OK, so I'm almost seventy, but still like a NICE looking heel for certain dressy occasions. BUT they have to be WEARABLE. As in I want to be able to wear them at least four or five hours and to be able to stand in them! HERE ARE MY PROS AND A COUPLE CAVEATS for the 8.5 BLACK PATENT AND THE REGULAR BLACK LEATHER (GOT BOTH :-)) PROS: QUALITY - REALLY like the quality of these. They came from ZAPPO'S, so can't speak to what you may get from a different vendor. INSIDE is great, just enough cushion and support. PRICE - I got these when they were about forty bucks, GREAT DEAL for CLARK'S and for my one DRESSY pair of heels. QUALITY, LOOKS AND GREAT PRICE. LOOKS - OK I didn't think THIS was possible. Because of the small platform at the front, for a heel that is this high, these are COMFY and easy to wear. I don't feel I am TOTTERING on them. I LOVE they don't look like old lady heels! THESE would be great for any special occasion you needed something a bit dressy. FIT - I found these true to size, I wear an 8.5 in just about anything but flip flops, but GET READY FOR A COUPLE CAVEATS AND SOME ADVICE BELOW! CAVEATS AND ADVICE for those of you who may have ANY foot issues: I have bunions. MODERATE, but DEFINITELY THERE. AND I broke my toe next to my big toe, so it sticks UP a bit and can rub on just about any pair of shoes or boots so I put a SILICONE TOE SLEEVE ON IT (otherwise it will rub and bleed). Those silicone toe sleeves are GREAT if you have a toe or toes that stick up from being broken, corns and VARIOUS VENDORS sell on AMAZON. IN SPITE of the bunions, THIS SHOE FITS (and I didn't get a WIDE, just a regular 8.5). NOW, the toe that sticks UP, NO SHOE can really accommodate that, that's where the silicone toe sleeve comes in to keep it from rubbing. BLACK PATENT isn't QUITE as comfy as the regular leather and won't stretch like regular leather, but do a wee bit (FYI, for the PATENTS, if you put them on and put your hair dryer on LOWEST WARM setting and run back and forth, again on lowest WARM setting, it softens them up and helps stretch a bit). I THOUGHT of trying these in a wide, but that wouldn't really help the toe that sticks up, so staying with the regular 8.5. IN SPITE of some toe issues, I have a fairly narrow foot. YOU MAY WISH to try a wide and the regular and send back whichever one doesn't work. OVERALL, I GIVE THIS A RESOUNDING FIVE! At my age, with my foot issues, to be able to WEAR this shoe (not sure I would want to WALK IN IT FOR HOURS, but that goes for MOST FLATS AND HEELS) and not be in pain? To get this quality at this price? IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NICE, YET COMFY, DRESS SHOE, TRY IT. You can also return them and I can't imagine any heel this high being as comfortable as these are!
