Double Monks AS Ramsey vs Carmina

[jbuffone]

I'm looking to buy a pair of dark brown double monks in the (CAD) $500-$600 range. I know I can wear them with worsted & flannel suits at the office though I'll likely stick to oxfords when I do that. I'll probably wear them with cotton or linen suits and whenever I wear odd jackets.

Anywho, I'm confident the Carmina's will fit me. The C&J 337 & 341 lasts fit mostly great. They're just a teeny tiny bit snug in width. Mark from the Armoury assures me that the inca last is a bit more generous so I think they'll fit fine. I have no idea about the Alfred Sargent fit.

How do these stack up in terms of quality of materials, construction and looks?

First three are Alfred Sargent, the other two are the Carminas

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I would go with Carmina all the way.

 

[jbuffone]

How come?

 

[Flartchy]

if you gonna wear monks please don't have a huge pot belly. For some reason when I see chubby dudes in monks it makes me feel nervous.

 

[wetnose]

I think the AS come in quite a bit higher than CAD 500 though. Isn't the asking tag GBP 450 ~ CAD 750?

 

[w.o.e.is.me.]

^^that's what i thought.
Carmina may be more in your range.
they both look good.

 

[jbuffone]

They're 385GBP if I remember correctly. Minus the VAT exemtion they'll come in at about 600 CAD. I'm rounding down. I shouldn't have mentioned price but I was afraid people wold start recomending Lobbs, or something else out of my price range for shoes that won't get a ton of wear.

 

[JohnnyCrockett]

Carmina last is infinitely nicer.

 

[JamesX]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

I would go with Carmina all the way.
+1 The Buckle Stance (if there is such a term) is nicer. The Best one is Chapel <3, but that is far outside the price range you asked about.

 

[Manton]

Carmina hands down.

 

[H2T]

I just paid a visit to the Bowen store in Paris. Bowen as we all know are made by AS. The quality of the shoes are comparable to Camina's in my humble opinion and are very attractive,y priced. It all depends of the design you like.

 

[Fantastic Mr Foxx]

Originally Posted by w.o.e.is.me.

(...)
Carmina may be more in your range.
they both look good.

+1. I like both, but I guess the Camina is more appealing, price-wise.

 

[Mfon]

They both look great, but I'll go with the Carmina's...I just got them and they're lovely....

 

[Jack2000]

1 vote for AS. I have shoes on the 99 last and it is a very elegant last.

 

[meister]

I scored a pair of double monk black Carminas and they are a beautiful pair of shoes. Mine are a EUR Carmina 10 and fit me like a snug UK10 rather than C&amp;J UK10 which is more generous. I am usually a USA10.5E or 11D more commonly (EUR44). I must say those AS are nice but I prefer no captoe on monks.