Even Erling Haaland's Vacation Sandals Are Hermès

Everyone knows Erling Haaland has a big crush on Hermès. Over the past few years, the Manchester City striker has built one of the most outrageous collections of Birkins and Kelly bags from the Parisian luxury brand in football. Earlier this summer, GQ UK senior style editor Mahalia Chang even looked into The Viking's collection in the name of science. The verdict? Haaland isn't just buying Hermès; he's straight-up collecting it.So when the World Cup wrapped up and he was spotted unwinding in Antibes on the French Riviera, there was every chance he'd bring a new Hermès banger with him. He did, but it wasn't hanging off his shoulder—it was on his feet.FJLON3/MegaWhile leaving Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and making his way onto a yacht (of course!), Haaland stepped out in a pair of Hermès Chypre sandals. First released in 2021, the Chypre arrived just as menswear was fully embracing big, chunky, outdoorsy sandals. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, Hermès borrowed the blueprint from technical hiking footwear, adding a beefy rubber sole for comfort, adjustable goatskin-lined straps, and, because this is still Hermès, shaped the upper into one giant “H”. The maison says the sandal takes inspiration from Cyprus, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite. But the design feels just as influenced by the practical sandals you'd actually want to wear on your summer holiday.Haaland went for the ‘Naturel’ colourway, the kinda burnt orange vibe that you'd normally associate with Hermès. But if that's not your thing, there are another 15 color combos to choose from, ranging from the super stealthy “Noir” to a deep green "Vert Véronèse," the dark brown ‘Marron Ébène’. There are even pairs lined with shearling if you want to keep things extra cozy. They start at $1,125 but go all the way up to $8,450 in more premium leathers.That sounds like a lot of cash until you remember who we're talking about. For most people, $1,000-plus sandals are a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. For Erling Haaland, whose Hermès collection has become a story all of its own, they're probably just what he throws on when all of his bags are taking the day off.This story originally appeared on British GQ.