~$300 high quality modern shoes

[Nathan Parker]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for Italian-made, or otherwise quality constructed, medium to dark brown shoes for somewhere around or under $300. I'm searching for something sleek and modern--Allen Edmonds aren't quite there in terms of style. Joe posted something awhile back that I liked: http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/produc...hoes&pid=87584

I'd prefer something similar. I'm considering buying the above shoes, but I'd really like a shoe that will last for a long time and through frequent use. I appreciate any suggestions!

[LosRockets]

Meermin.
http://meermin.tumblr.com/
http://meermin.es/home.php?idioma=eng

[printyra]

Technically Spanish-made but very modern and fashion forward. I bought a pair from them and love them. A very good deal for the quality of product you get.

[Nathan Parker]

Wow, some gorgeous shoes on there. How's their sizing? I'm a 9 with AE's Fifth Avenue.

[printyra]

I wear a 10D in US. They're sized in UK. So I wear a 9.5UK. You just size down by half a size when going from US to UK.

Also, with Meermin, you do not pay VAT (value added tax of 18%) but you do pay international shipping. So you subtract the VAT but add in the shipping and you are essentially at the listed price. Just convert Euros over to USD and that is the cost for the shoes plus shipping. If you get the classic collection, its about $221 after all is said and done.

[robert12]

Nathan, I have a pair of the J&M Letsons and they're great shoes, true to size and comfortable. But if Italian-made is high priority, To Boot New York has some nice items, and are generally sleeker than AEs. For example:
http://www.zappos.com/to-boot-new-york-winston-tan

[Fred G. Unn]

You just size down by half a size when going from US to UK.

Not sure I agree with this as in my experience generally you size down a full size. With Meermin it's a bit tricky though. Here's a pic of their lasts:
http://meermin.tumblr.com/image/20983395357
I would size down a half size in the Vil or New Rey lasts and a full size in the rest. Pepe is fantastic to deal with though and will send you actual measurements if you ask him. I actually now have 5 pairs of Meermin including a MTO single monk I designed last spring. Here's a pic of the MTO:
http://meermin.tumblr.com/post/28998...-tb-dark-brown
They are great shoes at a great price!

[trash]

http://www.styleforum.net/t/277707/m...mina-2nd-brand

Lots of info on Meermin there. I somehow have avoided impulse buying any of their shoes, but believe me I've come close.

[TomasR]

Fred, the contrasting suede and leather was a great choice. I've never been a big fan of medallions on monks, but it's a gorgeous shoe regardless.

I'm about to order two pairs from them based on both the price and glowing reviews I've read. Leaning toward a blucher and dub monk right now.

[shad0w4life]

Regarding sizing down. I have 2 identical pair of Loake Chukkas one in 9UK and one in 10UK. Normally I wear an 11 shoe which can be too big depending on who's it is as i'm inbetween 10.5 and 11.

With the Loakes I can wear the 9 UK!, it's a bit tight but it's not that bad, the 10 I have on right now and it's ok as well a bit loose though even when done up.

[Sigtweed Corduroy]

You might start searching discount sites for Tods, or other italian made styles that have been discounted down from the $500 range.

[Nathan Parker]

How does getting made-to-order shoes from Meermin work? And what's the extra cost?

[Fred G. Unn]

How does getting made-to-order shoes from Meermin work? And what's the extra cost?

Contact Pepe Albaladejo at [email protected]. I ordered mine last April and they were delivered in July. There's a massive thread over at StyleForum:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/277707/m...nd-brand/0_100

When I had mine done these were the rates. I heard they then raised the MTO fee, and then later put a hold on all MTOs because they were so backordered but maybe they are accepting new MTO orders again now.

"The MTO service allow our customers to specify:

Style
Last
Upper leather
Lining leather
Sole option: (Single/double leather channeled sole or Full rubber sole)
Welt option: Flat or sky
Sole finishing
Edge finishing
Construction(Hand sewn goodyear, partial norvegesse + wooden pegs on the waist or full norvegesse)

- The leathers available for the 'Linea Maestro' MTO, at the moment are:

- Naturcalf from Tannerie d'Anonnay(France): Dark brown, Light brown(Cuero), Burgundy, Navy.
- Freudenberg Calf from Weinheimer Leder(Germany): Black
- Janus Calf Suede from C.F.Stead(England): Dark Brown, Black
- Shell Cordovan(Argentina): Dark brown, Burdeos, Light brown(Cuero), Black
- Stingray*: Black, Navy, Purple, Orange, Green, Brown, Burgundy.
- Crocodile: Coming soon.

*[Some styles may not be produced in all of the stingray colors, due to the size of the hides]


- Lining options available: Dark brown, Light brown, Orange, Dark green, Navy or Black.

- Custom text (Name/initials/...) on the 'window' made on the lining.

- Edge finishing: Matching with upper, natural, a contrasting color,...

- 'Planta Paloma' finishing options: Possibility of choosing the two different colors for the sole finishing.

- If we have to make a 'new' last (new width) (Because currently we don't have, produced, different widths for our lasts) or pattern, the cost for the MTO is 70€ over the regular price of the shoe (250€ for hand-sewn goodyear and 350€ for the norvegesse pairs).
- If we can use a standard last & pattern, the cost for the MTO is 50€ over the regular price of the shoe (250€ for hand-sewn goodyear and 350€ for the norvegesse pairs).

- All the prices given above are for Calf and Suede leathers.
- Shell Cordovan (shoe) base price is 290€ + MTO costs. Boot is 370€ + MTO costs.
- Stingray pairs are 250€ above the base price.

- Nowadays the production time for the MTO's is about 12 -14 weeks.

[Note that MTO process allow our customers to choose any style (Classic Collection or Linea Maestro) but constructed and finished to our Linea Maestro standards (Leather, constructions, finishing,...), because of that the starting price is the one of the Linea Maestro and not the one for the Classic Collection.]"

[tdig]

Not sure I agree with this as in my experience generally you size down a full size. With Meermin it's a bit tricky though. Here's a pic of their lasts:
http://meermin.tumblr.com/image/20983395357
I would size down a half size in the Vil or New Rey lasts and a full size in the rest. Pepe is fantastic to deal with though and will send you actual measurements if you ask him. I actually now have 5 pairs of Meermin including a MTO single monk I designed last spring. Here's a pic of the MTO:
http://meermin.tumblr.com/post/28998...-tb-dark-brown
They are great shoes at a great price!

Fred - Your posts has made me even more excited for my Meermins to come in than I was before and that's saying a lot. I got the double monks but I must say those single monks do look pretty sweet too.

Printyra - You gonna post pics/review?

[printyra]

I will have to upload some pics later. Here is the particular shoe I bought from them: http://www.meermin.es/ficha_articulo.php?id=2339

I am now a Meermin fan. Great service. Great product. Great price.

Meermin and Allen Edmonds are my two favorite brands. Both for the reasons I listed. Just great all-around products and great service.