More Carmina Shoes



patrickBOOTH said:

Are these gemmed?

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Renton said:

+1

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yes AFAIK gemmed and Goodyear welted- but then so are EG, C&J, AS, Grenson, Trickers.

I will be at the Paris store later this week and will take pics. Will also provide some info on pricing. The VAT refund for non-EU residents is another incentive to buy Carminas.

A RTW endorsement by fritzl is also another reason to consider Carmina.



Doxe said:

A RTW endorsement by fritzl is also another reason to consider Carmina.

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Great report, thanks!

I am skeptical based on the pricing.



Doxe said:

A RTW endorsement by fritzl is also another reason to consider Carmina.

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you're very welcome. i owe you a drink

btw, what "happened" on your trip to vienna? no shoes?

Carminas do rock =)

I have seen some shoe stretchers in my life but this is like a piece of art! Is that a centre lift for instep/lacing area stretching? If so that is remarkable.



meister said:

I have seen some shoe stretchers in my life but this is like a piece of art! Is that a centre lift for instep/lacing area stretching? If so that is remarkable.

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Indeed. A beauty.

I was at Carmina in Paris last week. Prices were €310 to start going up to €340 with the cordovan at €495 to €550 for shoes. Have pica to post when I'm back in NA. In Florence and Rome this week. Maninna looks to start at €350. Will post pics when don't have to rely on apple iPod.

Seeing Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome. Looking forward to rubiinacci's Rome store. But to be honest, I havent seen anything better than what is offered by Ed by way of Panta or Howard yount or Kent Wang. Had a Venetian ask me about my Kent Wang bicolour knit tie.

Love the pics...thank you very much!! My dilemma now is whether to fly to Europe Business Class or bite the bullet and fly coach and buy a few extra pairs of Carmina's.



Cuttingboard said:

Love the pics...thank you very much!! My dilemma now is whether to fly to Europe Business Class or bite the bullet and fly coach and buy a few extra pairs of Carmina's.

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clearly, coach.



Cuttingboard said:

Love the pics...thank you very much!! My dilemma now is whether to fly to Europe Business Class or bite the bullet and fly coach and buy a few extra pairs of Carmina's.

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As somebody who's 5'6" and has never had problems with flying coach, that answer is pretty damn obvious to me.

Even if coach is problematic for you, 12 hours total of mild discomfort versus several pairs of awesome shoes that will last you decades. Think about that, shouldn't take too long.



teddieriley said:

I find it is similar to UK sizing (i.e., I'm a US size 11 and wear a Carmina size 10), but the lasts fit noticeably different. I find the Rain last (which the wingtips are on) to be the best fit for my feet. The Simpson lasts are pretty good too but narrower in the toe box. The Forest last was also good for my feet. There is the older, original Philadelphia last which didn't work for me at all. There are other lasts which I did not try. As for sizing, I don't think having sized up or down on any particular last would have made the fit better.

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Salad said:

Thanks for the helpful info. Really tempted by more than a few of their models but can't even decide where to start!

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I believe I purchased the shoes a 1/2 size too small. While they fit snugly in the store, my expectation was they would stretch in the width a bit after some wear. After having had the opportunity to walk around in them more when I got home, I realized the shoes are actually a bit too small in both width and length and fit like US 10.5s rather than 11, which is my consistent size. The proper conversion for me would have been to size down 1/2 from my U.S. size. Embarrassing since i should have been able to figure this out. Maybe I wasn't of the correct mind - I was like a kid in a candy store.

Unfortunately for me, I will have to put them up on B&S. Each of them (except the monkstrap pair, which is brand new) have been worn very lightly once or twice. So some SFers will be getting some great shoes, at my loss and your gain. But fortunately, the brother-in-law is from Barcelona, so he will be able to pick me up the shoes in the correct size on his next trip (I hope).



teddieriley said:

Each of them (except the monkstrap pair, which is brand new) have been worn very lightly once or twice.

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????/Where are the monstrap pair?