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

[Bureaucrat]

I bought some lasted shoe trees with my recent Carmina purchase and have a question. All of my other shoe trees are Cedar and have a rough finish but the Carmina trees do not seem to be Cedar and have almost a sheen to them. Is this an issue for the trees and could have an adverse impact on the shoes?

There's no issue. Actually many of the higher-end trees are "polished" or have a "sheen" as you would put it.

 

[vespertiliovir]

Some new styles and restocks are now available, a small selection is posted here, check out our Affiliate Thread for more details.

 

[teaegg]

I just received my Carmina shell cordovan longwings yesterday. They fit very comfortably but there were a bunch of flaws on my pair.

If anyone's curious about Detroit last sizing I got 8.5UK.

10D on brannock device
10D on AE 222 last
9.5D on True Balance last


Here's the album in case anyone wants to see.

http://imgur.com/a/10C1p

 

[Watchman1]

I just received my Carmina shell cordovan longwings yesterday. They fit very comfortably but there were a bunch of flaws on my pair.

If anyone's curious about Detroit last sizing I got 8.5UK.

10D on brannock device
10D on AE 222 last
9.5D on True Balance last


Here's the album in case anyone wants to see.

http://imgur.com/a/10C1p

These kinds of flaws are not normal for Carmina, at least no in my experience.

I have 3 pairs of Cordovan's from them and it was not until the 3rd that I could find any flaws at all.

The cut on the tip of the wing is indeed unacceptable. Everything else is not a big deal IMHO.

The crease on the side usually happens during shipping and can be pushed back out by running your finger along the inside of the shoe.

If you thought those flaws are bad I am guessing you do not have much experience with AE and Alden........

 

[teaegg]

I usually get AE seconds for $150-200 so I'm okay with flaws on those but these were 488 euros + foreign transaction fees + duties I'm guessing I'll have to pay eventually.

Did you have to pay return shipping for your third pair of Carminas? How was the exchange process?

 

[Watchman1]

I usually get AE seconds for $150-200 so I'm okay with flaws on those but these were 488 euros + foreign transaction fees + duties I'm guessing I'll have to pay eventually.

Did you have to pay return shipping for your third pair of Carminas? How was the exchange process?

I am guessing the Carmina pair in question is shell cordovan, which AE is $499 right now for 2nds. And, AE does not have that color.

I would ask Carmina to knock some $$$ off the price and then I would rock them Carmina 2nds till the soles fall off.

The pair that were flawed of mine was at the welt line on the inside of the shoe, the reason it was even such a big deal in my mind at first was because I was so used to getting pristine shoes from them.

So......Now, I don't even sweat it.

 

[dalevy]

There's no issue. Actually many of the higher-end trees are "polished" or have a "sheen" as you would put it.

I think the question is whether the sheen prevents the shoe tree from being as effective as unpolished trees (e.g., absorbtion). I don't know the answer. I note that some higher end shoe trees (Edward Green, St. Crispins) appear to be unpolished.

 

[chobochobo]

^ I think this has been discussed many times before. The general consensus is that there is no particular problem with them being varnished/ polished or not.

 

[jkater1]

Got a quick sizing question. I and a 10.5d brannock, 10d Barrie, 10/10.5e EG 606 & 64. What size would be recommended for the Forest last? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jazzmenco]

That's pretty much my size and I wear 9.5 in most Carmina's. I have 3 pair of boots in 9.5 Forest last, great fit.

 

[jkater1]

Thank you sir.

 

[Rugger]

Does anyone have any pics of model Model 000910-001 in the wild?
Also, if I'm a 10.5 for almost all AE what would I be on the rain last?
Finally, how does this color compare to AE Bob's Chili?

http://www.shop.carminashoemaker.com/articulo.asp?idarticulo=3476665

 

[90shilling]

Six-eyelet split toe derby in Cognac shell cordovan (style 80189 on Simpson). Purchased from the Gran Via store in Madrid.

 

[halfnhalfnhalf]

Well, there's one fewer pair of the saddle shell split toe bluchers available from SkoAB.

 

[Watchman1]

Well, there's one fewer pair of the saddle shell split toe bluchers available from SkoAB.

Its a tough job but somebody's got to do it...