I had recently bought another pair of Clarks (my first) that I liked fine, but wasn't in love with. I'm still not. They're a different style, of course, than these, and I'm glad I took a chance on another pair of Clarks for these.

For starters, the leather is like butter. I'm actually shocked by how supple and delightful it is. The low-to-mid-calf height is perfect for my large calves-- I can't wear knee high boots unless they're specifically designed for larger calves, and even then sometimes they're too tight to be comfortable. These stop at just the right height that they're comfortable and warm. The opening isn't so wide that I can't wear my jeans over them, nor so tight that they rub my legs.

The inside lining is a little fuzzy, making them warmer than other straight leather boots.

I got them last week, and promptly started wearing them everywhere. Only a day or two of wear in I wore them to walk around a city for a few hours-- they felt great! They are new, so this was definitely breaking them in, but I don't regret wearing them for that much walking one bit.

I haven't worn them with a skirt yet, but they'd definitely work. I'm not into skinny jeans so that's a non-issue for me.