[adityagune]

Hi all,

I was looking to buy a new pair wholecut oxfords, preferably Goodyear welted. I will be using it for formal occasions (client meetings, business expos). This is the first time I am buying some good leather shoes, so I am slightly limited on budget. I had a few questions before I made a decision. I apologize in advance if these questions have been asked on the forum previously and it missed my attention.

1. Which brand would be better value for money at that price range: TLB Mallorca or Carmina?
2. Do mid-range brands such as those I mentioned in question 1 go on sale during the year (Christmas/New Year's)? I am not in a hurry, and I can wait for the price to come down for a pair of good-quality and long-lasting shoes.
3. If I had to choose between a new pair of mid-range oxfords (Carmina) vs a used pair of high-end ones (Edward Green), what will your advice be based on your experience?

I appreciate your comments, since I have little experience with quality shoes. Thank you all in advance.

Warm regards,
Adi

 

[Tiger]

Hi all,

I was looking to buy a new pair wholecut oxfords, preferably Goodyear welted. I will be using it for formal occasions (client meetings, business expos). This is the first time I am buying some good leather shoes, so I am slightly limited on budget. I had a few questions before I made a decision. I apologize in advance if these questions have been asked on the forum previously and it missed my attention.

1. Which brand would be better value for money at that price range: TLB Mallorca or Carmina?
2. Do mid-range brands such as those I mentioned in question 1 go on sale during the year (Christmas/New Year's)? I am not in a hurry, and I can wait for the price to come down for a pair of good-quality and long-lasting shoes.
3. If I had to choose between a new pair of mid-range oxfords (Carmina) vs a used pair of high-end ones (Edward Green), what will your advice be based on your experience?

I appreciate your comments, since I have little experience with quality shoes. Thank you all in advance.

Warm regards,
Adi

Welcome to our forums!

TLB Mallorca and Carmina are both very well-made shoes crafted in Spain. Both are excellent in most respects, although Carmina has more quality control complaints than TLB Mallorca, based on customer experience as posted on various websites. If that does not influence you, choose the brand that makes the shoe most likely to fit you best and that's the most aesthetically pleasing. I have been very happy with both brands.

Both these brands avoid typical sales; they usually include a free matching belt during the Christmas season instead of a price reduction. Carmina occasionally has a promotion where they do not charge an additional sum for customization.

Used shoes are like used cars - they can be in varying degrees of condition. Used Edward Greens at half off will still be more expensive than new Carminas and TLB Mallorcas. Based on your budgetary concerns, skip this option.

Hope that helped a bit!

 

[adityagune]

Thanks for the answer. That was very helpful!

 

[Flanderian]

Hi all,

I was looking to buy a new pair wholecut oxfords, preferably Goodyear welted. I will be using it for formal occasions (client meetings, business expos). This is the first time I am buying some good leather shoes, so I am slightly limited on budget. I had a few questions before I made a decision. I apologize in advance if these questions have been asked on the forum previously and it missed my attention.

1. Which brand would be better value for money at that price range: TLB Mallorca or Carmina?
2. Do mid-range brands such as those I mentioned in question 1 go on sale during the year (Christmas/New Year's)? I am not in a hurry, and I can wait for the price to come down for a pair of good-quality and long-lasting shoes.
3. If I had to choose between a new pair of mid-range oxfords (Carmina) vs a used pair of high-end ones (Edward Green), what will your advice be based on your experience?

I appreciate your comments, since I have little experience with quality shoes. Thank you all in advance.

Warm regards,
Adi

IMHO -

1. TLB Mallorca and Carmina are both beautiful, high quality makes of shoe. I don't have either. But at present, it appears TLB offers better pricing.

2. Both of these makes are sold by a variety of retailers. The individual retailers will sometimes have sales, but this doesn't seem to be common. I've identified no cyclical pattern to such sales.

3. I'd always buy the new shoes. Buying used shoes can be problematic for a variety of reasons. One of the most significant is that once a pair of shoes is "broken in" it is broken in to a specific individual's feet and way of walking. Edward Green makes beautiful, high quality shoes. But so do Carmina and TLB, if cost is a consideration, and you wish to purchase a new pair, I'd likely select the TLB as offering the best value/quality nexus among the makes about which you've inquired.

Edit: Found this -

 

[adityagune]

IMHO -

1. TLB Mallorca and Carmina are both beautiful, high quality makes of shoe. I don't have either. But at present, it appears TLB offers better pricing.

2. Both of these makes are sold by a variety of retailers. The individual retailers will sometimes have sales, but this doesn't seem to be common. I've identified no cyclical pattern to such sales.

3. I'd always buy the new shoes. Buying used shoes can be problematic for a variety of reasons. One of the most significant is that once a pair of shoes is "broken in" it is broken in to a specific individual's feet and way of walking. Edward Green makes beautiful, high quality shoes. But so do Carmina and TLB, if cost is a consideration, and you wish to purchase a new pair, I'd likely select the TLB as offering the best value/quality nexus among the makes about which you've inquired.

Edit: Found this -

Thanks for the reply. This was super helpful!

Adi

 

[richard warren]

I will offer a few comment, which you may freely ignore in that are not really responsive to your questions.

1. Wear what you like.

2. In general the Carmina appear to be more radically styled than either TLB Mallorca (from their websites) or EG (from observation). By which I mean Carmina appear to be pointer and squarer. As a matter of personal taste this does not appeal to me and that aside they may less versatile and have a shorter useful life as styles change.

3. Styling difference is accentuated in whole cuts, which have a more limited appeal than cap toes.

 

[adityagune]

I will offer a few comment, which you may freely ignore in that are not really responsive to your questions.

1. Wear what you like.

2. In general the Carmina appear to be more radically styled than either TLB Mallorca (from their websites) or EG (from observation). By which I mean Carmina appear to be pointer and squarer. As a matter of personal taste this does not appeal to me and that aside they may less versatile and have a shorter useful life as styles change.

3. Styling difference is accentuated in whole cuts, which have a more limited appeal than cap toes.

Thanks for the comment, Richard. Agreed on all points, especially #3. The only reason I am buying wholecuts rather than captoes is that I would be wearing those for business meetings, and in my opinion, wholecuts appear more formal.

 

[Flanderian]

Thanks for the reply. This was super helpful!

Adi

Glad it was useful! 👍

 

[Tiger]

Thanks for the comment, Richard. Agreed on all points, especially #3. The only reason I am buying wholecuts rather than captoes is that I would be wearing those for business meetings, and in my opinion, wholecuts appear more formal.

Just keep in mind that Carmina, TLB Mallorca and most other fine shoe brands make shoes and boots on various lasts. They create shoes on pointed lasts, round lasts, chiseled lasts, narrow lasts, wide lasts, et al. I own Carmina and TLB Mallorca, and none of my pairs are pointed or square.

Don't judge a brand simply by looking at one particular shoe/last made by that brand!

 

[TimF]

Disagree that wholecuts are more formal than captoe. For business meetings, nothing is more formal and suited than plain black captoe oxfords. For evening wear, plain toe patent leather oxfords or opera pumps are more "formal" and appropriate. Wholecuts to me are dandyish and weakly connected to any tradition.

 

[215339]

To add, focus on what last fits you the best. That is the best value.

I know we can get caught up on small details, but finding something that comfortably fits you for a full office day can often be a tough find.

 

[Matt S]

Disagree that wholecuts are more formal than captoe. For business meetings, nothing is more formal and suited than plain black captoe oxfords. For evening wear, plain toe patent leather oxfords or opera pumps are more "formal" and appropriate. Wholecuts to me are dandyish and weakly connected to any tradition.

This is true. So much of menswear is based in tradition, and the wholecut is not a traditional shoe. A black plain wholecut can certainly work for business or for black tie, but it's simply not a traditional shoe for any setting so it's not the most formal.

 

[adityagune]

Disagree that wholecuts are more formal than captoe. For business meetings, nothing is more formal and suited than plain black captoe oxfords. For evening wear, plain toe patent leather oxfords or opera pumps are more "formal" and appropriate. Wholecuts to me are dandyish and weakly connected to any tradition.

Thanks for clarifying. I'm pretty new to this forum, so comments like these are very helpful.

Adi

 

[StephenRG]

This is true. So much of menswear is based in tradition, and the wholecut is not a traditional shoe. A black plain wholecut can certainly work for business or for black tie, but it's simply not a traditional shoe for any setting so it's not the most formal.

The formality argument is, I think, commonly based on the heuristic, "the simpler, the more formal" - which applies to watches as well as shoes. But if the heuristic is derived from tradition, it won't necessarily be applicable to non-traditional footwear.

 

[Matt S]

The formality argument is, I think, commonly based on the heuristic, "the simpler, the more formal" - which applies to watches as well as shoes. But if the heuristic is derived from tradition, it won't necessarily be applicable to non-traditional footwear.

I used to think that simpler was more formal, but once someone pointed out to me that silk facings on dinner jackets are not simple I realised there's more to formality to simplicity. Peak lapels are often thought to be more formal than notch lapels, but peak lapels are a more complicated design.

As for watches, A Rolex Explorer is simpler than a Rolex Cellini with a sub-seconds dial, yet the latter is more formal because it is more delicately proportioned. I'd say a delicately proportioned chronograph would still be more formal than an Explorer.

Ultimately what makes something more formal is being more delicate and decorative versus clunky and utilitarian.