**UPDATE 11/24/12
I am still absolutely in love with these boots. They're comfortable and, with the help of Frye's boot polish, still looking fantastic. Women literally stop me to ask who makes them nearly every time I have them on. They dress up (or down) any outfit effortlessly and are easily the kicks I wear most often.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

ORIGINAL REVIEW 11/15/11
I have been pining for good riding boots for years. I kept purchasing pairs under $100, and by the end of the season each one was shot. I was tired of just wasting money but wasn't sure I was ready to buy $300+ boots online. I prowled the internet for weeks just to be sure I was getting the best deal.

SIZE: The sizing on these also gave me pause. Some ladies are encouraging going up a size, others say they run large. I think it varies with the boot style. I had originally ordered the Cavalry boot in a 5.5 and, while it was snug, I knew that they'd loosen up over time and would have fit beautifully. However, the style was too angular for my taste and I returned them. So I went to a store to actually look at the boots in person. The displays are so seductive! Every lady in the store had her own story about Frye boots. Some of them had purchased pairs in the 1970's that they're still wearing today! I realized that the price of each pair reflects the outstanding attention paid to every detail.

I discovered that I preferred a size 6 in the Melissa button boot. I'm traditionally anywhere from a 5.5-6 with a very high arch and "baby" bunions. The 6 gives room for my poor mangled feet without feeling like I'm swimming in them. They're a little tight to get on, but I expect as much from a high-quality zipper-less boot. The store didn't have the color of boot I wanted, so I ordered them from Amazon because as a Prime member, I'd get them in less than 48 hours.

COLOR: The cognac color is divine. I can wear them with literally any color in my wardrobe without hesitation. I ordered them with the normal calf opening and they give me just enough room for jeggings & leggings - normal "narrow cut" jeans have a tendency to bunch at my knee. My coworker who is shorter than I am but far more athletic can't wear them at all because she's too buff for the shaft of the boot.

The soles are slippery at first but that is just the style of the sole (if you've ever purchased a pair of "real" cowboy boots you've noticed the same thing). While at first I could "Risky Business" my way across my living room it didn't take much scuffing on my sidewalk before I felt sufficient traction.

BOTTOM LINE: I wore these for 4 (yes, four) straight days after receiving them and my feet still felt fantastic. I am so glad that I purchased them; they certainly won't be my last pair of Fryes!