Carlos Santos Shoes - Feedback & Appreciation

[ThunderMarch]

I don't know if it's me, but this brand looks very similar to Magnanni. I see a lot of similarities with their hand antique patina service, pointy sleek models, similar color linings and the welt and heel are colored black. I see lots of similarities between these two brands. You get both of these brands available in same shoe stores in Holland.

Also, what I don't understand is that these are more expensive than Carmina in the US averaging around $495 and in Europe priced around 275 euros right below Carmina.

Carlos Santos makes shoes for numerous other makers, but I don't know if they do so for Magnanni.
This might explain why similarities might be seen with other makers.
They definitely make shoes for Markowski (French).

 

[vmss]



Carlos Santos makes shoes for numerous other makers, but I don't know if they do so for Magnanni. 
This might explain why similarities might be seen with other makers. 
They definitely make shoes for Markowski (French). 

You are right that Markowski is made by CS. However, the Blake and Bologna lines are made by magnanni. Markowski is made by both brands Carlos Santos and magnanni. So I wonder if magnanni and Carlos Santos are somehow affiliated with each other. They offer very similar products.

 

[JezeC]

subscribed.

 

[Leaves]

Don't feed the trolls.

 

[Leaves]



You are right that Markowski is made by CS. However, the Blake and Bologna lines are made by magnanni. Markowski is made by both brands Carlos Santos and magnanni. So I wonder if magnanni and Carlos Santos are somehow affiliated with each other. They offer very similar products.

I don't know actually, I don't think so but I can ask next time I meet Ana Santos (at the Micam trade fair next week).

 

[usctrojans31]

@SartodiNapoli - why do you assume malice in everything? Most of us have heard of Carlos Santos, but until Skoak started carrying the brand, its distribution for most people was essentially nonexistent.

Let's take a master Neapolitan tailor, one for whom you have great reverence. Let's call him Iacopo. Iacopo is a great tailor who works only in Napoli, has good clientele and is doing pretty well. More international clientele start coming to him, and Iaocopo decides to travel to New York, London and Hong Kong for fittings to increase his exposure to his international clientele.

Information starts coming out with more frequency due to his increased exposure. Some of that information includes language barrier, construction technique, timing, etc. All of it very objective and quantifiable.

Is that shilling as you like to call it?

I won't engage further in this conversation because I'm not about to destroy this thread like so many others, but exposing bullshit practices is one thing and a very valuable service. Consistently denigrating things about which you have no primary experience or expertise isn't.

 

[SartodiNapoli]

Don't feed the shills.

Expose them.

Support honest people are my rules and my humble recommendation for everyone. Some do not like the truth.


and never denigrated the maker as never mentioned anything good or bad about the shoes I repeat so last accusation is not true. Best, leaving the thread, everything is said already.

Just confident on the general good taste and good manners.

The merchants were whipped out of the Temple.

 

[Murlsquirl]



Don't feed the shills.

Expose them.

Support honest people are my rules and my humble recommendation for everyone. Some do not like the truth.


and never denigrated the maker as never mentioned anything good or bad about the shoes I repeat so last accusation is not true. Best, leaving the thread, everything is said already.

Just confident on the general good taste and good manners.

The merchants were whipped out of the Temple.

This. That's enough.

 

[Zapasman]

This. That's enough.

Please.

 

[Rincon]

Please leave.

Thank your Leaves for the information - your comparison of lasts/sizes is very helpful, even outside of this brand.

 

[Ccw55]

Thoughts on Carlos Santos.

Alright, so I received the Carlos Santos Swan Neck Oxfords yesterday, in black, which are on the 187 Last. My first instincts were - to be perfectly honest - yikes, these are too pointy for my tastes. I unboxed my G&Gs which also came yesterday, and compared them length-wise. They were surprisingly similar in length.

So I tried them on, stood up, and was rather surprised how nice they looked on the foot. The last reminds me of the Carmina Inca - which I have pictured below in brown suede. However, the 187 is a bit more chiseled than the Carmina Inca - the latter is very round and almondy. I am still warming up to the 187 last. The shoes are fairly narrow. And there is a good amount of extension. I think they are keepers as far as I am concerned.

It is likely that the 187 looks more extended than it is due to the placement of the toe cap. If you compare the CS with the G&G, the toe cap on the CS is a good half an inch closer to the vamp, which serves to exacerbate the already extended last. However, on the foot this was not noticeable at all. And this is something that WOULD stand out to me.

As someone else mentioned, the toe cap stiching is stylistically closer to the vamp to balance the swan neck. I am not sure if it is perfectly harmonious with the last, but in this price segment, I think it does an above average job (objectively speaking).

First impressions. The shoes are comfortable, if a bit stiff. The finishing is very neat, especially considering the price. The last is narrow, but it fit my foot nicely. I think that if you had to size up, then maybe this last is not for you. I have no qualms with the finishing whatsoever - it seems very similar to Carmina. The shoes come in a nice box, with nice bags, and a shoe horn. The leather quality is about the same as Carmina in my opinion. With that said, Carmina does have the benefit of closed channel stitching (which I really, really do not care about, TBH, on $325.00 shoes). I think that Carmina feels a bit more refined, especially the last and design. But then again, I prefer this last to the Inca, and this is the most elongated last that Skoak offers in Carlos Santos, so I am probably not being fair.

All in all, they feel far nicer than $325.00 shoes (with the way shoes are priced today), and I think they are a great buy in the value segment. However, pre-price increase, I think Carmina was a better option - but then again, we all know that the $330.00 Carmina's were too good to be true. However, they were a better option by a very slim margin.

Carlos Santos comes in a nice package, they are well finished, they seem to be on nicely shaped lasts, and they feel nice and sturdy. Will likely buy another pair.

As far as sizing:

I am a UK9E in C&J on the 348, UK9 (stardard width) in Carmina on the Rain, Inca, etc., US10D Allen Edmonds, UK9.5/10 D or E in E&G in the 606, 82, and 888, UK9.5E in G&G, 42.5/43 in Vass F Last (I have a small instep, which is my problem with Vass), 43/43.5 in Vass U Last.

Hope all this helps!

Last comparison - G&G and CS.






Last comparison - CS, Carmina Inca, and C&J 348.

Many thanks @Newcomer ! Was curious as to how this model would look. Strangely enough, the proportions of the last look perfectly fine when viewed from the front, but the placement of the toe cap stitching does seem a bit peculiar when viewed from top-down.

Nevertheless - looking good!

 

[Whirling]

I went and checked out some Carlos Santos shoes here in Philadelphia at a shop called Blue Sole Shoes (www.bluesoleshoes.com). I thought they looked nice. A lot of them were 50% off, resulting in a price of $233. Unfortunately, they didn't have anything I liked in my size. This shop doesn't seem to sell via their website. I don't know if they sell over the phone. So, this might just be helpful for Philadelphians...

 

[SummerofLove]

Just got my Carlos Santos Jumpers in Coimbra Patina.234 Last

http://us.skoaktiebolaget.se/collec...s/carlos-santos-jumper-boot-in-coimbra-patina

Sizing advice on Skoak was accurate. 10UK worked for me and that is the right Rain size for me. Although, I could do a loose fit in Rain 10.5 UK with some minor heel slippage.

Anyways, these are great. Super soft and far superior to Meermin Clasico (hard leather and difficult to break in), which I tried recently. These definitely feel on par with my Carminas and I have quite a few of them. Next, I am going to try 234 Last Double Monks (6942) with patina service to color them Petro Shadow.

 

[VRaivio]

Summeroflove, you know, you can always soften up smooth leathers with Lexol. It's a wondrous product and lasts a long time.

 

[Leaves]

Some additional styles, for those of you who are interested in Carlos Santos. The top three pictures shows the 333 last, a round classic last.

Style reference 6237

Style reference 6237

Style reference 8884

Style reference 7273

Style reference 8334

Style reference 8334

Style reference 10007

Style reference 10007