Good review! I’m a Carmina fan but above all, Suede shoes are my favorite type of shoes. I did an unboxing of a Carmina Suede Double Monk on the Rain last. But the Snuff is on my short list too.
@Israel ‘lasagne’ Adesanya Just saw your comment, sorry for the late reply! The only other pair I've gotten that were close to this level in price were some Allen Edmonds' Park Avenues in oxblood. I've never had suede before, but I really love the look of these Carminas and I think they go great with navy blue pants. The overall build of the Carmina shoes feels sturdier and more robust. They're also wide enough to be comfortable. The outsole is way nicer. I also notice I stand a little taller in these Carmina shoes because of the heel cushion and I like that. I would absolutely recommend, just be careful with the UK sizing. I'm a 12 to 13 in US sizing and I bought the 11.5 for Carmina and they fit very well. The belt I got was a little too small for me though. I'm going to try and exchange it when this coronavirus nightmare blows over.
Great review Kirby. I purchased these very shoes 2 months ago online from Carmina. They were on sale in their "outlet". They really are beautifully made, gorgeous shoes.
Nice review on Carmina. Often hear the same about the sizing information between US sizes and UK sizes (i.e. Going down a 1/2 size from US sizing). Have experienced that the sizing really depends on the brand and the last. For instance, the Inca last UK sizing fits better a full size down from the US size, and the Simpson last runs more narrow so the UK sizing is a 1/2 size down from the US sizing. Find the Crockett and Jones UK sizing is usually a full size down from US sizing and Edward Green is a 1/2 size down. Keep up the great work!
I got a pair of polo suede chukkas from Carmina. It's one of my most worn pairs. I went a full size down from my typical AE size, and they fit great. If anyone's interested, there're lots of threads out there for people to compare last sizes and fits.
Thanks Kirby. I was told in store at their NYC location to go a full size down from the US sizing. Not sure which is right... The lasts are sleeker to boot, so it would seem your recommendation would be more size appropriate. Especially for wider foot persons like myself, a half size down seems right. Thought I'd mention since a lot of US purchasers will likely buy online.
A Carmina dark brown suede in the rain last is very appealing, I need to check out their nyc boutique. Will the suede match well I hope? In the shoes in the video one shoe appears almost two-tone. Thank you Kirby again for a great video. I love this series.
Great video, very informative. I was surprised to hear that suede shoes are easy to take care of. I had the impression that suede shoes collect dirt easily (kinda like velcro!). Would you say they're inherently more casual than leather shoes? Thanks!
Kirby, love your videos and carmina shoes. could you please look into making review of carmina shell cordovan (wholecut maybe)? and can please you address high instep issues with all shoes? which MTO or RTW are suited better for high instep? Thanks again!
Victor Kononenko We have already filmed the review on the Cordovan wholecut! Should be coming out soon. And I’ll try to reference instep issues. I have the same. Difficult to say without wearing the shoes, though, but it is something we can ask the brands.
@@kirbyallison Thank you, Kirby! Looking forward to it! P.S. instep - I had the worst time with AE Liverpool chelsea boot. Look great but the instep (and a bit narrow) was killing me. Tried different 12D and 11.5 E. there were no 12E. I ended up with 12D and brought them to a local cobbler for stretching. Instep is still pretty tight though - hope I will break them in
@@victorkonon Yeah, Liverpool and Cornwallis are low and tight for sure! For me, AE Liverpool fit great in my go to 10D, because I have a lower instep and a std to narrow width. I am good with AE Park Ave, size 10D, 65 last and tongue pad on my left. I am very concerned with the high instep of the Carmina and going one size down to 9UK. I think I need to start with Inca or Simpson if I want to stay with 9UK/10US with Carmina. You should have an easy time with the Carmina, Rain or Forest anything, good luck!
I think Inca or Simpson for low(er) instep. I wear a 10 US AE Park Avenue and have a very difficult time simply going to a 9UK/10US with any of the 'Spanish' Oxfords. I wish they all made a flatter oxford...
Hi Kirby. I just watched your collaboration video with Jason Dornstar. That was really awesome! I hope you do another with him and one of your several dozen shoes. I thought he got a nice glacage very quickly. I noted he was using a different set of products from his normal mix, clearly for that video as he does not normally use MDO line products. What were all the goodies you brought him?
B Smith Yes! It was a great collab. He shined a pair of my G&G’s Hayes, I believe, in Vintage Rioja. We have some more videos coming out, including another ASMR my crew filmed of him.
I need some advice. I have recently begun building a shoe wardrobe. I currently have a black cap toe oxford. A dark brown plain toe oxford. A light brown full-brogue (wing tip) and a pair of burgundt double monks and a pair of burgundy chukkas. What would you recommend next? I was thinking of a pair of classic loafers. Would these carminas you are reviewing be a good choice?
Nice video, now I want a pair. I have several pairs of suede shoes from Shipton & Heneage that I absolutely love. Can you please do a review on their shoes? No one else has... Love your channel, Rob Newport Beach, Ca
suede is probably the only material i wouldn't have PUNCHED captoe made in, because it doesn't bring out and highlight the shape beautifuly. Punched captoe is definitely best with leather and a mirror shine
Hi Kirby, I’ve been considering buying a pair of suede shoes to cover business casual to casual (denim). My concern is that suede oxfords, such as these, might look too formal for denim. This may be a lack of confidence and experience on my part. I would be curious to know more about your thoughts on how to pair dress shoes with denim. Thanks for the great content!
TravisL001 If I may offer an opinion, I think suede generally puts great other denim, and this color would go very nicely with medium blue denim. My sense is that you should avoid very dark denim with this shade of brown, but overall suede works with denim in formality.
Just a review. We don’t have any sponsorships... but if any of these makers wanted to pay us, we’d gladly take the money because we do not review people we couldn’t recommend.
I do not get the impression that they are fully-lasted. They are essentially split-toe shoe trees with a decorative leather "Carmina" branding detail on the base. Nice, but probably not worth the $125. You could get the same thing, effectively, from our $34.95 Ultra Shoe Trees.
Do you have the non-brass bristle suede brush and travel shoe horns back in stock? Got a pair of the carmina dark brown suede wholecut oxfords in rain last but lack the brush
Chris Vince Should be. I’ll check tomorrow. I know for certain we have travel shoe horns... and I believe I saw the boar brushes. Are you on our US site?
Kirby Allison Yes im on the US site. I see the boar bristle suede brush. Your welt brush by la cordonnerie and the short length mortimer shoehorn + abbeyhorn flat 7in shoehorns are out of stock. Would like to purchase these pieces
axim01 Haha. Did I not say it enough? Carmina doesn’t have “names” for their shoes... so the only way to specify which shoe we are talking about is to reference the model number.
