I was looking for a cognac boot to wear with brown skirts that was stylish yet had a heel that would be long-lasting. These are great. Darker than expected but still a deep, rich color. I love the fact that it zips, because it's a nice close fit on my calves and looks great with skirts and tights. With jeans, they have to be lightweight skinny or it's too tight (I have different boots for jeans). The only thing that annoyed me was the zipper clinks when you walk; but as a friend pointed out, boots are loud, and I got used to it pretty quickly.