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Comparison Men’s dress shoes

Berluti Alessandro Demesure vs Carmina Inca Oxford: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Berluti Alessandro Demesure if you want Berluti. Buy the Carmina Inca Oxford instead if you want welted quality for less.

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Berluti Alessandro Demesure
Buy

Berluti Alessandro Demesure

Best for Patina wholecut

Typically $3,000–$3,500

Check Price on Amazon Paid link
Carmina Inca Oxford
Buy

Carmina Inca Oxford

Best for Spanish value

Typically $550–$650

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

FeatureBerluti Alessandro DemesureCarmina Inca Oxford
VerdictBuyBuy
Typical price$3,000–$3,500$550–$650
Best forPatina wholecutSpanish value
Key featureDemesure wholecutGoodyear welted oxford from Mallorca
MaterialVenezia leatherCalf leather
SoleLeatherLeather, Goodyear welted
FitTrue to sizeTrue to size
Made inItalySpain
Where to buyCheck Price Paid linkCheck Price Paid link

Main differences

Material

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: Venezia leather; Carmina Inca Oxford: Calf leather.

Sole

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: Leather; Carmina Inca Oxford: Leather, Goodyear welted.

Fit

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: True to size; Carmina Inca Oxford: True to size.

Made in

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: Italy; Carmina Inca Oxford: Spain.

Why buy it

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: demesure wholecut; Carmina Inca Oxford: Goodyear welted oxford from Mallorca.

Made for

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: patina wholecut; Carmina Inca Oxford: Spanish value.

Usual price

Berluti Alessandro Demesure: $3,000–$3,500; Carmina Inca Oxford: $550–$650.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Berluti Alessandro Demesure if you

  • you want Berluti
  • value superb
Check Price Paid link

Choose the Carmina Inca Oxford if you

  • you want welted quality for less
  • value excellent value
Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best men’s dress shoes.

Not sure about either? Consider these

John Lobb City II Oxford

John Lobb · Men’s dress shoes

John Lobb City II Oxford

Buy it if you want the reference formal oxford.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Benchmark oxford
Typical price
$1,795–$2,100

Pros

  • Superb craft
  • Resoleable

Cons

  • Expensive
Edward Green Chelsea 202

Edward Green · Men’s dress shoes

Edward Green Chelsea 202

Buy it if you want handmade English elegance.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Connoisseur pick
Typical price
$1,500–$1,700

Pros

  • Excellent finishing
  • Resoleable

Cons

  • Pricey

Frequently asked questions

Berluti Alessandro Demesure or Carmina Inca Oxford: which should I buy?

Buy the Berluti Alessandro Demesure if you want Berluti. Buy the Carmina Inca Oxford instead if you want welted quality for less.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Berluti Alessandro Demesure usually costs $3,000–$3,500 and the Carmina Inca Oxford $550–$650. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

Berluti Alessandro Demesure or Carmina Inca Oxford: the full reasoning

Berluti Alessandro Demesure or Carmina Inca Oxford? Both are strong men’s dress shoes, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Berluti Alessandro Demesure if you want Berluti, and buy the Carmina Inca Oxford if you want welted quality for less. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Berluti Alessandro Demesure wins on demesure wholecut. The Carmina Inca Oxford answers with Goodyear welted oxford from Mallorca. Material: Venezia leather on the Berluti Alessandro Demesure, Calf leather on the Carmina Inca Oxford. Sole: Leather on the Berluti Alessandro Demesure, Leather, Goodyear welted on the Carmina Inca Oxford. Fit: True to size on the Berluti Alessandro Demesure, True to size on the Carmina Inca Oxford. Made in: Italy on the Berluti Alessandro Demesure, Spain on the Carmina Inca Oxford.

Reasons to buy the Berluti Alessandro Demesure

Superb. What to accept: expensive. Usual price: $3,000–$3,500. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Berluti Alessandro Demesure review.

Reasons to buy the Carmina Inca Oxford

Excellent value, Resoleable. What to accept: less known. Usual price: $550–$650. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Carmina Inca Oxford review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best men’s dress shoes has every other piece with its own call. Construction: Goodyear-welted and hand-welted shoes can be resoled many times; Blake-stitched shoes are sleeker but resole fewer times.

Also consider the John Lobb City II Oxford ($1,795–$2,100): classic cap-toe oxford, Goodyear welted in Northampton. Buy it if you want the reference formal oxford.

Also consider the Edward Green Chelsea 202 ($1,500–$1,700): cap-toe oxford on the 202 last. Buy it if you want handmade English elegance.

Buyer tip

Fit shoes in the afternoon, when feet are largest, and wear them with the socks you will use. Shoe trees in cedar double the life of good shoes.

Buying in Europe: Italian and French sizes are used on most designer shoes, and they differ from US sizes by brand. Check the house’s own size chart, and remember that many Italian brands run about half a size small.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.