer. Second, the strap on the Hermès was quite loose on me (my feet are really flat), so much so that my foot went forward so much that my toes were off the front of the shoe. I imagine the FS strap might actually be a little tight on anyone with a wider foot, but it’s perfect for me. In terms of sizing, both were similar. I got a 37 in Hermès and a 7 from French Sole. I wear a 6.5 in flats and heels. So if you are looking for a similar vibe to the Hermès for $480 less, these are a good pick. They won’t fool anyone, but they will play the same role in your wardrobe.

These sandals are super cute but the construction and leather are poor quality. After a few wears the leather at the toe is already worn away. Not worth the price.

Mine, like another reviewer stated, did not have the white stitching. It is brown instead which diminishes from the look in my opinion. Also, I wouldn’t call the color cognac. It’s nothing like the photo but more of a neutral brown which was disappointing. However, they are comfortable and still look nice so I’m keeping them. Time will tell if they hold up.

I was disappointed because the shoes that arrived were not as pictured. The sandals sent to me had brown stitching and not white. I returned them.