I spoke to folks at Carmina and got somewhat mixed opinions, the wrench in the equation being size variances on the lasts for both unlined and shell materials. Carmina Simpson 8.5UK: Tried for oxfords but had to return, instep was too low for closed lacing. Meermins have also been fine, especially for suede loafers. And it seems like, that level of service pervades the company. HOK 9: Acceptable fit. What Id like to know is how much higher quality will the Trickers be over the Myrqvists? Truman P-79 9D: Good fit, was snug the first day with boot socks and now comfortable with boot socks. I really only wear white, which is why we launched with this. The next level of price is below 250. I have a pair of black calf oxfords from Morjas and the leather feels rather cheap: it looks like patent leather, only matte not shiny. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I have experienced Cheaney a fair bit, my first two pairs of English shoes were from Cheaney main line (I still have one of them), plus I have worn Cheaneys imperial range as well as C&J mainline shoes. Carmina vs Meermin: First glance Theres a lot of marketing in this entry-level market: everyone says their shoes are handcrafted, using the best materials.. I just purchased them and they are in transit from Sweden. Vans Old Skool/Era: 11D, solid out of the box. I shouldn't have slept on it), Monitaly Shawl Field Jacket - Black Herringbone 38, The unofficial NMWA Buy/Sell Thread (a.k.a. Where C&J excels is in the breath of their offering, but the overall quality wouldnt differ significantly between the two. It is still quite hard to fathom the yearly price increases on EG shoes given their pitiful customer service. I cant really comment Im afraid Sebastian, having never owned any. Its an entirely stupid thing to say, not least because most of the leather used on the soles of English shoes are from European tanneries. I own two loafers by Morjas, one stretched so much that my heel keeps slipping out. men's size 6D with my thickest socks; my dream would be a size 5.5 in this last: 6D Meermin Hiro Derby: 4.5: UK: . Buying a pair of Meermins is not a decision that you are going to regret, trust me. How to measure your feet. I'm also guessing that either 9 or 9.5 in their new wide sizes would work well. The level above that is made in Japan, and includes brands like Scotch Grain (above) and Otsuka, with brands like Miyagi Kogyo and Oriental on a level above that. Its a standard Goodyear shoe, with no fuss. Still being worn with same sock thickness as the other Parkhurst last. On an industry level, theres also more variation among the Spanish brands, not least because a lot of them are younger, changing, and trying to fit into an increasingly competitive market. The leather feels like a glove and is truly unlined (to the extent that the uppers almost collapse under their own weight), unlike Carminas unlined shoes which dont feel all that different from normal lined shoes. The high end, aspirational item is necessary too and will always be a hallmark of your site, but I believe you have wisely corrected a too marked journey into luxury where many less of us could have followed. Much better quality than todays Allen Edmonds at comparable prices. Sendra is a factory that makes for a lot of cheaper start-ups, because theyre so flexible and have no minimums. In addition to the Artista line you allude to, they also have a great customization program. The other thing about Carmina is they have increased prices and reduced quality in some areas in recent years. Something to keep in mind. What struck a cord for me is consistency of (most) english manufacturers. Theyre all Spanish except Septieme Largeur, which is French but made in Spain. If you are in the market for a pair of elegant footwear, Id recommend for you duly consider buying the Carmina shoes. Non-sense. Down by half. Its a solid fit. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Meermin Museum Calf Monkstraps size 11US at the best online prices at eBay! Suede from CF Stead and rubber Victory soles. Arch support was a bit painful the first wear but feels great after a few hours. Since its a smaller area than bespoke tailoring, its even more sensitive for these things. I think it makes sense for C&J to stick to making shoes and not running shops. It requires more knowledge to be able to see the difference between welted shoes at different stages of the quality segment, in general. Yes literally hard as rock but very nice looking in their box.. Agree Alan, buyer beware that they are extremely hard to break in. I was very impressed with the integrity of your website after reading IS THIS AN ADVERT? They have a lot of life left in them. Best fitting shoe I own, after a couple wears I can sport these for 20 miles with no hotspots. After trying on shoes in Trading Post, the fit is so much better than any western brands Ive ever tried. Carmina Forest Oxford and Blucher - 9.5 UK. This separates footwear from most of fashion and it feels good to support the companies that work towards this. Carminas are more expensive than Meermin shoes. Morjas, and the other Swedish brands Myrqvist and Skolyx, all use leather board heel stiffeners. 55 last 9.5E: Excellent fit with thick or thin socks, this is what boot heaven feels like! The arch is prominent, not as much as the White's Archease. Seemed comfortable at first but the more I wore it, the more I realized it just doesn't work for me. As Im a women who is looking for well made leather shoes, I have even smaller heels than the male feet in comparison to feet length. I have found Robert (admittedly in sales, not specifically costumer service) to be accommodating in every respect; answering scores of questions over a months long decision making process. Particularly annoying is when they talk about cutting out a middle man, and going straight to consumer. Cheers, H. While I havent worn Prada or Ferragamo, I can be quite certain that they will be worse value for money than those mentioned here. Anyone that gets these Carmina shoes for their wardrobe would be getting some of the best style statements of their lives. You always get something more for your money (if you avoid big brands/designers) but the best value-for-money options will nearly always have been selected already by the cheaper brand. Do you think a knowledgeable observer like yourself could tell the difference in leather quality when they are being worn on someone elses feet (can you spot the difference in leather quality between CJ and EG when someone else is wearing them and your eyes are 6 plus feet away)? Career and job listings in fashion, mens clothing, Reviews of Classifieds and classifieds sellers, No Man Walks Alone - Official Affiliate Thread (a.k.a. The nicest pair of shoes I own is a pair of JM Weston oxfords (from their main line, not the Blake line), and I have to work to tell the difference between the two (Weston has shaped heels, for example). 1. Allen Edmonds on the other hand has been declining in quality. Might not be the same for everyone, but many who havent tried bespoke shoes would be very happy once they do, that Im quite sure off. Good point Ben, Im not sure. Grant Stone Leo 9D: Solid fit. Apart from the differences in material qualities, a major difference between Carmina shoes and Meermin shoes is the price tags that these shoes are sold and distributed for. Where would you fit in Carlos Santos? Ive just received an email from Herring Shoes announcing that Church Shoes Ltd have decided to increase their prices to reposition their brand at a higher price point. Lots of toe room and good heel feeling. Perhaps I need to re-examine what value I place on shoes. Id advise anyone whos a fan of RTW Northampton and Spanish shoes to go to the source and/or their stockists. Free shipping for many products! Exceptional quality and the best quality shoes I own. I have found myself not liking the current 2021+ year make of the 2030 in 8.5 The changes have kind of fudged the instep for me right at the tongue seam. Initially caused rubbing on my goofy 5th toe and sometimes I still feel discomfort there after a long day with a lot of walking. Allen Edmonds 65: 10.5D - Okay fit. The Shell Cordovan, non-Alden Shoe and Boot Thread, Find reviews, recommendations, tips about and appreciation of fine cutlery here. I think I could also safely do this last in in 9.5, but I'm not trying to wear my boots as tight as possible. There is decent toe room in spite of how tapered the chisel last looks. i would think they sit somewhere between C&J and Loake/Barkers. I can fully close the balmoral lacing most of the way up for an ideal look. A 42 would be too large and a 41 too small. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For the price of a brand new AE Id rather get a pair of C&J or Carminas for a little more. To me, they have been 100% worth the money. The main concern for me is finding a last shape that fits my high instep and once I find that last I stick with it. In my view, any proper maker would redo a pair coming out like that. You can use these comfortable shoes to show up appropriately for most events, in the most positive ways possible. The Brannock size (heel-to-toe) will be the top parent comment. Ive purchased a few Grenson pieces this year. https://eu.jmweston.com/en/collections/bottines-homme/products/edouard-chukka-boot-homme-cuir-veau-velours-marron-fonce, Thats certainly a risk with some French brands, but not usually with Weston. Also, as this pair is the kind of a pair of is, this hasn't been in the easiest environments. They wear down quickly." Great stitch density and overall construction for a GYW loafer that normally runs 160 euros. I have Meermin boots and happy with the quality. In the long run you will always regret buying a pair that ticks all the boxes, but doesnt have a good fit. However without the insert there's too much volume so now I'm shopping for a 3/4 insert to toss in them. The soles are more durable, the calf leather takes polish better and ages better, elements of the make lead to extra comfort (as do the materials), the make is finer and so looks better, and so on. I used DT cushioned boot socks at the time. (Portuguese shoemaker) Thanks EL. I find the shoe discussion to be an interesting one. With its classic and timeless design, this last seems to resist the course of time. Id highly recommend it for more detail all of these brands, particularly on the technical side. On the other hand, Meermins wont last you as long as Carminas will. From a comfort perspective these are unrivaled for the price, similar to how I have heard Baudoin & Lange described. And with the double-insoles system in place, comfort is guaranteed with Meermins. Im happy I earn enough now to not care about this market segment any longer. Carmina shoes are more comfortable, flexible, and relaxing than the Meermins. Can I Put Birkenstocks in the Washing Machine? I believe that I am at the upper limit for this last. I dont really David the piece is deliberately written by someone else, not me, as its not an area I have that much experience with. Absolutely do not take it 1.5 down from Brannock like Viberg recommends. Its actually something well touch on in our upcoming piece looking at budgets and capsule wardrobes. Do you think that this pair are too smart: https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/berwick-1707-penny-loafer-9628-dark-brown-suede?variant=19309209288766&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5ZCblaOs6gIVdBPTCh32aAttEAEYASABEgKcGvD_BwE, Would this pair be better suited: https://www.carminashoemaker.com/penny-loafers-brown-suede-80113. The lower tier shoes arent and if C&J or EG are out of reach, go with Alden rather than any of the cheaper Northampton brands. Throughout this commentary from Jesper, its worth keeping in mind that some of the points are objective, some more subjective. I beg to disagree. 2. TLB also has a new line called Artista*, which is a higher level of quality than any in this article. I guess what I am saying is that depending on where youre, the good value for under certain dollar amount list will really change for you. Still tapered in in waist and heel for a comfortable lock in, but with more room in the toe box and at the ball. Although it may be difficult to clearly see from the photos online, could I ask what you think of their the last/design of their chukka boots? But they are still good value for money. and a pair of natural CXL beefrolls were very loose I could slide right out of them. My next purchase would probably be one from G&Gs classic collection, but I can hardly justify buying another shoe when I have 2 brand new pairs (another Meermin and Trickers) which remain unworn due to quarantine. Youre right, the second pair are a little more casual, but I think either would be OK and personally I prefer the shorter apron of the former. Noel: That was the point I was trying to make, when I wrote: whats my experience, and I know for many others as well who have good bespoke shoes, is that the experience of wearing them, with the snug comfortable fit, excellent arch support etc, widely triumph wearing RTW/MTO Goodyear welted shoes. Why spend 400 retail when you can get a great pair of shoes for half that? From my personal experience, there has been a decline in quality in inverse proportion to price increases. I live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam so I know these companies. Please check Rafal's thread and patronize a true custom maker. Most shoes that say theyre made in the Almansa area of Spain are made by Sendra.. I do appreciate your recommendations to other blogs/websites/magazines as its not always easy to spot good work in the vast numbers of style websites. 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