I had a pair of very classic Nine West black boots for almost ten years. They started to show signs of wear so I started my hunt for a new pair. I looked through literally hundreds of boots in stores and online before I found these. I wanted black boots that were simple, classic, had a nicely shaped toe and heel, fit great, and weren't outlandishly pricey. After trying countless ones, I decided on these. The others I considered were Sam Edelman, Perugia, Cole Haan, Calvin Klein, Jessica Simpson, and Ralph Lauren. These won, I LOVE THEM! They are a great fit for me, I'm 5'6", 125lbs, my calf circumference at the widest part is 13-1/2", and it comes almost to knee length. I wear them with skirts and jeans (tucked into the boot) and the fit is wonderful. I don't really care for the buckle and wish the zipper was all the way up the side of the boot, but I can get them on just fine so it's not a big problem. I would highly recommend this boot!