These shoes have slightly turned-up toes, which I think is cute. I got the distressed black and wondered what form the distressing would take. It's the color, not the condition of the leather. The leather fades to grey in places (a look I really like) but the material is not thin or crackly. High quality shoe. I'm a 6 1/2 who orders a 7 to have room for cushy inserts. I ordered a 37 and hope to have room for a very thin insole (haven't added one yet but think it might be possible. If you're on the fence about size, order up.