Silomi's husband: This is my first shoe buying experience online. Wow, was I impressed. After wasting an hour walking around the mall, I gave up and went to amazon. As usual, prices were better than anywhere else and the generous return policy alleviated my concern about shopping for shoes. I work at a hospital wearing business clothes - khakis and button down shirt but not usually a tie. These shoes are dressy enough to wear with a tie but are as comfortable as sneakers. Probably wouldn't go well with a full suit but I'm not exactly a fashion expert. The material is leather and appears to be a of good quality. The soles give a good grip- you could probably run in these if you had to, and don't squeak or anything. I have had a pair of Rockport shoes before which I really liked. I am once again pleased with this brand. Great shoes!