Carmina Shoes - Definitive Thread (reviews, advice, sizing, etc...) - official thread.

[Shawl Lapel]

@Tool fan probably nothing that will destroy the shoe, but I would worry about water getting in there which is never a good thing. Contact Carmina and see what they say.

 

[WilYa]

Results of my first ever patina adventure

So this was a burgundy calf chukka on simpson last. Since I already have too many burgundy shoes including a color8 shell chukka from Enzo Bonafe, I thought I could use it in my first patina/dye experiment. Basically I am okay with anything as long as it is not too loud.
I stripped the leather with Saphir Renomat first and then acetone, reno didn’t work at all and acetone was only able to remove part of it. At that point I knew I would get something very dark upon applying a saphir navy dye, it was okay since I don’t particularly fancy a purple look. I then applied multiple layer of Bick4 to condition the leather, it was a solid dark navy-brown-purple all over until I applied Saphir pate-de-luxe neutral wax that I found the excessive wax could actually remove parts of the dye and reveal the burgundy undertone. This was not what I expected but it looked quite similar to the museum effect. Rather than recolouring the burgundy spots, I then followed this reverse-patina process by applying more wax very carefully to create more museum effect.
The end result is not what I expected but it is what I could wear very happily.

 

[oskrusa]

Hey guys — I just received notification from Carmina about restocking on the outlet and on the Summer Sale section.

They added a nice pair of Jumper boots on the Oscar last to the Summer sale on chestnut antique grain calf:
https://www.carminashoemaker.us/eco....cfm?id=1700&categoryId=471&1-080184-922-0062

Code SUMMER-SALE brings that pair down to $431

 

[RogerP]

Hey guys — I just received notification from Carmina about restocking on the outlet and on the Summer Sale section.

They added a nice pair of Jumper boots on the Oscar last to the Summer sale on chestnut antique grain calf:
https://www.carminashoemaker.us/eco....cfm?id=1700&categoryId=471&1-080184-922-0062

Code SUMMER-SALE brings that pair down to $431

Dammit - too close to an existing pair. I think their tall derby boots on the Oscar last are some of the nicest out there.

 

[007Bond]

Newest Carmina addition.

Only a few pending issues, does the shoe fit, does she like them.

We will see when she gets home, she wanted heels, I went for the rubber sole and suede/glove leather combo. Figured if it's your first what I call real shoe she may not be use to what real leather is like. So my thinking was glove leather and suede should be a good intro to a better shoe then she has, and rubber sole since there are no galoshes for heels. She could get caught in rain easy, and I know she does not want to be hassled with a shoe that she cannot wear when it's wet out or is destroyed while getting to the train in the rain. Trying to get her into better shoes so attempting to make the first impression go well. As for size I made a real guess, measured her foot and I come up with size 7, but all her shoes are either 7.5 or 8, Carmina says -1.5, several of you guys said -2, I hear the woman's shoes are on the narrow side, so I ordered a UK8, the wild card is what is her size 7.5 or 8. Funny thing is we are in NYC but always on a Sunday when the store closed.

 

[madhat]

Newest Carmina addition.

Only a few pending issues, does the shoe fit, does she like them.

We will see when she gets home, she wanted heels, I went for the rubber sole and suede/glove leather combo. Figured if it's your first what I call real shoe she may not be use to what real leather is like. So my thinking was glove leather and suede should be a good intro to a better shoe then she has, and rubber sole since there are no galoshes for heels. She could get caught in rain easy, and I know she does not want to be hassled with a shoe that she cannot wear when it's wet out or is destroyed while getting to the train in the rain. Trying to get her into better shoes so attempting to make the first impression go well. As for size I made a real guess, measured her foot and I come up with size 7, but all her shoes are either 7.5 or 8, Carmina says -1.5, several of you guys said -2, I hear the woman's shoes are on the narrow side, so I ordered a UK8, the wild card is what is her size 7.5 or 8. Funny thing is we are in NYC but always on a Sunday when the store closed.

View attachment 1000311

Those are cool! Hope they work out for her.

 

[007Bond]

Those are cool! Hope they work out for her.

Thanks.

I was thinking since us guys don't get to see the ladies shoes much (that we may want to buy for the better half) let me post a few more pics of the heel and sole.

 

[madhat]

Thanks.

I was thinking since us guys don't get to see the ladies shoes much (that we may want to buy for the better half) let me post a few more pics of the heel and sole.

View attachment 1000351 View attachment 1000352

You really get to appreciate the stack of that heel. Thanks for posting this.

 

[WilYa]

Carmina shell made for Meermin???
Randomly saw this pair and puzzled...

 

[jet-stream]

Carmina shell made for Meermin???
Randomly saw this pair and puzzled...
View attachment 1000398

Fascinating. That's gotta be a few years old; I know that Meermin split off from Carmina a while ago. Perhaps prior to Meermin's foray into shell? Pure speculation there . . .

 

[Dandy_dapper]

Hello, I just recieved my new pair of Carminas in the mail and while inspecting them i noticed a small hole on the heel area on one of the shoes. My question is, is this some structual defect? Will the hole continue to get bigger during the course of normal wear?
View attachment 998765

Wich model it this?

 

[007Bond]

Newest Carmina addition.

Only a few pending issues, does the shoe fit, does she like them.

We will see when she gets home, she wanted heels, I went for the rubber sole and suede/glove leather combo. Figured if it's your first what I call real shoe she may not be use to what real leather is like. So my thinking was glove leather and suede should be a good intro to a better shoe then she has, and rubber sole since there are no galoshes for heels. She could get caught in rain easy, and I know she does not want to be hassled with a shoe that she cannot wear when it's wet out or is destroyed while getting to the train in the rain. Trying to get her into better shoes so attempting to make the first impression go well. As for size I made a real guess, measured her foot and I come up with size 7, but all her shoes are either 7.5 or 8, Carmina says -1.5, several of you guys said -2, I hear the woman's shoes are on the narrow side, so I ordered a UK8, the wild card is what is her size 7.5 or 8. Funny thing is we are in NYC but always on a Sunday when the store closed.

View attachment 1000311

So update.

They fit. That said I think the -2 is the way to go since the last is very narrow. Like I had said when I use a brannock she measures US7 but most of her actual shoes are 7.5 - 8. Carmina suggest -1.5 but due to the narrow last -2 is the better option.

She thinks they look a bit like men's shoes but does like them... 4 inch heel looking like mens shoes that's a new one for me.

Guys lots of ladies shoes in the outlet why not give them a try. They say a couple that polishes together stays together...

 

[Fab75]

Hi
Got an issue with my Carmina MTO
Wrote to the customer service and will see how they react
Will let you know
Cheers

 

[Misterg12]

View attachment 1000887 View attachment 1000888 View attachment 1000889 Hi
Got an issue with my Carmina MTO
Wrote to the customer service and will see how they react
Will let you know
Cheers

Hi Fab,
I really don’t see an issue here. It’s just a welt joint and looks a lot better than some I’ve seen. Phenomenal looking shoe.

 

[Fab75]

Hi Fab,
I really don’t see an issue here. It’s just a welt joint and looks a lot better than some I’ve seen. Phenomenal looking shoe.

On the other shoe there is no joint, here you can see it easily and for the price this is something I cannot accept
Cheers