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

[johng70]

Hi The Law Beard, nice to e-meet you,

As you mentioned, at Carmina Shoemaker we are always looking for new leathers and textures to offer to our customers.
Right now we have all these colors and textures in Cordovan leather:

What would be extremely helpful is if you had actual product photos of a shoe or boot in each of the cordovan colors. It can be extremely difficult to judge color by those tiny swatches - so having a page on your site that shows the actual shoe/boot in that color - if taken inside, making sure the white balance is proper on the photo. And, it's often helpful, if possible to show them together - especially when there are different shades of same color (e.g. natural, saddle, #4, brown) etc.

 

[TheLawBeard]

That's pretty freaking extensive imo. Not sure how many more one could want

There’s a lot of weird shell out there man. Saw another maker do a small run in hatch grain bronze shell. Would love to see the football grain shell. That’d probably end up being some great loafers.

 

[jischwar]

There’s a lot of weird shell out there man. Saw another maker do a small run in hatch grain bronze shell. Would love to see the football grain shell. That’d probably end up being some great loafers.

Yes a lot of "weird" shell for sure 🤣. Those that you mentioned aren't particularly weird though 👍

 

[TheLawBeard]

Yes a lot of "weird" shell for sure 🤣. Those that you mentioned aren't particularly weird though 👍

True. Also, I wouldn’t get excited about gunmetal shell if they offered it unless Horween has made some changes to it. I’ve seen what the Viberg run looked like long term. Not a fan. They don’t stay gray for long and then fade into brown. It wasn’t a good look.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Carmina adelaides in action.

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

Yeah..I figured somebody would have a horror story about DHL since I gave them praise. But Fedex consistently has obscene delays. DHL is always on the mark as far as Im concerned.

Ha! To be fair, that was the only time DHL has delivered to me, so the sample size is tiny.

 

[Ugrant]

I think it's time to buy my first Carminas.
I have been reading as many comments as I found here but I couldn't form an opinion yet.
I would like to order a a pair of Inca, but I have a few doubts:

1. Is the Inca 80168 (brogue oxford) in black a model that is normally available? I only can see in brown now.
2. How is the Inca model in terms of length (longer/shorter/same) compared to Simpson or Rain?
3. How is the Inca model in terms of size: closer to Rain or to Simpson?
4. How is the Inca model in terms of instep: closer to Rain or to Simpson? I would prefer low instep.
5. Are there some measurements in the forum (I only found for Rain and Simpson)?

Simply that. Hope with your help I can be placing an order in the coming days.

 

[Patrick1053]

I think it's time to buy my first Carminas.
I have been reading as many comments as I found here but I couldn't form an opinion yet.
I would like to order a a pair of Inca, but I have a few doubts:

1. Is the Inca 80168 (brogue oxford) in black a model that is normally available? I only can see in brown now.
2. How is the Inca model in terms of length (longer/shorter/same) compared to Simpson or Rain?
3. How is the Inca model in terms of size: closer to Rain or to Simpson?
4. How is the Inca model in terms of instep: closer to Rain or to Simpson? I would prefer low instep.
5. Are there some measurements in the forum (I only found for Rain and Simpson)?

Simply that. Hope with your help I can be placing an order in the coming days.

1. Not sure if it's normally available
2. I think the toe is a little longer on Inca than the others
3. I think Inca is in between the 2 closer to rain though
4. lower than rain higher than Simpson
5. I know I've seen them floating around. If you ask Carmina they'll send it to you.

 

[harlequin782]

Ha! To be fair, that was the only time DHL has delivered to me, so the sample size is tiny.

Crisis averted and complaint retracted, actually.

FedEx did a good job .....this time. 😒

 

[Blastwice]

Always people wanting ultraviolet, gunmetal, etc, not very usable but unique shades of shell

Ultraviolet is an amazing color, IMO. As is the hatchgrain bronze Lorenzo has used in makeups.

(non-carmina boots in Ultraviolet for reference next to Carmina Hand-painted purple shell for comparison)

 

[jet-stream]

I think it's time to buy my first Carminas.
I have been reading as many comments as I found here but I couldn't form an opinion yet.
I would like to order a a pair of Inca, but I have a few doubts:

1. Is the Inca 80168 (brogue oxford) in black a model that is normally available? I only can see in brown now.
2. How is the Inca model in terms of length (longer/shorter/same) compared to Simpson or Rain?
3. How is the Inca model in terms of size: closer to Rain or to Simpson?
4. How is the Inca model in terms of instep: closer to Rain or to Simpson? I would prefer low instep.
5. Are there some measurements in the forum (I only found for Rain and Simpson)?

Simply that. Hope with your help I can be placing an order in the coming days.

A comprehensive list of my views:https://www.styleforum.net/threads/...eviews-advice-sizing-etc.241469/post-10128537

 

[Ugrant]

1. Not sure if it's normally available
2. I think the toe is a little longer on Inca than the others
3. I think Inca is in between the 2 closer to rain though
4. lower than rain higher than Simpson
5. I know I've seen them floating around. If you ask Carmina they'll send it to you.

What a quick response and useful @Patrick1053.
I would really like to get those Inca 80168 in black. Hope and wish there will be back.
It's funny how some shapes can change your perception. I thought Inca last would be shorter than Rain and Simpson. So thanks again for the point.
Would you say that, even longer, Inca looks a little bit more conservative? I mean, may Simpson give the impression to be more elongated that Inca because of Simpson's more sculptured shape?

 

[stephenaf2003]

Yeah..I figured somebody would have a horror story about DHL since I gave them praise. But Fedex consistently has obscene delays. DHL is always on the mark as far as Im concerned.

Ha! To be fair, that was the only time DHL has delivered to me, so the sample size is tiny.

I personally think the move to FedEx is a smart one, DHL is great if one lives in a large city. My biggest gripe with DHL is they don’t offer in person pickup in medium/small sized towns. For me, I’d have to drive all the way to DC to pick up in person. And then for anything other than you signing for the package at your home, they require you to sign away all of their responsibility for delivery of the package. So, if they place the package at the back door, or on the stoop of the wrong house…oopsie.

 

[Ugrant]

A comprehensive list of my views:https://www.styleforum.net/threads/...eviews-advice-sizing-etc.241469/post-10128537

That's fantastic @jet-stream

 

[Henry S]

Where I live, I get better service from DHL.
ETA is always on time, and most importantly I can pay the the custom fees online.

With FedEx, if the value is on the lower side, I have to pay directly to the courier (contractor) cash or provide my credit card info.