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

[mp1472]

That split toe monk is interesting.

^^^

 

[pinkpanther]



...and we are thinking of doing this model in navy cordovan also. Curious to know if people would want open or closed lacing on this model. Please let us know what you think would look better.

I prefer closed lacing...but that shoe would be bad for my wallet...

 

[SuitedDx]



Late night at the office.

Breaking in first pair of carminas. I am smitten by them, though my creasing is just below the wingtip cap line running through the peak. I hope that is as far as it goes. These fit great but run longer than I would like in length.

What's the last?

 

[WiredandTired]

Rain last, probably the same model as the one unpaid just posted. Half size down was a bit cramped in the toes.

I'll live with it regardless, creasing isn't a huge deal until its literally on the toe.

 

[NAMOR]

^ you sized rain down 1/2? Not the full size? And still felt cramped?

 

[WiredandTired]



^ you sized rain down 1/2? Not the full size? And still felt cramped?

Typo, sized down full size at first. What I have now is sized down half.

 

[spicycho]

are those the shell 922's? I just got mine, going to see how they fit and if I will keep them. Needed to know my size in Rain for MTO's.

 

[NAMOR]

Let us know how you like them

 

[WiredandTired]



are those the shell 922's? I just got mine, going to see how they fit and if I will keep them. Needed to know my size in Rain for MTO's.

Indeed they are, light cognac shell. Crossing my fingers they work for you as well. I'm happy with the caramel color and it is my first really chiseled last shoe.

 

[Beatlegeuse]



Typo, sized down full size at first. What I have now is sized down half.

When you say you first sized down a full size for Rain, do you mean a full size compared to other Carmina lasts, or a full size down from your standard US size?

 

[WiredandTired]

Sized down 1 from standard US size as recommended by most retailers at the beginning. Width was okay when sizing down 1 but I was iffy on the toe space, I opted to go down half a size from US sizing for my next shoe.

From reading sizing threads, the toe box never really stretches, so I opted to be safe than sorry. It's YMMV. I could probably pull off 1 full size down for inca due to the rounded toe instead of the soft chisel toe of rain.

 

[Beatlegeuse]

Cool thanks for the info. I have narrow feet so it's always difficult to figure out my size with standard width shoes. I wear a narrow 12.5 and I can wear a 12 in some shoes depending on the last. I might try an 11UK on the Rain. I tried an 11.5UK on the Inca once before I knew any better, and that was definitely too big.

 

[WiredandTired]



Cool thanks for the info. I have narrow feet so it's always difficult to figure out my size with standard width shoes. I wear a narrow 12.5 and I can wear a 12 in some shoes depending on the last. I might try an 11UK on the Rain. I tried an 11.5UK on the Inca once before I knew any better, and that was definitely too big.

I would take my sizing with a grain of salt as I am a 8E, wide instead of your narrow. I was already nervous about sizing in rain.

If you don't already know, I would point you towards Simpson last. Leatherfoot in Canada seems to love this last. 80 percent of their carmina is in Simpson. This unfortunately disqualifies me from ordering from them. I am unsure what customs would look like if ordering carmina from Canada.

 

[spicycho]

Indeed they are, light cognac shell. Crossing my fingers they work for you as well. I'm happy with the caramel color and it is my first really chiseled last shoe.

Did you get them from farfetch? I had just bought my first pair of Carminas from that site about two weeks ago, the black captoe on the simpson last. They were a good fit so I went for the shell 922's since they were also on sale. Knowing customs fees were covered, the sale price made them too good to pass up. I think they are a good fit in 8UK, similar to my captoe with a bit more width. If I went with a 7.5 I think it would have been too tight. Both lasts seem friendly to my very high instep so I'll stick to those if I buy again. There is definitely some room in the toe one both lasts for me, but I don't think there will be any creasing on the toe either. Chisel lasted shoes are just like that. I don't have a brown shoe currently, only two black ones and an alden #8, so I think I will be hanging on to these. The color is very nice and should only improve with some wear.

 

[Beatlegeuse]



I would take my sizing with a grain of salt as I am a 8E, wide instead of your narrow. I was already nervous about sizing in rain.

If you don't already know, I would point you towards Simpson last. Leatherfoot in Canada seems to love this last. 80 percent of their carmina is in Simpson. This unfortunately disqualifies me from ordering from them. I am unsure what customs would look like if ordering carmina from Canada.

I actually have a pair of Carmina in the Armoury last from Skoak on the way to me right now, which is apparently even narrower than Simpson. So I'm gonna wait and see how those fit before I get anything else. I did see that Farfetch still has a pair of those cognac wingtips on sale in size 11UK, so I had been thinking about picking those up.