The Carmela 164196 is a men's derby shoe in tan camel leather, with a dark brown heel counter and a sand-coloured rubber sole. It fills the gap most men have in the wardrobe: a shoe smart enough for the office that does not ask for a suit on a Saturday afternoon.
The upper is leather with a hand-burnished finish, darker at the toe and along the edges, which is where the depth of the tan colour comes from. The sole is lightweight... Read more
The Carmela 164196 is a men's derby in tan camel leather built on a rubber sole. The pairing is deliberate: the upper has the shape and finish of a dress shoe, while the sole belongs to a walking shoe. That middle ground is what most men are asking for when they come in wanting one pair that covers everything.
It suits anyone who has to look presentable every day and would rather not replace their shoes each season. Sales work spent out of the office, a workplace with a relaxed dress code, a family lunch, an afternoon wedding with a jacket and no tie. The tan colour helps: it is more versatile than black with casual clothing and less demanding than burgundy.
Against a classic leather-soled derby, this model wins on weight, cushioning and grip on wet pavement. Against a leather trainer, it wins on formality. The rest of the range sits in men's casual shoes, and the more formal models in men's dress shoes.
The plain toe keeps the silhouette clean, and the open lacing of a derby gives more room across the instep than an oxford ever will. A small coloured tab on the quarter and a metal medallion on the counter are the only decorative touches.
The upper is leather, hand-finished with a gradient: darker at the toe, along the edges and around the eyelets, lighter across the vamp. That gradient is why the shoe ages well, because scuffs blend into the colouring rather than standing out against it. The lining is synthetic and the sole is a flexible rubber compound. The stitching around the perimeter imitates a welted construction without being one, which is standard at this price.
Weight is the point. A leather-soled derby runs to around 500 grams a foot; a rubber unit like this one sits well below that, and the difference accumulates over a working day. The sole also grips wet pavement, which is the classic weakness of a traditional dress shoe. It is not a technical footbed or a cushioned trainer, and if you wear orthotics the factory insole can be swapped for your own.
Office, meetings, work trips, family lunches, Saturday afternoons. An autumn and city-winter shoe. It is not waterproof: it will take a light shower, not a day of rain.
Dark denim and a jumper works without effort. Beige or navy chinos is where it looks best. Grey or blue tailored trousers also work, as long as the outfit does not call for black. The easy rule: if the occasion allows a jacket without a tie, tan belongs.
Carmela makes an honest product at this level. It is not a hand-welted shoe and does not pretend to be, but the leather is leather, the lasting is clean and the ratio of price to wear is among the most sensible in our men's range. We recommend it without reservation to anyone buying one pair a year.
It may not suit you if you need a shoe for heavy rain, a leather sole for a strict dress code, or an extra-wide fitting.
It will suit you if you want a leather shoe for daily wear, you value low weight, and you would rather not think about which trousers it goes with.
Compared with the alternatives, you gain comfort and lose formality against a classic dress derby; you gain presence and lose cushioning against a leather trainer. It sits in the middle, which is where most people live.
The shoe is true to size. If you are between two sizes, take the larger one: the fit is a medium width and the leather gives a little with wear, but the length does not change.
Approximate UK conversion: EU 40 is roughly UK 6.5, EU 41 UK 7, EU 42 UK 8, EU 43 UK 9, EU 44 UK 9.5 and EU 45 UK 10.5. Treat these as a guide only, since conversions vary between makers. If you have a wide foot, go up a size rather than trying to solve it with the laces.
Do these run small?
No, they are true to size. Between two sizes, take the larger.
Are they comfortable all day?
Yes. The rubber sole and the low weight make them suitable for long days standing or walking in town.
Can I wear them to the office with a suit?
With an informal suit or a jacket without a tie, yes. For a strict dress code or formal occasions, a black leather-soled shoe is the better call.
How do I clean them?
A slightly damp cloth for dust and a neutral or tan cream every three or four weeks. Never soak them and never dry them next to a radiator.
What size should I order if I have wide feet?
Go up one size. The fit is a medium width, and while the derby lacing gives some room across the instep, it will not compensate for a genuinely wide foot.
Are they waterproof?
No. They cope with a light shower but are not treated for sustained rain.
The Carmela 164196 is a men's lace-up shoe in tan camel leather with a lightweight rubber sole, available in EU sizes 40 to 45. It is made for anyone who needs to look presentable and still be on their feet all day. Calzados Vesga has been selling shoes on the main square of Burgos since the 1970s, and we will answer a sizing question before you order.
We are a family shoe shop on the main square of Burgos, in northern Spain, with more than fifty years behind the counter. Every model on the website is one we also sell across the counter, which means someone here has had it in their hands and knows how it fits a wide foot and a narrow one.
Delivery anywhere in Europe takes 4 to 6 working days. Shipping is charged by destination country and calculated at checkout. Returns from outside Spain are at the customer's expense. Payment is secure, and you can write to us before or after your order with any question about sizing or leather care.
Yes, if you want a leather shoe for daily wear, light on the foot, in a colour that works with most of your wardrobe.
Perhaps not, if you prefer a leather-soled dress shoe, waterproof footwear for outdoor work, or an extra-wide fitting.
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