The Shell Cordovan, non-Alden Shoe and Boot Thread

[Thrift Couture]

Grant Stone Cognac, and "Avocado" (green) shell cordovan PTB. The green pair was dubbed "Avocado" by one of my favourite Allen Edmonds SAs in Paramus.

 

[BagleyBrown]

Grant Stone Cognac, and "Avocado" (green) shell cordovan PTB. The green pair was dubbed "Avocado" by one of my favourite Allen Edmonds SAs in Paramus.
View attachment 1014594

Fantastic shells both!

 

[madhat]

Carmina natural Shell real world test.

I went on vacation to Mexico for 7 days, wife demanded carry on only, pack lite, no shoe trees, no shoe nonsense (her term), so I had very limited options. Managed to jam in a water shoe for the pool time and that was it. I had to pick a shoe that I could wear most of the time, decided it had to be a Dainite sole, a storm welt, a neutral color match, and comfortable, that is the Carmina GMTO Frankenstitch natural shells. Remember only option was to wear the shoes for the trip, no maintenance options per the boss.

Here they are out of the box when new.

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Here they are mid week (remember worn everyday).

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Here they are on my shoe bench after the trip.

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Here they are after I cleaned them with a damp cloth and brushed them down.

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We went on several day tours, miles of walking some days, standing for hours on end, as well as worn for up to 18 hours a few days.

Yes I could have brought a pair of sneakers, but I find my Carmina shoes very comfortable and all I can say is my feet were happy the whole trip.

I had no issue with shell in the Mexico temps @ 90+, no issue with shell in general the shoes still look great after a hard week with no maintenance at all. One day it rained like crazy and shoes got wet and some mud on them, feet were dry no issues. This is also natural shell probably the easiest to stain I think they held up fantastic.

You can see some darkness at the base of the rolls, this does not seem to be dirt but just a pantena the shell has taken on with all the flexing.

I have no issues with how shell holds up in any weather. I have seen posts avoid wearing shell in rain, avoid this or that, I bought my shoes to wear plus enjoy, and they performed without issue and still look great.

Do they look more worn than when new, yes they do, and that's the point as I wore them like crazy and enjoyed every minute of it.

It pleases me you did this. They look good.

Grant Stone Cognac, and "Avocado" (green) shell cordovan PTB. The green pair was dubbed "Avocado" by one of my favourite Allen Edmonds SAs in Paramus.
View attachment 1014594

Yum.

 

[Thrift Couture]

Fantastic shells both!

Thank you Sir!

 

[007Bond]

I would've left the shoes in the hotel and gone swimming...and Im a huge shoe guy =)

Generally we vacation to see new things/places, eat new food, see the local land and towns. Pool we can do that in the backyard anytime no need to go to Mexico for a pool. Now that water hole in the pic yea that's something we don't have anywhere in NJ.

Looking good, and they held up great. Glad you enjoyed your holiday and the shoes!

Thanks.

It pleases me you did this. They look good.

Yum.

Thanks for the thumbs up.

 

[AEShoeMan]

More shell PTBs -- Allen Edmonds Leeds for me today

 

[Thrift Couture]

More shell PTBs -- Allen Edmonds Leeds for me today
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Classic Cool! Well played Sir!

 

[jet-stream]

AE Strands in natural today ...

 

[kilowatts]

More shell PTBs -- Allen Edmonds Leeds for me today
View attachment 1014814

Hi Guys:

I don't know what it is about North American PTBS but they grab me every time. Shells are of course, the icing on the cake and brown AE shells are one of the best. The rest of the world doesn't seem to pull it off the same way, Spanish, English, Italian etc. although Grant Stone are very hard to beat.

kilowatts

 

[madhat]

Bring it on rain.

 

[AEShoeMan]

Allen Edmonds Strands outside and inside this morning.

 

[peppercorn78]

AE Strands in natural today ...
View attachment 1015113

Woo! Doth mine eyes behold green hopsack??

 

[peppercorn78]

Hi Guys:

I don't know what it is about North American PTBS but they grab me every time. Shells are of course, the icing on the cake and brown AE shells are one of the best. The rest of the world doesn't seem to pull it off the same way, Spanish, English, Italian etc. although Grant Stone are very hard to beat.

kilowatts

No love for Carmina? Too elegant?

 

[jet-stream]

Woo! Doth mine eyes behold green hopsack??

Yessir! @madhat liked them too...

 

[peppercorn78]

Yessir! @madhat liked them too...

Is that from the recent EP SW promo or from somewhere else? Either way, I’m always an advocate for green pants, so looking good!

Nice shoes too, lol