Epaulet x Carmina MTO

[rmspawn]



My preferences:

Shell Color: Dark Cognac
Style: Captoe (no preference between captoe and punch captoe)
Outsole: No Preference
Eyelets: Speed hooks
Last: Robert
Welt: Flat

+1

Everything the same but specifically: Straight tip and medium brown edge trim.

 

[mymil]

I can verify with certainty that the eyelets on my Carmina boots are hidden metal. They are smooth and match the color of the interior lining exceptionally well.

 

[nbernie]

Useful description of Carmina lasts by Ethan over at The Armoury thread.


The Carmina lasts are all width specific - from my experience, you cannot get a narrow last made wide, nor a wide last made narrow. Rather they have lasts that are narrow or wide, with different shapes and toe boxes per last. What we currently carry are the following;

Simpson - a narrow last with a chisel toe. Reasonably extended in the toe box, and a reasonably narrow waist. E width.
Alcudia - much like the Simpson, but with more of an Almond Toe. E width.
Robert - A rounded Almond toe, E width. Officially it is the same width as the Simspon, but the extra room at the toe tends to make it more comfortable for wider feet.
Inca - a pointed toe, on our widest last, with a fairly wide waist. The most comfortable last we have for wide and flat feet. EE width.
Rain - Much like the Inca, but with a chisel toe. EE width.
Forest - a popular last in Europe, it is a standard width with a soft round toe, quite low in the instep, so high insteps can feel a little pinched in this last. E width.
Uetam - a new last for us in a loafer, it feels very similar to the Forest, if a shade narrower. E width.

 

[Epaulet]

Hey guys,

This is really exciting - all the makeups that you're discussing sound fantastic! Couple of notes from my side:

1. Balmoral Boot in cordovan is going to run about $1K, give or take. It all depends on the sole, details, construction, but figure it's going to be about there. We'll price these as fairly as we can, and I'll find some freebees to give the customers who participate in the special makeup projects. .
And BTW - a cordo Bal boot is going to be so freaking cool it hurts!

2. The great thing with Carmina is that they can give very concrete delivery dates. If they have the Cordovan in stock, then we can get a pretty firm delivery window on it. If it can't be made for the Spring, then I'll be able to give you a reasonable window for the Fall before you plunk down any money.

3. The only Cordovan colors currently available to order are:

Saddle: like our current Salinger double monk
Chestnut: like our current Fitzgerald shortwing
Burgundy: similar to Alden Color 8, but slightly less reddish. Darker than Chestnut
Navy
Loden Green
Black
Deep Red

Whiskey, Ravello, and Cigar are all exclusive to Alden. The colors are variable, and it's entirely possible that a run of Chestnut could be more reddish and Ravello-like, but it's impossible to tell. But the color differences that you're seeing in example photos above are mostly due to poor color correction in studio photography. As someone who shoots a LOT of shell cordovan, I can tell you that it's a pain ********** to get the color fidelity correct. That's why I've begun shooting footwear both in studio and in outdoor muted light.

4. Some lasts, but not all can be made in wides and/or narrows. Depending on which last you choose, I can advise on what sizing is possible.

5. We should be able to sell and deliver both lasted shoe trees and matching belts with the shoes for any customers who want them with their special makeup shoes.

Thanks!
Mike

 

[CHRK33]



Hey guys,
This is really exciting - all the makeups that you're discussing sound fantastic! Couple of notes from my side:
1. Balmoral Boot in cordovan is going to run about $1K, give or take. It all depends on the sole, details, construction, but figure it's going to be about there. We'll price these as fairly as we can, and I'll find some freebees to give the customers who participate in the special makeup projects. .
And BTW - a cordo Bal boot is going to be so freaking cool it hurts!
2. The great thing with Carmina is that they can give very concrete delivery dates. If they have the Cordovan in stock, then we can get a pretty firm delivery window on it. If it can't be made for the Spring, then I'll be able to give you a reasonable window for the Fall before you plunk down any money.
3. The only Cordovan colors currently available to order are:
Saddle: like our current Salinger double monk
Chestnut: like our current Fitzgerald shortwing
Burgundy: similar to Alden Color 8, but slightly less reddish. Darker than Chestnut
Navy
Loden Green
Black
Deep Red
Whiskey, Ravello, and Cigar are all exclusive to Alden. The colors are variable, and it's entirely possible that a run of Chestnut could be more reddish and Ravello-like, but it's impossible to tell. But the color differences that you're seeing in example photos above are mostly due to poor color correction in studio photography. As someone who shoots a LOT of shell cordovan, I can tell you that it's a pain ********** to get the color fidelity correct. That's why I've begun shooting footwear both in studio and in outdoor muted light.
4. Some lasts, but not all can be made in wides and/or narrows. Depending on which last you choose, I can advise on what sizing is possible.
5. We should be able to sell and deliver both lasted shoe trees and matching belts with the shoes for any customers who want them with their special makeup shoes.
Thanks!
Mike

Mike,

Could you tell us what suede or oiled nubuck/chamois options there are?

Thanks in advance,
George

 

[NAMOR]

Thanks for the heads up. Are the cordovan shells all from Horween? Including the more coLorful varieties?

 

[makewayhomer]

Mike I'm particularly curious about deep red. is that like Horween #6? #4? Something else?

 

[Epaulet]



Thanks for the heads up. Are the cordovan shells all from Horween? Including the more coLorful varieties?

Absolutely, all of the Shell Cordovan is from Horween.

Mike I'm particularly curious about deep red. is that like Horween #6? #4? Something else?

It's a dark, deep cherry color. Not a burgundy at all - it's definitely bold.

Yuketen actually produces shoes in the more colorful horween varieties. Here's some examples:

Loden Shell


Deep Red

 

[makewayhomer]

got it. I know AE used to sell "Black Cherry" Horween shell and I wonder if this is the same color. I think it could be. I can see why they switched to burgundy. This deeper red is more striking and eye catching (and to me, more awesome) but the standard burgundy is more appropriate as an everyday, stoic, business shoe. it's much more of a lowest common denominator that would appeal to the wide net of the AE customer base

 

[NAMOR]

Thanks Mike! As long as the boot stays in the $1k area, im in. For perspective, a mto G&G shell boot costs close to $2k and a Rider boot is $1200, if you can get it in your size. For those interested in the boot, I'm open to either the burgundy or chestnut shell colors.

 

[PorterInjax]



Thanks Mike! As long as the boot stays in the $1k area, im in. For perspective, a mto G&G shell boot costs close to $2k and a Rider boot is $1200, if you can get it in your size. For those interested in the boot, I'm open to either the burgundy or chestnut shell colors.

The two colors I would be happy with also. Now, can we find enough people that want to drop $1k?

 

[rmspawn]

The price seems okay to me, but you've lost me with the color options. I'll keep checking in to see if anything changes with the shell availability.

 

[NAMOR]

Lost?

 

[kungapa]

How about the sole and the welt? With a sleek boot like above perhaps a 360 split/reverse welt with very lightly stained sole edges?

 

[makewayhomer]

I think Navy shell would be an awesome choice for a bal boot. the color is a good fit for the formality of a bal, as it will look great at night and with dark colors. and this makeup would be something would be something you would never ever find anywhere else, which I think it part of the appeal of a MTO: getting something otherwise difficult to obtain