Comments:
Antonio Meccariello shoes. Centurion model. Ready to wear.
I've recently become interested in handmade shoes. After reading and researching online, I decided on this prestigious Neapolitan brand. I hope you find it interesting. Happy Easter/weekend.
Very nice
I have two pairs in the same style from Edward Green (in leather and suede) and enjoy articles / photos of fine shoes. Thank you for showing these beauties.
Thank you. E. Green, yes, they are top-notch English shoes.
I also bought a Carmina oxford wholecut black. Right now I’m waiting for a Caulaincourt loafers. I’ll post pics. Best.
Just looked at those websites
the wholecut is probably too smart for me. The Bronx Napoleon loafer from Caulaincourt look good, I haven’t found a leather loafer that fits my feet so am having some made by Carreducker.
Precisely I’m waiting for a Bronx loafer., the Bronx patina. Shown in the summer section (ready to wear).
I wish you luck with those bespoke. Post pics 😀😀.
Promotional photo
Promotional photo
High-end shoes
Great subject for watch collectors!
Most of my shoes were bought in Oxford UK from a well-know shoe-shop in Turl Street, which regretfully closed a few years ago, were all hand-made.
You may well regret having shoes where the toecap's centre is stitched over the toes. The toecap should always be made from one piece of leather.
Otherwise it is good to have well made shoes, which can be readily repaired by a skilled cobbler, difficult to find just like a skilled watch repairer.
Some of my shoes are over 25 years old and always look like new after a replaced long-sole and heal. My shoes are always worn in daily rotation and have wooden trees when stored to retain their shape.
Happy Easter to watch and shoe purists!
Clive
Hi Clive. I am a newcomer on artisan shoes. What could the problem with split toe shoes be?
Split toecap
What is interesting about your shoes is the stitched vertical join in the toecap and no apparent stitched vertical seam above the heal, the very opposite of most leather shoes.
A finely made leather shoe will flex longitudinally and transversally, especially at the toe and front upper.
1. The vertical stitching at the toecap will flex and strain over time, thus roughening the inside of the stitches to rub on toes, especially where the toecap looks quite narrow.
2. Strained stitching at the toecaps will allow the leather join to open and let in water and dirt.
3. A strained split toecap will look worn after a while of use, even when kept polished, especially if the toe and stitches have been accidentally scuffed.
4. My experience of buying leather shoes is that when the toecap is vertically stitched, it is a sign it has been manufactured with cheaper leather pieces for a lower-priced product. You need a higher quality of leather to mould a curved toecap. Your shoes look to be of high quality leather, so why obvious the front seams? Maybe for a contrary fashion?
My opinions are based on over 77 years of buying and wearing leather shoes, (excluding my baby-time!), and many conversations with the now long retired Oxford shoe shop owner! That profitable shop closed because there was nobody who wanted to buy the unsold stock and premises as a going concern with existing mail-order export and UK national repeat customers. There was also a thriving repair service using chosen outworking cobblers. One of those local cobblers now looks after my shoes and I think I have enough pairs to see me out!
Clive
I suppose Meccariello makes a split toecap for a fashion reason. I hope they age as best as possible. Thanks for all that valuable info.
The next days I will travel to Madrid and I hope to try some Crockett Jones boots. For other british brands I think I will have to travel to the islands… and I will ask for your advice 😀😀.
Very very elegant interpretation
of the classic "Norweger" split toe. I really like them.
Shoegazing.com
has good articles and one relevant to the split toe derby: https://shoegazing.com/2023/03/26/guide-types-of-apron-front-and-split-toe-seams/
I think they're fantastic!
I also love the color chosen! Thank you for sharing them here with us, cheers, Filip
Thank you for sharing!
I'm definitely interested! Tell us more. Did you go to Napoli? How did everything work?
Hi Patrick. I didn’t go to Napoli. You can order a “Ready to wear (RTW) or a “Made to order (MTO)”.
My big concern was ordering the wrong size. MTO cannot be returned. Therefore I went for a RTW. You can return most of the RTW as long as you order the stock color (or some determined patinas), no metal toe tips… All the details are in their website, which I have to say is a bit confusing. Anyway if you email them, Silvana answers very quickly and solves all the doubts.
If you order a RTW in a stock color it seems they ship in 3-6 days. I ordered an alternative patina and it took 6 weeks to be shipped (as expected). They have a “Size & fitting guide” section in their website which you must pay a visit. In special there is a link to a list of their client’s experience with the proper size of their Meccariello’s and other brands. This was extremely useful for me. I think I got to choose the correct size thanks to this info.
If you order a RTW in a stock color it seems they ship in 3-6 days. I ordered an alternative patina and it took 6 weeks to be shipped (as expected). They have a “Size & fitting guide” section in their website which you must pay a visit. In special there is a link to a list of their client’s experience with the proper size of their Meccariello’s and other brands. This was extremely useful for me. I think I got to choose the correct size thanks to this info.
Anyway, before any order, it is mandatory you contact with them.
There is other superb neapolitan brand called Paolo Scafora. But they only make MTO or Bespoke which can not be returned. If I travel to Napoli I will make an appointment with them.
Good to know!
I have to have metal toe tips, and I would really not like to ship back and forth after testing the shoe - and then having tips installed. Good to know. Maybe I ought to get myself to Napoli.
It's certainly not easy to buy shoes from a distance, especially when it's your first pair.
A few years ago I was on vacation in Naples and there are very beautiful and interesting things to see. The city itself, Capri island, Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii ruins, Amalfi coast…
Northamptonshire is the home of English shoemaking. Companies like Edward Green, John Lobb, Tricker's, Church and - recommended by my podiatrist - mine! Doc Martens.
I know about Northampton tradition. Until a couple of
months my only artisan shoes were a Church’s. The problem is that, as far as I know, many of the brands you’ve mentioned don’t have retailers in Spain. Given custom taxes, since brexit, I don’t buy directly from UK.
The next days I’ll travel to Madrid and I hope to try some Crockett and Jones (I know there are retailers of this brand). I promise to post some pics if I buy something.
Best.
I appreciate your point about Brexit, of course. That said, Spain is famous for its leather, isn't it? And there must be excellent Spanish shoemakers, surely? Indeed, better than their English equivalents!
There are several very good luxury spanish brands. Also, Spain makes shoes for others. I have a pair of Carmina’s and I think I’ll buy more. But I know about the quality of english shoes and I think I will not
resist when I see a pair of lovely C&J boots. Honestly, I dont have enough knowledge/experience to know what country makes better shoes.
Everyone I know in the trade speaks highly of Edward Green, Northampton's best. Their Spanish agent is Bel y Cia in Barcelona.