Calzoleria Toscana (shoes)

[blackrover]

I recently bought a pair of Calzoleria Toscana lavorate a mano from Nordstrom, and I must say they are a great shoes for the money. They are made in Italy and have the same construction qualities you see in shoes that four time as much. Even though they are missing some of the finer details, they are a great looking shoe and for 150 big ones I think a steal as well. They never hurt my feet. Even before broke in and I'm on my feet at all day. I can't say enough about them... high grade soft leather that feels and smells great. Everything you would expect in a good Italian shoes at a price lower than (crappy) Mezlan.

http://search.nordstrom.com/SearchRe...go.x=16&go.y=4

BTW: Does anyone know what Lavorate a mano means

 

[VMan]

Originally Posted by blackrover

I recently bought a pair of Calzoleria Toscana lavorate a mano from Nordstrom, and I must say they are a great shoes for the money. They are made in Italy and have the same construction qualities you see in shoes that four time as much. Even though they are missing some of the finer details, they are a great looking shoe and for 150 big ones I think a steal as well. They never hurt my feet. Even before broke in and I'm on my feet at all day. I can't say enough about them... high grade soft leather that feels and smells great. Everything you would expect in a good Italian shoes at a price lower than (crappy) Mezlan.

http://search.nordstrom.com/SearchRe...go.x=16&go.y=4

BTW: Does anyone know what Lavorate a mano means

Not bad at all for the money. Literally, Lavorate a Mano means 'worked by hand'...so they are handmade, to a degree.

 

[skalogre]

This one is interesting. Well, sort of, I cannot quite decide...
http://store.nordstrom.com/product/p...All+Categories

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Originally Posted by VersaceMan

Not bad at all for the money. Literally, Lavorate a Mano means 'worked by hand'...so they are handmade, to a degree.


Oh, I thought that was Italian for "Can I get a Lug sole with that?"

 

[skalogre]

What are these? Glued, welted, blake-stitched? Cannot tell from the photographs. Anyone seen these at a Nordstrom's?

 

[jcusey]

Originally Posted by skalogre

What are these? Glued, welted, blake-stitched? Cannot tell from the photographs. Anyone seen these at a Nordstrom's?

I have. I believe that they're Blake-constructed.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by jcusey

I have. I believe that they're Blake-constructed.

Thanks Jcusey. How was the leather on them?

 

[Soph]

They do get points for styling in the vein of Lattanzi/Santoni.

I can't image the leather/construction is much of anything for $150.

They are what they are.

 

[Get Smart]

I have a pair of the dk brown wingtips from Calzoleria Toscana and they are a great shoe for the $. At $150, they could pass for a higher end shoe....sole is blake stitched and the leather is nice and grainy, not plasticky at all. Comfortable from day 1 and has only gotten better as they wear in. Took a chance on ordering these sight unseen/unworn and they turned out to be a homerun.

I saw those captoes at a Nordstrom's the other week and I wasnt too into them. The leather has an odd/artificial distressing and I'm not into the hemp/rope shoelaces with the huge ass toggle on the end. Those cost a bit more as well, $225, and don't seem nearly as nice as the pair I got online.

 

[jcusey]

Originally Posted by skalogre

Thanks Jcusey. How was the leather on them?

They're $225 shoes. It's okay, but Mantellassi need not worry.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by jcusey

They're $225 shoes. It's okay, but Mantellassi need not worry.
I did not really feel that would be the case - not that I would know, I don't have any high end shoes - some Loake, Loding and Grensons are about as "fancy" as it gets for me

! Get Smart: I think that is a big reason why those do not quite pull me... the laces are rather too rustic for the shoe, for starters and the leather looks a little odd...

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by skalogre

I think that is a big reason why those do not quite pull me... the laces are rather too rustic for the shoe, for starters and the leather looks a little odd...

yea, looking at the shoe in store i had this great urge to cut the laces off.

 

[Roger]

Originally Posted by jcusey

I have. I believe that they're Blake-constructed.
John, doesn't that look like stitching on the top of the sole extension? And look at the heel. Do we not, perhaps, have a 360-degree welt? Do Blake/Rapid ever look like that around the heel? Surely a Blake-stitched shoe wouldn't, would it?.

 

[Get Smart]

Those captoes shown above are the only ones that are welted. All the other Calzoleria shoes seem to be blake stitched.

 

[blackrover]

I got these in black. For the leather and construction comments you should try them. You just might be surprised...I was and I do have experience with highend shoes. The pics I posted of my Canali's dissapeared after the crash.

Oh and they are Blake constructed.