As I've been buying and reviewing boots left and right this season and need to reign myself in, these very budget-friendly and well reviewed Chinese Laundry pair caught my eye. They turned out to be keepers but just barely...

First, the faux material is REALLY well done, as the other reviewers vouch. I was very impressed and you simply cannot tell these aren't the real thing. And I'm a bit of a leather snob. So big points there. The hardware is great too--not cheap or too shiny. The slight heel offers a bit of a boost while still remaining a nice flat boot. The shaft height is tall/wide enough to tuck leggings into, a look as of winter 2012 I'm still digging.

However, I clearly got a fluke pair or my foot has shrunk overnight because these were swimming on me! I ordered in my standard size (I'm between 8.5 and 9 and ordered in 8.5) and they are gigantic. Had I heeded other reviews and ordered up, I definitely wouldn't be able to keep them. Way too big and wide.  I can wear Bootights (hose w/a footed sock attached) AND knee socks over those and STILL have room to spare!

I have a very low, flat in-step;  I don't seek out zippered boots because I can shove my dogs into just about any boot. Perhaps due to dinky ankles and a low in-step, these positively gape at my ankle. They have a rain galoshes look on my foot. Very generously cut and no other boots I've recently purchased fit like this. In length they're more TTS, but in width and shaft, they seem tremendously bulky. If they fit more snugly at the ankle, they'd be flattering; as it stands, I wish I could cinch them with a rubber band or something-- there's that much 'extra' material.

Another small issue I have is the toe. The description says it's rounded, but ladies, this is not a true round toe boot (look for two boots I love that do have a genuinely rounded toe: Kickers in "Trestep"and Betsey Johnson in "Ariss"). So I wasn't thrilled with the slightly pointier toe as I wasn't expecting it. Nothing extreme, but not the rounded silhouette I prefer.

The color I chose is the Taupe; it reads grey tho. Unless you actually pair it with a true grey and then, not so much. But w/ my black clothes it can easily pass for grey. So if you're after a true neutral brownish taupe, be warned.

Because they were so affordable, and due to the impressive man made leather, I'm keeping them. Even tho they're too big, they're still comfy. They don't clomp when you walk and they'll definitely prove hardy in precipitation. But unless you have a high in-step and wider foot, I would recommend ordering in your normal size or even 1/2 size down, not up!