After buying two pairs of these shoes and returning them (with the first pair, one shoe was larger than the other; with the second, the styling of the shoe was completely different from the website), I finally found a pair that works for me. In my experience, they are true to size...I almost always wear a 9B, and that size fits me well (after an hour or so of breaking in because the top of the shoe behind the toes was a little tight at first). They are surprisingly comfortable for a new shoe made of rather stiff leather.

I love the classic look of the shoes, and the black box leather is nicer than I expected...yes it is a thick, somewhat stiff leather, but I love the smooth shiny leather, as opposed to the pebbled, soft leather, and the break-in time was not very long for me. The box leather is not as shiny as patent leather, but rather like a pair of shoes that has just been polished and buffed to a shine. It is also sturdy and I suspect will hold up better than the softer leather. The shoes are beautifully made and finished. Bravo to Bass for continuing to make this classic style, but with a softer footbed and good arch support. Makes me feel like a teenager again!