For anyone who loves the style of riding boot, this shoe is perfect. The chain thing at the bottom instead of a buckle is really cute and I love the look of the pull tabs at the top. At first I was just looking for a basic boot with no extra decorations, but this style is simple, flattering, and fashionable. I got the cognac color because I wanted a light brown that complemented every color so I could wear it with everything. The color is almost exactly the color in the photos, so I am not disappointed; of course, the brown color is not completely uniform throughout the boot (there are some inconsistencies). This is due to the type of leather they used to make the shoe (nubuck), and adds to the vintage, distressed look of the boot (which I love, but I understand some people don't like it). The leather is soft and wonderful; however, I have only worn the boot 2-3 times and cannot tell you how it holds up. The material is soft but I'm not sure how sturdy it will be over the course of a few years (I'm planning on wearing this boot for a long time because of how expensive it was).

As for size, I think the boot fits true to size length-wise, but it is quite narrow. I am hoping the shoe will adapt to my foot eventually because I like it too much to return it. I researched this boot on many websites before purchasing it because I wanted a boot that fit my calf. I have very narrow calves (about 13 inches) and so it's really hard to find a boot that fits snugly. Every cheap boot gaps a lot, and so I had to spend a lot of money to find the perfect boot. It was worth it, though. The opening to this shoe is almost perfect for me- the calf fits perfectly around jeans, and gaps only a little with thick leggings. I bought some warm knee-length socks so that they wouldn't gap as much, and they are basically perfect. They look sleek and wonderful and I'm very happy. Of course, I bought a smaller size (6), so the fit of the calf may be partly due the size. There is some goring on the top of the boot to fit thicker calves. I'm 5'4'' and these boots come up past my calves to about an inch below my knee. I think they might look different on differently-sized people. Lastly, some things I love about the boot are the narrowness of the ankle area (very flattering) and the presence of the side zipper (makes putting on and taking off much easier).

The boots are way cheaper than the original price (over $200?) and for me, even cheaper with Amazon discounts and free shipping. So for the price, this boot is really great. It looks so cute! If you're considering it, buy it!! I've had no major problems with it so far and I'm very happy with the way it looks :)

EDIT

I've been wearing these boots all winter, they have been holding up great, and I love them! I wear them nearly every day- they are comfortable and durable. Glad I spent the money!

EDIT

I liked these boots so much that I bought them in black also. I wore them all last winter and they still look great! The black ones are not as soft as my brown ones but I think it might be because I have not broken them in yet. They are just as beautiful as my old ones.