11 March, 2026
Carmina shoes, custom-made in Spanish leather
I hear you chuckle when I suggest a shopping as an adventure together, but I find the experience of a custom fitting at a traditional Spanish tailor deliciously romantic. I like to be there with you to admire you in your handsome new jacket or shoes—that I helped your pick out! What is more GFE than that? But honestly, I want you to feel satisfied, my opinion es no importa beyond that I hope to be a good guide (and your interpreter when needed).
This, my first shopping blog, is about Carmina Shoemaker, with its flagship store on Calle de Claudio Coello. It’s a great location BTW to begin an afternoon adventure in the Salamanca district.
Carmina has expanded across the world, so you may find its stores nearer home, but it keeps its Mallorcan heritage and is home to Spanish traditions of custom leather work.
If finding the best pair of shoes you will ever own appeals to you, I’ll plan our adventure, making an appointment for your custom fitting (and a bespoke consultation for true footwear aficionados).
This is serious shoe shopping, not something for the feint of heart, so before our adventure you must go to the Carmina store website and quick study shoe making choices we’ll need to make about style, lasts, finish, decorative elements, leather, soles, laces, etc.—fun, no? I’ll definitely check you’ve done your homework before we go, I have my reputation as a knowlegable customer to defend.
Here is a link from The Shoe Snob if I have not inspired you myself: Carmina – The Review.
Read about the 3D scanning there. This is great for men who need a different fit for left and right foot, or have otherwise interesting feet. Unlike standard sizing which only measures length, this scan captures the exact volume, arch height, and contours of your unique anatomy, allowing Carmina to create a bespoke last — the mold the shoe is built on — that ensures the shoe hugs your foot perfectly, eliminating the pressure points common in mass-produced footwear. But the point is you can have true comfort and fantastic style. It’s win-win.
Custom shoes take 4 to 6 weeks to make, so expect to come back, or just have them shipped to you. Either way, wearing them will make you look nice, and maybe think of me a little, no?
If I sound like an ambassador for Carmina, I confess that I own a pair myself. Carmina has been a men’s staple since 1866, but they now offer a curated selection of women’s footwear. Mine are cute enough for evenings, and comfortable enough for walking anywhere with you.
