In Person: Nordstrom Calibrate ‘Cusano’ Double Monk – $130.00
“It’s quite pungent.”
“Oh yeah.”
“It’s a formidable scent… It stings the nostrils…”
“Yep.”
“I’m gonna be honest with you, that smells like pure gasoline.”
That’s the bad news. Out of the box, these things have a distinct… refinery-like aroma to them. That’ll happen with less-expensive and sometimes heavily treated leather. Usually, Nordstrom’s more affordable house-brand shoes don’t have that stink. But these do. Yet if you’re willing to let them air out for a day or two, you end up with a less-fortunate man’s version of the Mora 2.0, with a slightly elongated silhouette and lower profile.
Soft leather. Wrinkling shown here after some light wear.
These are going to be a direct competitor to DSW’s Mercanti Fiorentini double monk. Same basic price range, but the Calibrate option is equipped with a more classic, rounder toe. Like the Mercs, these are real sleek through the sides with a slim toe box. There’s not a lot of head room for your toes, but for an average, slightly wide foot, these slip on easy and are comfortable right from the start.
Leather quality is also comparable to the Mercanti Fiorentini option. Not the best (which is to be expected at this price point) but still much better than some of the crap/rigid “leather” that’s out there. They’re not stiff, and the uppers feel like they’re molding to your foot once you start walking around. Wrinkles (rumples?) develop across the vamps pretty quick, but there’s no sign of major cracks or fissures.
Bright sun can bring out some flaws, but otherwise, they’re plenty nice.
The buckles are gunmetal instead of a true silver. That knocks the shine down a bit, and some guys are gonna prefer that over a glaring chrome. Sole is part leather, part synthetic insert. The color of the leather is called “luggage”, and the variances in shades across the uppers (a painted effect perhaps) give them a nice marbled look. The leather’s not world class, but the designers & manufactures seem to have done a real good job making the most of what they were working with.
The welt is almost certainly glued, but again, that’s expected at this price. Between the overall shape, the rounded toe, the simple cap toe and solid enough feeling construction, these would make for a fine entry-level double monk strap. Even better than DSW’s well respected Mercanti Fiorentini option. As long as you’re willing to set them near an open window for a couple days before wearing them. That smell clears up. At least it did on this pair.
Made in China. Ships & returns free through Nordstrom.
We here at Dappered, as always, would like to thank reader “diversification” for his patience with yet another double-monk post. It’s been almost 2 months div. We were due.
Very nice review.
Finally! More double monk in my life.
I die a little every time a shoe is available in only one width.
That is a damn good looking pair of shoes. I bought the Merc Fior pair with the medallion a few months ago, but had this option been available (at a cheaper price point, and minus the chisel/medallion) I would’ve jumped all over it.
as an 11EEE in Allen Edmonds’ 5 last, I agree
As a 14AA (whatever did I do to deserve the special hell?), I’m right there with you.
You’re really taking a risk with these low-priced shoes unless you’re wearing them in clubs, getting stepped on and having drinks spilled on them. If you can afford $130, you can surely afford $300 if you just save and wait.
This is an argument that’s been stated a thousand times before. But $130 is way different than $300. A lot of us respect and wear welted, high quality shoes like Allen Edmonds, yet at the same time I’m wearing these today: http://dappered.com/2011/04/how-to-wear-it-the-under-100-italian-suede-shoe/
Three years later, still going strong. Yes, there’s risk in lower priced shoes, but these Calibrates seem to be, at first glance, a good risk for $130.
the excessively rich brown shade, super wide flap and zero perforation almost make them look too bold. that being said i trust nordstrom’s quality.
In the photo of the right shoe, is there some discoloration near the lower buckle?
The leather appears to be a bit sturdier than Mercanti’s dub monks!
Joe, if you commit some sort of crime, they’re not going to send you to prison. They’re just going to take away all your monk straps.
So, what, I’m just supposed to not start a riot? I literally just replaced my pitchfork with a new trident… Fine, fine, no riot, but I AM going to use my trident today; if someone gets hurt, that’s on you man.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/393dd3bbbb83da1015b3c651aa7cd473/tumblr_msgsr1RSGx1shqd9jo1_400.gif
“They may take our lives… but they’re never take… our MONKSTRAPS”
Not proposing an alternative since I don’t have first hand experience, but maybe someone does.
http://www.beckettsimonon.com/collections/view-all-products/products/hoyt-double-monk-straps-hand-burnished-tan
http://www.johndoeshoes.com/lanciano-double-monk/
Both are a $20 more expensive and even more if the Nordstrom’s somehow end up in a sale. But BS and JDs are goodyear welted. I have heard very mixed comments about quality on the first ones while I have heard that JD offers just one free shipping and return so if you need a second return you’re in for an expenisve shipping fee all the way from Mexico. So any experience or comments on these brands and their shoes?
The second picture of the shoe on the blue trunk looks like a different color/leather. Is it the same? I prefer that color much more. I wish AE made the Mora 2.0 in walnut.
The second picture of the shoe on the blue trunk looks like a different
color/leather. Is it the same? I prefer that color much more. I wish AE
made the Mora 2.0 in walnut.
The Calibrates look AWESOME, and the color is an awesome shade. I agree with you though – if I had $130 to risk, I feel like I would go for John Doe, Beckett and Simonon, or another brand (maybe Jack Erwin) at a similar price point.
I’ve heard bad things about their mediocre leather quality, but I imagine it’s comparable to this or the DSW Mercantis..
Same color, same shoes. Just bright sun vs. indoors.
10.5 EEE/EEEE here. Agreed doubly. I’m so sick of my shoe options being nice $300 shoes or, well, New Balance. Sometimes I can squeeze into an 11 EE from J&M, etc., but it’s tight, and it usually results in some odd bulges in the leather where my toes press up against the sides of the shoe.
If it has the smell when you get yours, stuff it with newspaper overnight. Twenty-four hours later, discard the newspaper and stuff it again with “fresh” newspaper. Leave it overnight again, should be good by the morning.
Perfect timing on this review! I just decided I needed a pair of earthy dubs in my life. Mine are on the way now.
I really don’t get why people cheap out this much on shoes. Yes, you can make a cheap shoe “Work”, but once you wear a pair of quality shoes, you will never go back. These cheap, heavily treated leather shoes not only smell terrible, they feel terrible too. It can’t be explained in words until you experience the cork bedding of a goodyear welted shoe.
For a hundred bucks more, you can get a very stylish pair, made by a real shoemaker (And not a sweatshop working for department store fashion brands) here:
http://www.grenson.co.uk/en_gb/shop/ellery-6772
Ignore the price there, cheapest price here: http://www.pediwear.co.uk/grenson/products/5674.php
With proper care, a pair like this will last DECADES, not three years and so. The smart man invests a bit initially in quality accessories, if you ask me.