"I read a bunch of reviews on this shoemaker and this boot before purchasing, so ordered a half size up. I'm generally a 9, but some brands a 9.5 - so this didn't seem weird. I could have ordered the 9, turns out. But they are good quality and I've gotten compliments on them. From the front and side, they look like a classic crisp brown riding boot, but the back is just as cute in person as it is in the pictures. Also, they smelled my whole bedroom up like leather the first few days! These are a great purchase. I've only worn them a couple times, though. I can see how some people said that the leather stretches with wear - they were tight around my calves the first wear, and now they are a liiiittttle loose at the calve. So buy your true size. ALSO, to my fat-calved brethren out there: These boots will fit. you can make the leather stretch AND there is an adjustable strap. If any boot will fit your calf, this one will. I'm 5'10 and got these bad boys to fit mine, so have at it !"