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

[stephenaf2003]

Carmina has been in the market with shell for many years. I think I have a much older version of cognac. Love the boot.

Cool, what year are yours from? My cognac aren’t that old, 2014. But they still look really good.

 

[armedferret]

I have to say, Isaiah (hope I spelled it right) at the NYC store absolutely blew me away. His knowledge, service, and desire to get people in the RIGHT shoe was above and beyond. Mrs. couldn't be happier with her new acquisition--even if she got mad that I violated our "no gifts on the anniversary" agreement. Like I'm gonna let that happen.

If you're in the city for any reason, you owe it to yourself to stop by and see him. That kid has an extremely bright future ahead of him.

 

[Oshare]

I thought I'd dip my toes into the world of chukka boots, and picked up a pair of lightly used Carmina black chukkas. These are also my first shoes from Carmina, and I must say they are very nice!

Still trying to figure out what to pair these with, but I guess jeans are a natural start.

Question: Can anyone help me decipher the label on the box? (photo below) I'm not sure if there is a name for this model beyond "708" and would also like to know which last this is made on.

Dark brown chukkas or even cordovan may be next on the horizon!

 

[Zapasman]

Cool, what year are yours from?]

Around 2009 I bought the Cognac and the Rubi at the shop (and their respective belts).

 

[Zapasman]

I thought I'd dip my toes into the world of chukka boots, and picked up a pair of lightly used Carmina black chukkas. These are also my first shoes from Carmina, and I must say they are very nice!

Still trying to figure out what to pair these with, but I guess jeans are a natural start.

Question: Can anyone help me decipher the label on the box? (photo below) I'm not sure if there is a name for this model beyond "708" and would also like to know which last this is made on.


Dark brown chukkas or even cordovan may be next on the horizon!

Filadelfia last (Philadelphia).
Talla (size 9 uk).
Black (negro) calf (veu-vocalou...name from the french tannery).
That is easy for me.
Really nice Oshare.

 

[Oshare]

Filadelfia last (Philadelphia).
Talla (size 9 uk).
Black (negro) calf (veu-vocalou...name from the french tannery).
That is easy for me.
Really nice Oshare.

Thank you for the information. My first impression of these boots is very favorable.

I hadn't heard of the Philadelphia last. It is pictured on their website page which describes their lasts but there is no information, and a Google search doesn't really find anything useful.

I have wide feet and these boots are rather snug, but don't seem painfully so. Perhaps next time I'll look for something built on the Rain last which may give a little extra width.

 

[jet-stream]

Carmina has been in the market with shell for many years. I think I have a much older version of cognac. Love the boot.

Cool, what year are yours from? My cognac aren’t that old, 2014. But they still look really good.
View attachment 961820

Around 2009 I bought the Cognac and the Rubi at the shop (and their respective belts).

Wore another maker today, but took the opportunity to do a shell color comparison.
From 12 o’clock and going clockwise:
Carmina cognac shell, circa 2014
Carmina cognac shell, 2016-2017 (redder, similar to Horween #4)
AE truffle shell, circa 2014/15 (olive undertones)
Carmina cognac shell, circa 2013

12 o’clock and 9 o’clock are from the same color family, but obviously the 12 o’clock is darker. The differences are starker in full light; the variations are somewhat subtle in flat light. The fun of shell...

Photo notes: taken outdoors in indirect light. Vibrance and contrast boosted as OOC image was a bit flat; this is a pretty good representation of the colors IRL.

 

[stephenaf2003]

Wore another maker today, but took the opportunity to do a shell color comparison.
From 12 o’clock and going clockwise:
Carmina cognac shell, circa 2014
Carmina cognac shell, 2016-2017 (redder, similar to Horween #4)
AE truffle shell, circa 2014/15 (olive undertones)
Carmina cognac shell, circa 2013

12 o’clock and 9 o’clock are from the same color family, but obviously the 12 o’clock is darker. The differences are starker in full light; the variations are somewhat subtle in flat light. The fun of shell...

View attachment 962119
Photo notes: taken outdoors in indirect light. Vibrance and contrast boosted as OOC image was a bit flat; this is a pretty good representation of the colors IRL.

Wow, that is so awesome thanks for that. Man I love shell!

 

[peppercorn78]

I have to say, Isaiah (hope I spelled it right) at the NYC store absolutely blew me away. His knowledge, service, and desire to get people in the RIGHT shoe was above and beyond. Mrs. couldn't be happier with her new acquisition--even if she got mad that I violated our "no gifts on the anniversary" agreement. Like I'm gonna let that happen.

If you're in the city for any reason, you owe it to yourself to stop by and see him. That kid has an extremely bright future ahead of him.

How long are u in town??!!

I thought I'd dip my toes into the world of chukka boots, and picked up a pair of lightly used Carmina black chukkas. These are also my first shoes from Carmina, and I must say they are very nice!

Still trying to figure out what to pair these with, but I guess jeans are a natural start.

Question: Can anyone help me decipher the label on the box? (photo below) I'm not sure if there is a name for this model beyond "708" and would also like to know which last this is made on.

View attachment 961937

View attachment 961938
View attachment 961939


Dark brown chukkas or even cordovan may be next on the horizon!

Awesome boots. Great trees, too! Where did you get them?

 

[armedferret]

How long are u in town??!!?

Left wednesday. Posted in the ae thread a bunch...hit Raclette, Jean-Georges, and others.

 

[Oshare]

Awesome boots. Great trees, too! Where did you get them?

Thanks. The boots are apparently a special model for Trading Post, Carmina’s distributor in Japan.

Every once in a while I stop by their boutique in Ginza in Tokyo but to be honest I had always paid more attention to thei C&J selection. Their store markup is substantial, so the Carmina shoes are a bit too high for “dipping toes” on my budget.

But I’d been looking for calf leather chukkas and these popped up on a local Japanese auction site for reasonable cost and I snagged them. I’m impressed by the quality so would definitely consider adding more Carmina shoes to my collection from now.

The trees are just cedar trees I ordered off Amazon. Probably made in China. Nothing special but they do the job.

 

[othertravel]

Thank you for the information. My first impression of these boots is very favorable.

I hadn't heard of the Philadelphia last. It is pictured on their website page which describes their lasts but there is no information, and a Google search doesn't really find anything useful.

I have wide feet and these boots are rather snug, but don't seem painfully so. Perhaps next time I'll look for something built on the Rain last which may give a little extra width.

Philadelphia last is a low-instep last similar to Simpson, but with an Almond toe. I have a pair in that last and it's great.

 

[jet-stream]

Philadelphia last is a low-instep last similar to Simpson, but with an Almond toe. I have a pair in that last and it's great.

Interesting - any idea how it compares to Alcudia?

 

[othertravel]

Interesting - any idea how it compares to Alcudia?

It has a lower volume in the toe box than Alcudia.

 

[WilYa]

To those who are lucky enough, lots of UK7.5 added to outlet