3DM Lifestyle: $150 Leather Shoes (A Cheaper Meermin?)

[An Acute Style]

I’m not sure who’s on their design team, but they make some truely awful looking shoes and then some really great looking ones. The posted some nice boots on their Instagram recently. But why is the broguing between the leather and suede not continuous?

 

[dluce76]

I’m not sure who’s on their design team, but they make some truely awful looking shoes and then some really great looking ones. The posted some nice boots on their Instagram recently. But why is the broguing between the leather and suede not continuous?

I saw that and had similar thoughts. Quite a head scratcher that design, and made me go from considering a purchase to "hell no".

 

[standaloneprotein]

I saw that and had similar thoughts. Quite a head scratcher that design, and made me go from considering a purchase to "hell no".

That's their approach, a balmoral boot with a twist (or with a cut) it is interesting regardless.

 

[dluce76]

@An Acute Style
@DFWWingnut
@shoenoobie

So the brown suede MTO shoes arrived today. $150 for the pair.

I'm going to wear them tomorrow but first impressions is that they are really fantastic. They were made entirely to spec (half rubber sole, dark brown suede on specific last with specific style). No defects I can find, either in the suede or the construction. The suede is quite soft and has a great feel to it. As can happen with brogueing on suede, no obvious stray glue in the holes.

I am very happy with these. All in all, for an MTO that costs no more than regular MSRP, what a fantastic value. The only negative, if you think it's a negative, is that I believe they are Blake rapid and not GYW. With all the QC issues meermin has been having, I'm going to move to this brand.

 

[DFWWingnut]

Those look really nice. What is blake rapid?

 

[dluce76]

Those look really nice. What is blake rapid?

Just a different construction method of sewing the sole to the shoe.

 

[dluce76]

Another shot from today. The color from this picture is truer to life, the above were too dark.

 

[DFWWingnut]

I may have to order some of those. love the last and details.

 

[An Acute Style]

Another shot from today. The color from this picture is truer to life, the above were too dark.

View attachment 1120383

What size shoe are you? The last is either very elongated or you have a large foot. They look nice nonetheless.

 

[dluce76]

What size shoe are you? The last is either very elongated or you have a large foot. They look nice nonetheless.

11D. Is that large? (I don't think so but maybe?)
Last is definitely a bit elongated, but it is what I was going for.
I'm a fan of a soft chisel toe with a slightly longer/narrower last.

 

[An Acute Style]

11D. Is that large? (I don't think so but maybe?)
Last is definitely a bit elongated, but it is what I was going for.
I'm a fan of a soft chisel toe with a slightly longer/narrower last.

I’m a 10.5 D. 11 is not large at all. I’m not a fan of the soft chisel town. I prefer rounder last like Allen Edmonds offers. Their oxford wingtips don’t appear to have the same last as these shoes. I’m assuming different last for different shoes.

 

[dluce76]

I’m a 10.5 D. 11 is not large at all. I’m not a fan of the soft chisel town. I prefer rounder last like Allen Edmonds offers. Their oxford wingtips don’t appear to have the same last as these shoes. I’m assuming different last for different shoes.

Definitely. I believe this last is new, at least when looking at their other shoes only a few RTW look similar.

I have their black wingtip Oxford boots and the last is a bit wider throughout and not as long.

 

[Mercurio]

(...) I am very happy with these. All in all, for an MTO that costs no more than regular MSRP, what a fantastic value. The only negative, if you think it's a negative, is that I believe they are Blake rapid and not GYW.

Thank you for your review, I didn't know anything about this brand. If you have followed Ron Rider (RIDER) comments on Blake Rapid construction, you should have no worries. All my Romano Martegani or RiderBoot are Rapid Blake stitched and they are on par with all my GYW shoes.

 

[Button hole]

Looking for suggestions. My absolute favorite shoes right now are a pair of dark brown suede Chelseas. Problem is I wear them too much. I really like the aesthetic of a sleek boot and have found I reach for slip on styles most frequently. I am definitely going with black. I’ve never own jodhpurs so I am stuck between going with a the Chelsea style I know and already have or to try something new in the jodhpurs.

I don’t know if this matters to anyone, but this would be the only pair of black shoes/boots I own.

What do you think?

 

[dluce76]

Thank you for your review, I didn't know anything about this brand. If you have followed Ron Rider (RIDER) comments on Blake Rapid construction, you should have no worries. All my Romano Martegani or RiderBoot are Rapid Blake stitched and they are on par with all my GYW shoes.

Much appreciated. I had not followed his comments but I personally don't think Blake rapid is any worse than gyw. Frankly I like the lighter weight and more flexible feel. Just requires a special machine to resole. Can you link to those comments?