Antonio Meccariello Shoes

[clee1982]

vintage dark brown imperator (though I prefer the original version, cleaner on the cap)



vs. original (not same leather)

 

[Encore]

Here comes mine....
Took a while, as yalll know.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Here comes mine....
Took a while, as yalll know.

What was the wait time on those again?
I see Aurum/Bespoke on there. Welcome to the club.

 

[GeoffreyB]

vintage dark brown imperator (though I prefer the original version, cleaner on the cap)



vs. original (not same leather)

View attachment 1611342

+1 for the original version too!

 

[shoes83]

I'm good with either version.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Hi All, how would you rate AM vs Carmina in terms of quality, build, fit and style? HW vs GYW? Kirby Allison mentioned that HW shoes are like Ferrari and GYW are 3 series BMW. I personally don't have GYW to comment. Only own 2 Vass and couple of blake/rapid Blake stitched shoes. Thank you ✌

 

[deez shoes]

Hi All, how would you rate AM vs Carmina in terms of quality, build, fit and style? HW vs GYW? Kirby Allison mentioned that HW shoes are like Ferrari and GYW are 3 series BMW. I personally don't have GYW to comment. Only own 2 Vass and couple of blake/rapid Blake stitched shoes. Thank you ✌

Sorry that it wasn't the answer you were looking. ?‍♂️

 

[JohnMRobie]

Hi All, how would you rate AM vs Carmina in terms of quality, build, fit and style? HW vs GYW? Kirby Allison mentioned that HW shoes are like Ferrari and GYW are 3 series BMW. I personally don't have GYW to comment. Only own 2 Vass and couple of blake/rapid Blake stitched shoes. Thank you ✌

They’re different. Meccariello has a few different levels. Carmina has one. Not sure which you’re comparing but if you’re looking at Argentum vs Carmina it’s Meccariello and it isn’t close.

As you’re looking at these brands since this is like the third one you’ve asked about check out the reply to you on the EB thread.

Beyond that a lot comes down to what you personally value after you figure out what fits. Is it staying within a certain price point? Is it leather quality? Internal components? Construction? Attention to detail on the making and finishing? Speed that you can get your shoes? Country of origin? At the end of the day you’ve gotta decide which part is important to you because something has gotta give on that list - usually price is the fixed constraint. Adjust the dials accordingly to figure out what works for you. With Meccariello time and price are the dials you’re adjusting.

 

[DL120]

Hi All, how would you rate AM vs Carmina in terms of quality, build, fit and style? HW vs GYW? Kirby Allison mentioned that HW shoes are like Ferrari and GYW are 3 series BMW. I personally don't have GYW to comment. Only own 2 Vass and couple of blake/rapid Blake stitched shoes. Thank you ✌

The 2 are not comparable besides both offering welted footwear. One is a factory produced shoe while the other is a small family artisanal shoemaker who offers some of the highest value footwear in the market range.

 

[JohnMRobie]

HW shoes are like Ferrari and GYW are 3 series BMW.

Also this is a stupid comparison that is grossly oversimplified and doesn’t make any sense.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Also this is a stupid comparison that is grossly oversimplified and doesn’t make any sense.

I wasn't sure if he was serious or just promoting one of his affiliated brands. I also never owned European cars (kia driver) ?

 

[clee1982]

Whatever you buy, I would say buy in the following order
1. aesthetics, I don't care how good the construction if looks ugly to me I'm not buying it
2. fit, up to a point, if it doesn't fit, don't buy it, if it kind work, and you love it enough I personally would compromise a bit, but some might not
3. "adequate construction", gyw is good enough for me most of the time, I pay up for handwelt because I do, and I still have purely blake shoe because I like the aesthetics so I compromise

so in short, handwelt is not end to all but I definitely appreciate it

 

[Smooth Operator]

The 2 are not comparable besides both offering welted footwear. One is a factory produced shoe while the other is a small family artisanal shoemaker who offers some of the highest value footwear in the market range.

What advantages would small shoemaker have other than QC? I wonder if a Handmade shoe can be that much better than machine made? I actually thought the other way as the machine would be more productive in a way?

 

[JohnMRobie]

I wasn't sure if he was serious or just promoting one of his affiliated brands. I also never owned European cars (kia driver) ?

It ignores the fact that in the ready to wear space there are $200 Goodyear welted shoes and $1,500 Goodyear welted shoes. There are $300 handwelted shoes and $5,000 handwelted shoes.

To use an extreme example a handwelted shoe from say Meermin isn’t a Ferrari while a Goodyear welted shoe from Gaziano or Edward Green isn’t a 3 series.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Beyond that a lot comes down to what you personally value after you figure out what fits. Is it staying within a certain price point? Is it leather quality? Internal components? Construction? Attention to detail on the making and finishing? Speed that you can get your shoes? Country of origin? At the end of the day you’ve gotta decide which part is important to you because something has gotta give on that list - usually price is the fixed constraint. Adjust the dials accordingly to figure out what works for you. With Meccariello time and price are the dials you’re adjusting.

Value for me means the longevity of a shoe mainly by means of construction leather quality