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

[jet-stream]

Hi all - apologies for the re-post, but wanted to make the info below easily accessible.

Carmina has offered to exchange the cognac shell monks below for bourbon (much like the ones @blue collar posted a few days ago). May I solicit thoughts from the group? I kinda like the idea of a medium brown and like the cognac color; I'm not sure if the bourbon will be too light for my preference. Would these darken over time like natural shell? There is a pretty big difference between the bourbon shell that @blue collar posted here and the (non-Carmina) that @peppercorn78 posted in the shell thread ...

Hello all - at the risk of being that guy, I'd like to ask for your input on a pair I just got. Background is that I have one other pair of carminas - shell jumpers in the oscar last - and they are immaculate.
I recently ordered a pair of double monkstraps in cognac cordovan. These are in the Inca - I took an educated gamble on the last bit it worked out - the shoes actually fit very well.
However, the finishing of the shoes leaves a bit to be desired. The coloring is inconsistent, even within panels - it looks like the color was brushed on rather than dyed. There are a couple of smaller issues (tiny divot in left toe cap, glue or excess dye along seams), but the finish color is what makes me pause.

The light/dark lines shown in the third and fourth photos are not shadows; there is an abrupt contrast in the shell on the strap piece (?) of both shoes.

Here's where I'd like some sage advice:
1. Can the color be evened out with cordovan creme? If so, what color/brand?
2. Is this level of finishing typical of carmina? A search on SF suggests this may be the case but is inconclusive.
3. Have any of y'all been in a similar situation, and if so what did you do? Were you ultimately happy with the decision? I'm mostly windering if I will regret it if I keep them.

I'm leaning toward keeping them - I got them from carmina for a spectacular price - but the finishing of the shoes makes me think the price was closer to correct than I initially thought.

Many thanks!

 

[clarksdb]



Where from?!?

EDIT: wait, these from Leatherfoot?:

http://www.leatherfoot.com/simpson-last/dp/5536

Digging the broguing with no pinking. Not digging the fact that they will cost me 30% more than a pair from Skoak...

Yup, from Leatherfoot. Skoak had the same model in Rain earlier but not anymore which would have cost me much less too!

 

[peppercorn78]



Hi all - apologies for the re-post, but wanted to make the info below easily accessible.

Carmina has offered to exchange the cognac shell monks below for bourbon (much like the ones @blue collar posted a few days ago). May I solicit thoughts from the group? I kinda like the idea of a medium brown and like the cognac color; I'm not sure if the bourbon will be too light for my preference. Would these darken over time like natural shell? There is a pretty big difference between the bourbon shell that @blue collar posted here and the (non-Carmina) that @peppercorn78 posted in the shell thread ...

Bourbon is hard to nail down. It looks very different in different lighting conditions. Here are the same boots in direct sunlight:

Spoiler: warning non-Carmina

.

Here's natural, whiskey, bourbon, cognac all together:

 

[CMT1]

Hello all, longtime lurker / first time poster in the Carmina realm. I just received my bourbon shell jumper boots and absolutely love them.

I didn't love the buying experience, and I am still half-assedly tying to recover the import tax that I was repeatedly assured was packaged into my overall cost by ordering from their US site, but the boots themselves are gorgeous to the point where I started chuckling when I pulled them out for the first time. I drummed my fingers for months over these and they are exactly what I hoped they would be.

They even fit perfectly - A 10K in the Oscar Last feels like this boot was made for my feet.

Really looking forward to seeing their color evolve over time.

 

[jet-stream]



Bourbon is hard to nail down. It looks very different in different lighting conditions. Here are the same boots in direct sunlight:

Spoiler: warning non-Carmina

.

Here's natural, whiskey, bourbon, cognac all together:

Thanks pep! Has the bourbon changed in color over time? If so, lighter or darker?

I like both colors but, while I have a couple of pairs in the bourbon color range, the cognac would be unique in my collection. That said, the cognac finishing issues bug me ...

 

[Betelgeuse]



Hello all, longtime lurker / first time poster in the Carmina realm. I just received my bourbon shell jumper boots and absolutely love them.

I didn't love the buying experience, and I am still half-assedly tying to recover the import tax that I was repeatedly assured was packaged into my overall cost by ordering from their US site, but the boots themselves are gorgeous to the point where I started chuckling when I pulled them out for the first time. I drummed my fingers for months over these and they are exactly what I hoped they would be.

They even fit perfectly - A 10K in the Oscar Last feels like this boot was made for my feet.

Spoiler

Really looking forward to seeing their color evolve over time.

Fantastic boots and pics! Enjoy!

 

[peppercorn78]



Thanks pep! Has the bourbon changed in color over time? If so, lighter or darker?

I like both colors but, while I have a couple of pairs in the bourbon color range, the cognac would be unique in my collection. That said, the cognac finishing issues bug me ...

I'm sure they will eventually, but I've only had them for a few months. The natural has changed radically, from a yellowish beige to a burnt orange.

I agree cognac is a beautiful color. It's like a redder color 4. Mine is a little streaky too, but it doesn't bother me.

 

[jet-stream]

Great pickup @CMT1! I have the same pair (though in E width) and love them:

Mine are lighter than other copies I have seen (though not quite as light IRL as in this photo), hence my questions above ...

 

[insy]

Sorry if it's the wrong place to ask but how do you guys keep your Shell so nice? I mean I did brush mine for 15-20 mins, I also tried applying Cordovan Creme but I just cannot get out those whitish lines, neither the black points (rainy days).

What mostly happens when I brush, the color becomes darker, nothing else

 

[WilYa]

Sorry if it's the wrong place to ask but how do you guys keep your Shell so nice? I mean I did brush mine for 15-20 mins, I also tried applying Cordovan Creme but I just cannot get out those whitish lines, neither the black points (rainy days).

What mostly happens when I brush, the color becomes darker, nothing else

I think deerbone polishing could get rid of the white and coloured wax may do the black.

 

[CMT1]



Fantastic boots and pics! Enjoy!

Thank you!

Great pickup @CMT1! I have the same pair (though in E width) and love them:

Spoiler

Mine are lighter than other copies I have seen (though not quite as light IRL as in this photo), hence my questions above ...

Thank you! Yours look great. I can't get enough of them. I want to wear them every day. They are ...precious to me. < / Isildur >

I also tried applying Cordovan Creme but I just cannot get out those whitish lines, neither the black points (rainy days).

Spoiler

What mostly happens when I brush, the color becomes darker, nothing else

Deer bone. Without a doubt. The way I understand it is the oils from the bone smooths out the rolls somewhat as it nutrifies the white marks and restores the color back to the area. I've always followed the procedure in the below video for shell recon: For example, before the deer bone (Alden/J Crew PCT):

After one pass with the bone:

Caveat 1: You have to be careful not to scratch the shell with the bone, but this just means taking it slow. Caveat 2: The rolls come right back after the first wear, at least in my experience.

 

[peppercorn78]



Sorry if it's the wrong place to ask but how do you guys keep your Shell so nice? I mean I did brush mine for 15-20 mins, I also tried applying Cordovan Creme but I just cannot get out those whitish lines, neither the black points (rainy days). What mostly happens when I brush, the color becomes darker, nothing else

Spoiler

I dunno, looks fine to me. I'm of the opinion that she'll is supposed to look like this. That's why I don't prefer it on super dressy shoes. I embrace the rolls and white creases, etc.

 

[wigglr]

Saphir Reno?

 

[clarksdb]

Trying these new puppies out at home. Is this much gap considered okay and normal for RTW shoes? They feel comfortable. How much will they give over time to perhaps reduce the lacing gap?

 

[New Shoes1]

^^ Those are too narrow for you. You need a wider last; try Rain.