I have known this Italian brand for a long time but I was too poor to afford it. My primary feeling for Antonio Meccariello is “price killer”. What? Such an expensive price killer? What about Meermin? Well, the more proper description should be bespoke craftsmanship for Ready to Wear price. Hong Kong shoe giant, Shirting Fantasy (Tom He) is a big fan and told me several times that Antonio Meccariello is worth the money.
I have always been wary with Italian shoes and I can appreciate its beauty but wearing the elongated toes makes me very uncomfortable. Fortunately, Antonio Meccariello’s lasts are basically not too elongated.
This pair is the Medallion collection with Goodyear construction rather than Handwelted in Argentum collection. The price is 4980 RMB. Let’s find out how it is worth the money.
Unboxing
The black shoe box has a huge logo on it. Why do Italians like such complicated trademarks and how are they drawn? Is it to increase the difficulty of imitation? Only the surname is written which is quite rare. The Italian at the bottom means handmade.
Huge gilded logo is very impressive.
Handwritten message on side of shoe box has style number 1734, Size UK5, color grey and AM387, of which the last one is ambiguous.
On the other side of the box, a piece of paper with a national standard is pasted, but there is actually no information checked.
When the lid is lifted, it is cushioning foam. I don’t believe the cushioning foam comes from Italy. Although it is not very neat, but in this way, the shoe box is fuller, and the shoes are better protected.
After unveiling, a pair of socks is complimentary.
Bright red shoe bags, strangely, there is no logo on the shoe bags.
Last
There is no last type information on the shoe box, but it is in the product description, last number is 205. I don’t know much about Antonio Meccariello’s lasts, and when I look at the website, it seems to use descriptions, such as Chisel Round, rather than numbers. This pair should be considered a classic round toe. Italian round toe is never small and has a classical taste. The last is not elongated which means a lot to me.
Pattern
Adelaide Oxford. At cap toe and quarter including heel there are prominent brogue. Such elements accentuate its classical taste.
The shape of heel is obviously inspired by Gaziano & Girling’s St James II, but the small tip is not so obvious, and the weakening of this element does not bring much benefit, but it is effective to distinguish with Gaziano & Girling. Overall, the harmoniously sized brogue achieves good aesthetics.
Craftsmanship
It has already been said that this is a pair of Goodyear welted shoes, which means that the welt is attached by machined, and the outsole is stitched by machine too. But if you haven’t been impressed by such shoes, it’s my turn to be surprised.
The welt is fudged, and the edges are cut beveled. It’s the craft of bespoke shoes. Yohei Fukuda’s shoes also achieved stitches matching fudges. This pair of Antonio Meccariello is better because that the fudge is much finer.
Is this waist of a Goodyear welted shoe? The finely beveled waist is very beautiful.
I was really curious about how the waist of the Goodyear welted shoe was made so narrow. I can only suspect that there are no stitches on the waist.
The broken heel element, which can be seen in a pair of Goodyear shoes under 5000 RMB, is surprising.
Heel Lasting
This pair is certainly not top-notch judging from all shoes, but as a Goodyear shoe at this price point, it is definitely a bargin.
Details
There is a stamp of the Medallion trademark on sock lining.
Information on the lining is very adequate, style 1734, size 5, last 205, width E. I don’t know whether 1734 is one of Antonio Meccariello’s bestsellers.
Fit
I’ve heard it before that Antonio Meccariello is half a size smaller. But for my experience of Italian shoes, they are always bigger. So, I resolutely bought UK5, luckily it is very suitable! Photo above shows the state of new shoe on the foot, the little finger is touched but not squeezed, and the V-shaped opening is suitable, leaving room for later close-up.
Summary
The last is what I like. The craftsmanship is very, very amazing, and I heard that this series may not be available anymore, if you see that there is still your size, you must not miss it! Antonio Meccariello lives up to the name of a price killer.