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

[jischwar]

Thank you! Both are Russian calf, from Bakers I believe.

Thanks! Sadly, this isn’t all of it, though it is most.

I got hit with the Carmina bug back in 2012, but sadly had to sell quite a few pairs as my foot shrunk a few years back

 

[h.mikhail.h]

Gentlemen, do any of you happen to have a few photos of shoes with Medallion 2?

 

[Patrick1053]

Gentlemen, do any of you happen to have a few photos of shoes with Medallion 2?View attachment 1560374

From back when the sun and a sidewalk still existed.

 

[h.mikhail.h]

From back when the sun and a sidewalk still existed.

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Thanks! Those look great! definitely big fan of the pointy medallion tips.

 

[rikod]

Wow, that´s why Carmina is so fantastic accomodating MTOs for shoe lovers (I wont compare to any other maker/country/region). Just check their evolution to fit the international market. So if Carmina is so closed minded go and figure the rest of the companies here. Seriously, your simplistic comment made me laugh..."unique character?"- Please, learn the history of Spain and you will see the social complexity and cultural diversity that coexist here.

Ya que tu eres Espanol, como yo, y mis hermanos y mi madre viven allI, te lo voy a decir en Espanol. “Unique character” quizas no es el vocablo correcto, lo que quise decir es que los Espanoles no le comen mierda a nadie, y a los exigentes y arrogantes mal educados los mandan a tomar por el culo..no importa cuanto estan pagando.

now really back to the shoes, I have 2 pairs of Carmina and they are beautiful by the way, I love them.. pero si me hubiera puesto de arrogante quizas me hubieran jodido

 

[H. E. Pennypacker]

los Espanoles no le comen mierda a nadie, y a los exigentes y arrogant es mal educados los mandan a tomar por el culo..no importa cuanto estan pagando.

Ando de metiche pero es cierto, se puede decir los Españoles son fríos y demasiado directos.

 

[elsalvatrucha]

All my experiences with Carmina have been perfect, including the two MTOs. I wonder how much of the QC issues might just be a classic example of a company that scale too fast without having proper controls and management team (as opposed to cultural). I have seen some of the same issues with Allbirds were some of the newer pairs were definitely smaller / had quality issues.

Anyways, for anyone thinking of Carmina shoes I would give them a five star review if anything just hoping they take market share from those elitist bastards at Alden.

 

[rikod]

Anyways, for anyone thinking of Carmina shoes I would give them a five star review if anything just hoping they take market share from those elitist bastards at Alden.

I love Alden 🥲

 

[NYCTechNerd]

Anyways, for anyone thinking of Carmina shoes I would give them a five star review if anything just hoping they take market share from those elitist bastards at Alden.

I love Alden 🥲

I like them both but I am 1 for 2 with each of them:
- Carmina sent me a beautiful pair of Dark Brown Repello Suede 531 PTB but also a Brown Pebble Calfskin 531 PTB with mismatched colors that was returned.
- Alden sent me a beautiful pair of Snuff Suede 9794 LWB and then a pair of Hummus Suede 9503 PTB with mismatched heels that should have been seconds.

My takeaway is none of them are perfect and in my experience this is how they rate from worst to best: Meermin < Allen Edmonds < Alden/Carmina (tied) < Grant Stone

 

[rikod]

Heels look bad, I guess I have been lucky through the years I don’t think I have ever received a bad pair of anything including 3 pairs of Carmina, a bunch of Alden, Vass, AE, and several English. Even with sizing I’m very lucky ( or standard). The only reason I have hated shoes is that I hate them in person after I receive them. I even love my Thursday boots they are perfect.

The ones I despised the most were a pair of Alfred Sargent double monks, I really discovered I dislike double monks with all my heart. I wear those monstrosities only once.. man they made me feel like an idiot so bad and conscious. I’m no stylish at alI.

 

[NYCTechNerd]

Heels look bad, I guess I have been lucky through the years I don’t think I have ever received a bad pair of anything including 3 pairs of Carmina, a bunch of Alden, Vass, AE, and several English. Even with sizing I’m very lucky ( or standard). The only reason I have hated shoes is that I hate them in person after I receive them. I even love my Thursday boots they are perfect.

The ones I despised the most were a pair of Alfred Sargent double monks, I really discovered I dislike double monks with all my heart. I wear those monstrosities only once.. man they made me feel like an idiot so bad and conscious. I’m no stylish at alI.

There is a much greater difference between how bad Meermin and AE are versus generally how good Alden and Carmina are when all things are considered. I have sent back at least 30 pairs of AE in the past 18 months because the QC was truly that terrible (as in more obvious than that Alden heel shown above).

 

[abkain]

My thoughts:
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Great selection! What last are the Chelsea boots on?

 

[DrGearTronic]

My thoughts:
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Beautiful shoes! Are those Viccel socks?

 

[jet-stream]

Great selection! What last are the Chelsea boots on?

Simpson. My favorite!

 

[jet-stream]

Beautiful shoes! Are those Viccel socks?

Many of them, yes. Some Panthrella and a few others mixed in.