when i first received these shoes, i was honestly unhappy.  it looked slightly scuffed and dusty/faded, and the leather on the tongue looked like crumpled cellophane.  i was almost about to send them back because of how dull they looked, but i took them to the friend i bought them for, and he absolutely loves them. he thinks they look good, and are very comfortable, and he is very happy to have them. im guessing maybe they are supposed to be that way, but he's a guy obviously, and he saw nothing wrong with them, mentioning you're only going to see the bottom portion of it anyway. either way they are a good looking shoe, they are indeed comfortable as other reviewers mentioned, and are a little rugged looking. definitely going to buy the wax stuff that dr. marten has for its shoes, maybe thatll help bring  little luster back to it and seal up the leather for winter. all in all happy with it as he is happy with it.