Doucal's Basquiat Double Monk Strap Review

Here I take a close look at a relatively unkown name in the premium shoe world: the Doucal's Basquiat Double Monk Strap in the "Ebano" (Ebony) dark brown colorway. This pair was my very first step into high-end footwear before I fell down the Goodyear-welted rabbit hole. The brand was originally founded in 1968 by Mario Giannini under the Italian name Ducale. In 1973, he officially launched Doucal's—deliberately giving the brand an English-sounding name because he highly respected British footwear craftsmanship. Giannini even took a pilgrimage to Northampton (the heart of English shoemaking) to study their construction methods. He brought those design aesthetics back to Italy, but built them using lighter, more flexible Italian techniques (like Blake stitching). I break down the unboxing, explain why this single leather sole has held up surprisingly well over six years of wear and I also dive into a deep breakdown of Blake stitch construction. Examining how its out-of-the-box flexibility compares to a Goodyear welt, analyzing Doucal's unique, sander-shaved "beveled waist," and diving into a much-needed rant about the lack of regulation around marketing terms like "Handmade in Italy." Chapters: • 0:00 - Unboxing & Packaging Presentation • 1:33 - Sizing • 2:30 - Leather Colour • 3:12 - The Sole • 4:07 - Investigating Doucal's Unique "Beveled Waist" • 5:30 - Comfort Assessment: Blake Stitch vs. Goodyear Welt • 6:19 - The History of Doucal's (British Styling meets Italian Fit) • 6:50 - Heel Height Comparison: Doucal's vs. Carmina • 7:52 - Value Verdict: Are They Worth $500+ Full Retail? • 10:04 - What Does "Handmade" Actually Mean? Official Shoe Specs: • Model: Doucal's Basquiat Double Monk Strap • Color: Ebano (Dark Brown / Ebony) • Construction: Blake • Origin: Italy • MSRP: Retails between $450.00 – $550.00 USD If you enjoyed this honest breakdown of luxury footwear construction, please hit the Like button and Subscribe! Let me know in the comments your thoughts on the "handmade" label, or if you've ever spotted the factory second defect I couldn't find.