The "Sand" color is slightly darker than it appeared on my screen, but it is still a great neutral color. These fit true to size for me (I wear an 8 in almost all shoes), and with socks on there is still plenty of room for my toes. They are not tight at all nor are they overly roomy, which would make them a bit clumsy. The heel height is very comfortable and stable, and I think they look very feminine over tights/leggings/skinny jeans. The suede is not super soft -- it's sturdy, though, which is what I want in a structured (not slouchy!) boot like this.  One last important thing to note is that the laces are adjustable and make all the difference in terms of comfort! Straight out of the box, I thought I would have to return these since they were so tight on the top of my foot and restricting my ankle. A little loosening of the laces and they are perfect!  My only complaint is that the dark brown isn't available in my size, because I would buy them too!