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

[tdes81]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for you kind compliments.

The shoes were actually from @Skoaktiebolaget in 2014 I believe.

The trousers are from the now defunct Americana brand Bill's Khakis. They are cotton flannels that are soft, thick and warm. Imagine your favorite winter blanket cut into trousers and wrapped around your bottom half.

Sadly, the brand is no more...

Such a pity, as they were one of my favs.

Thanks.

I have a couple pairs of Bill's Khaki's myself. It's really a shame that they got bought out and it sounds like the firm that bought them out is doing a great job of ruining the company (I don't think they're defunct yet but I've heard a lot of bad things). There goes yet another quality American brand.

 

[Watchman1]

I have a couple pairs of Bill's Khaki's myself. It's really a shame that they got bought out and it sounds like the firm that bought them out is doing a great job of ruining the company (I don't think they're defunct yet but I've heard a lot of bad things). There goes yet another quality American brand.

A lot of the pants I wear are Bill's indeed.

Here is an extensive and descriptive thread regarding the fall of the brand:

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?230016-End-of-Bills-Khakis

 

[Bakes11771]

I don't think that Bill's Khakis is gone. They were just acquired last month. Don't think a company would buy them just to shut them down. They were a pretty small operation with only 15 million in revenue per year and about 30 warehouse employees. Given their size, it doesn't seem like a company would acquire them because they are only interested in one part of the business, and planning to shutter the rest. Usually with these types of deals they want to optimize operations, increase profitability, and then IPO or sell to strategic buyer.

That said, they might not be the same Bill's that you knew and loved. Same thing happened to J. Crew, and now they don't have as many sales and their quality is said to have diminished.



Edit:

A lot of the pants I wear are Bill's indeed.

Here is an extensive and descriptive thread regarding the fall of the brand:

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?230016-End-of-Bills-Khakis

Good info. What I read here is that the company bought the name and is moving operations to a totally different state, and not keeping hardly, if any of the employees.

So, while one could say that Bill's Khakis is gone, another could say that they aren't, and in a way both would be correct.

 

[halfnhalfnhalf]

Navy shell medallion wholecuts today:

 

[Watchman1]

Navy shell medallion wholecuts today:

Excellent look all around.

In all my time in Fora World I have not saw the medallion on the whole cut in cordovan. Very nice!

I think I like these more than the stock offering.

Where from if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks.

 

[halfnhalfnhalf]

Quote:
Thanks. These were a limited run by ToBox in Philadelphia.

 

[peppercorn78]

Just took delivery of an awesome Chelsea boot GMTO courtesy of our friend Steve at Gentleman's Footwear. Very happy with the product and service!

 

[dresstokill]

Nice, is that Rain?

 

[Darkside]

GMTO from Skoak. 10051 in Chocolate Suede; Rain Last; Tomir sole. Between these and my calf Chelseas, I'm not sure I need any other brown dress shoes.

 

[jamie411]

Those suede oxfords turned out nice. I was tempted to join in that GMTO but I have the same shoe (w medallion) in brown calf. Still hoping to get a dark brown suede shoe or boot though...

 

[PSNY]

I cannot seem to find these anywhere. Are they still available, or must they be ordered MTO? The shoes pictured in the first two pictures are on the forest last, the 3rd being the UETAM last. Are there any differences between the two?

 

[bamgrinus]

I cannot seem to find these anywhere. Are they still available, or must they be ordered MTO? The shoes pictured in the first two pictures are on the forest last, the 3rd being the UETAM last. Are there any differences between the two?

Pretty sure the Forest model has a sewn apron on it and a split toe, while the Uetam just has moc stitching and no split toe seam. Beyond the fit being very different...Uetam is supposed to fit pretty similarly to Simpson, I believe, which is one of the narrowest Carmina lasts. Forest is pretty much a medium width last. I see that Gentlemen's Footwear has the Uetam model in burgundy calf (actually, maybe a slightly different one, since it seems to be braided) while The Armoury has several models of the Uetam loafer in suede. For those exact makeups you might have to order MTO or organize a GMTO.

 

[tkebh979]

I cannot seem to find these anywhere. Are they still available, or must they be ordered MTO? The shoes pictured in the first two pictures are on the forest last, the 3rd being the UETAM last. Are there any differences between the two?

Quick check suggests that Oak Room out of Taiwan has some tassle loafers... http://www.oakroom.com.tw/artisan/carmina

No experience working with them though, though I do recall them pubbing a sale pretty heavily a few months back. Anyone with experience working with them?

 

[peppercorn78]



Nice, is that Rain?

Yes, Rain "double wide" (referencing my favorite jazz band).

 

[Bakes11771]

I cannot seem to find these anywhere. Are they still available, or must they be ordered MTO? The shoes pictured in the first two pictures are on the forest last, the 3rd being the UETAM last. Are there any differences between the two?

I believe these first two are from Unipair in South Korea.