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I really like the Strand and have three. Also like the 5th Avenue cap toe Oxford. They look nice, hold up well and are easily recrafted.I went to AE quite a few times to just look for beater, though even on discount (<300) still can’t see myself wearing them except maybe the Longwings.
Any thoughts on where Carmina stands vs Meermin/Vass/CJ?
All very true. Does everyone consider AE to be ugly? Granted all their models don't work for everyone but they are still aesthetically pleasing to me at least.At a certain point, it's less about differences in quality and more about design. The exception on your list is Vass, since they're handwelted. But sometimes people get into this stuff about plastic vs leather heel stiffeners, fiberboard vs. leather stacked heels, etc. And while I think some of those things can be important on the margins, the biggest factor between all these lines above Meermin is just how the shoe looks -- like, in terms of style. As your budget opens, you get more options. By any reasonable measure, all these brands above Meermin will last years and years and years. It's just whether you want to wear them for that long. If they're ugly shoes, who cares if they can be recrafted?
IMO, that's why it's kind of pointless to nitpick rankings above Meermin. At some point it's about aesthetics, which is very subjective.
All very true. Does everyone consider AE to be ugly? Granted all their models don't work for everyone but they are still aesthetically pleasing to me at least.
I really like the Strand and have three. Also like the 5th Avenue cap toe Oxford. They look nice, hold up well and are easily recrafted.
All very true. Does everyone consider AE to be ugly? Granted all their models don't work for everyone but they are still aesthetically pleasing to me at least.