{"product_id":"marco-di-milano-merida-black-caiman-lizard-dress-derby","title":"Marco Di Milano Merida Black Caiman \u0026 Lizard Dress Derby","description":"\u003cp\u003e* Genuine caiman and lizard upper - two exotic skins combined in one derby, hand-finished so the natural texture of each comes through\u003cbr\u003e\n* Tasseled lace detail - a classic dress-derby embellishment that reads more formal than a plain lace-up\u003cbr\u003e\n* Signature Marco Di Milano lace ornament - the house's identifying hardware detail on the laces\u003cbr\u003e\n* Full leather lining - for comfortable, breathable wear against the foot\u003cbr\u003e\n* Leather outsole with rubber heel - leather underfoot for a dressier profile, with a rubber heel insert added for traction\u003cbr\u003e\n* Runs large - per Marco Di Milano's official size and fit guide, the Merida collection runs a full size large; order one full size down from your normal size\u003cbr\u003e\n* MERIDA BLACK\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Marco Di Milano Merida is a black genuine caiman and lizard dress derby, hand-finished to bring out the natural texture of two exotic skins in a single silhouette. Tasseled laces and a signature Marco Di Milano lace ornament mark it as a Merida at a glance, while a full leather lining and leather outsole with a rubber heel carry it through a full day on your feet.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMarco Di Milano is a family-owned footwear house based in León, Mexico, working largely in Italy-tanned exotic leathers with in-house hand-painted finishing - a combination that shows up here in the way the caiman and lizard panels take on depth and shine rather than a flat, uniform coat of color. The derby itself is a classic of the men's dress-shoe wardrobe: its open lacing system (eyelets stitched onto the vamp rather than closed beneath it, as on an Oxford) gives a slightly more relaxed, adjustable fit, which is part of why derbies have long doubled as both boardroom and evening footwear.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nOn the Merida, that practical structure is paired with a decidedly less practical finish. The tasseled lace detail and lace ornament push the shoe toward the dressier end of the derby spectrum - a pair built for tailored trousers and dress-wear first, with enough restraint in its black colorway to work across a range of formal and semi-formal occasions.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFAQs\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nDoes the Merida run true to size?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nNo. Marco Di Milano's official size and fit guide lists the Merida collection under \"Run Large,\" meaning it fits a full size larger than standard. Order one full size down from your usual size - for example, a size 10 should order a size 9.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat materials is the Merida made from?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe upper combines genuine caiman and genuine lizard skin, hand-finished to a polished black. The lining is full leather, and the outsole is leather with a rubber heel insert for added traction.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHow should I care for caiman and lizard leather together?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWipe both skins with a soft, dry cloth after wear, avoid prolonged moisture exposure, and store with cedar shoe trees to help the shoe hold its shape. Because caiman and lizard can respond differently to over-conditioning, use a leather-specific conditioner sparingly and test on a small area first.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat should I wear with the Merida?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAs a dress derby with tasseled laces, the Merida is built primarily for dress-wear - tailored trousers or a suit. Derbies as a category are also more adaptable than Oxfords to smart-casual pairings, such as dark denim, for those who want to dress the style down.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nDo exotic leather dress shoes like the Merida need a break-in period?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMost leather dress shoes, including exotic-skin derbies, benefit from a short break-in period of a few wears to let the leather flex with your foot. Wearing them for shorter stretches initially can help ease this process.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhere is the Merida made?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMarco Di Milano is a family-owned luxury footwear brand based in León, Mexico, specializing in exotic leather footwear using Italy-tanned materials and in-house hand-painted finishes.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nCan the Merida be resoled?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nNot confirmed on the product page. As a general rule, leather-outsole dress shoes are typically more resole-friendly than cemented rubber-sole construction, but we recommend checking with a qualified cobbler to confirm resoling compatibility for this specific construction.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat does \"dress derby\" mean, and how is it different from an Oxford?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nA derby is a lace-up dress shoe with an open lacing system, where the eyelet panels are stitched on top of the vamp rather than beneath it, as on an Oxford. This typically gives derbies a slightly roomier, more adjustable fit, while Oxfords remain the more formal, closed-lacing choice for black-tie occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Marco Di Milano","offers":[{"title":"10 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422015593,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-10","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10.5 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422048361,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-10.5","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"11 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422081129,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-11","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"11.5 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422113897,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-11.5","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422146665,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-12","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"13 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422179433,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-13","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422212201,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-14","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"15 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422244969,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-15","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422277737,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-8","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"8.5 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422310505,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-8.5","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"9 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422343273,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-9","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"9.5 \/ Black","offer_id":67835422376041,"sku":"MERIDA BLACK-9.5","price":498.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1047\/7126\/files\/45e3ae9c-9153-5af5-b7d4-8ad536a8eb68.jpg?v=1792743303","url":"https:\/\/www.shoeclassix.com\/products\/marco-di-milano-merida-black-caiman-lizard-dress-derby","provider":"shoeclassix.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}