"I just bought these shoes for my daughter's upcoming wedding. The material is a beautiful sparkely silver material on the shoe as well as the heel. The heel height is perfect at 2 1/2 in. There are no buckles to dig you but there is a bit of elastic that holds the straps in place. Plus the angle of the strap across my foot and around my heel cradles my foot perfectly in place. There is no need to break these in. I cannot wait to dance the night away in these beautiful shoes."