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

[stook1]

MTO 80440 Loafer, Pina Last
Bourbon Shell, Red Kid Lining
Single JR sole

My MTO 80440 loafers were delivered last week. I wasn't a part of the MTO event, but I won Carmina's shoeshine contest on Instagram and the amazing Sara let me choose a shell option which was pretty unexpected.

All pics:


The short story is that I've wanted a pair of light brown shell loafers for a long time and this was my chance to get them. I love my pair of bourbon jumpers so the color was a no brainer, and the 80440 style seemed the best fit for me despite having no experience with the Pina last, which was a dice roll.

Along with the shoes came some unexpected extras:

And the shoes themselves are everything for which I'd hoped.

The fit is interesting. I am a UK 10 in Carmina's Oscar/Robert/Forest lasts and went with the same for this loafer. While it was the right choice, they are not quite the snug fit I prefer for my loafers and slip-ons. The ball and heel of my foot is firmly anchored but there's some visible bowing on the collar when worn without socks.

I have high arches with a normal volume ball and heel. No heel slip while walking. I have very lean ankles due to cycling - They weren't always this way - and I think it makes the collar look worse than it is in top-down pics:

Versus how they really look when worn:

They fit exactly the same in a UK 10 as my pair of UK 9.5 Rain-lasted wholecut loafers.

Given that sizing was a gamble, I'm very happy.

I've had them for a week and look for any reason to wear them despite being housebound.

Huge thanks to Carmina for holding their contest, for picking me as the winner among so many amazing entries, and to Sara at Carmina for sending all of the completely unexpected extras along with the shoes. They already had a customer for life before this, and I look forward to growing my small but beloved Carmina collection.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, as always.

C man... they look awesome. I was wondering if you'd already received them. Visually, the sizing looks good to me in terms of concerns about bowing.

Kudos to Carmina for the great contest prizes!

 

[ErPupone4]

I agree with @zag73. Consider it your boot's birthmark.

Btw, have you shared pics of the whole boot? Would love to see it.

I'll try to take some pictures over the weekend. They are rather boring compared to the Calway makeups. I've been practical with my MTO purchases recently. Eventually I'll get to a point of trying some more adventurous combinations like Bigfoot suede vamp and unicorn leather shaft. LV Gucci guy will like that one ?

 

[officine]

I'll try to take some pictures over the weekend. They are rather boring compared to the Calway makeups. I've been practical with my MTO purchases recently. Eventually I'll get to a point of trying some more adventurous combinations like Bigfoot suede vamp and unicorn leather shaft. LV Gucci guy will like that one ?

It's a process.

 

[lcdx22]

Crisis averted. A thin leather insole improve the fit significantly. I may be able to enjoy these after all.

 

[Neville Southall]

My buddy’s Calways. Wow.

 

[MacGuffen]

Crisis averted. A thin leather insole improve the fit significantly. I may be able to enjoy these after all.

View attachment 1404801 View attachment 1404802 View attachment 1404803 View attachment 1404804 View attachment 1404805 View attachment 1404806 View attachment 1404807

Very nice! What last did you use for these?

 

[flylikeneagle]

It's great to see this thread heading in right direction again. Several fantastic and original makeups posted today.

 

[zag73]

It's great to see this thread heading in right direction again. Several fantastic and original makeups posted today.

Couldn’t agree more. A flawless stream of great shoes.

 

[nes1us]

80688 in Tobacco suede from 2017 Reddit GMTO. Rain EEE last.

 

[CrashBurner]

MTO 80440 Loafer, Pina Last
Bourbon Shell, Red Kid Lining
Single JR sole

My MTO 80440 loafers were delivered last week. I wasn't a part of the MTO event, but I won Carmina's shoeshine contest on Instagram and the amazing Sara let me choose a shell option which was pretty unexpected.

All pics:


The short story is that I've wanted a pair of light brown shell loafers for a long time and this was my chance to get them. I love my pair of bourbon jumpers so the color was a no brainer, and the 80440 style seemed the best fit for me despite having no experience with the Pina last, which was a dice roll.

Along with the shoes came some unexpected extras:

And the shoes themselves are everything for which I'd hoped.

The fit is interesting. I am a UK 10 in Carmina's Oscar/Robert/Forest lasts and went with the same for this loafer. While it was the right choice, they are not quite the snug fit I prefer for my loafers and slip-ons. The ball and heel of my foot is firmly anchored but there's some visible bowing on the collar when worn without socks.

I have high arches with a normal volume ball and heel. No heel slip while walking. I have very lean ankles due to cycling - They weren't always this way - and I think it makes the collar look worse than it is in top-down pics:

Versus how they really look when worn:

They fit exactly the same in a UK 10 as my pair of UK 9.5 Rain-lasted wholecut loafers.

Given that sizing was a gamble, I'm very happy.

I've had them for a week and look for any reason to wear them despite being housebound.

Huge thanks to @Carmina for holding their contest, for picking me as the winner among so many amazing entries, and to Sara at Carmina for sending all of the completely unexpected extras along with the shoes. They already had a customer for life before this, and I look forward to growing my small but beloved Carmina collection.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, as always.

Late to the party but fantastic post @CMT1!! Congratulations on the win too and kudos to Sara for all the added extras. That’s another reason to love @Carmina.

 

[lcdx22]

Very nice! What last did you use for these?

These were on Detroit EEE. Needed an extra leather insole.

Going forward the Detroit EE is what I should use.

 

[ducatiti]

Is there a newer kind of Carmina shoe tree available? Which ones do you prefer and why? I see two different kinds available now.

 

[CMT1]

C man... they look awesome. I was wondering if you'd already received them. Visually, the sizing looks good to me in terms of concerns about bowing.

Kudos to Carmina for the great contest prizes!

The fit could certainly be worse! The bowing is far worse in photos than in person and nobody notices it but me. They are extremely comfortable, although I've only walked from the house to the mailbox and onto the deck here and there, but they feel as solid as any other loafer in my closet and, as far as I'm concerned, the bourbon decimates all.

Late to the party but fantastic post @CMT1!! Congratulations on the win too and kudos to Sara for all the added extras. That’s another reason to love @Carmina.

Thank you very much! I still cannot believe that I won. There were a lot of amazing entries and I honestly did not think my Greelys stood a chance!

Ultimately my favorite dress boots led to my now-favorite pair of loafers - and a whole host of cool goodies - and I am very much OK with it!

Have a great weekend!

 

[EUtroll]

Really great last for loafers. Your photos add the missing angle to Carmina's stock photos.

 

[nikolau]

Does anyone own a Calway *as well as* Enzo Bonafe’s variant of the Galway?