Bed Stu Manchester II Women's Ankle Boots - Genuine Leather Casual Booties for Everyday Wear | Perfect for Fall, Winter & Street Style Outfits

I absolutely LOVE these boots. First off, I am an absolute boot girl. This winter I am back in the northeast, for my first snow season in years. In the fall, I bought 2 pair of tall boots, which I love... but had no concept how impossible dress-soles are to wear once it freezes. I slipped and fell more than once, just walking to my car. I had therefore been wearing my favorite Frye Veronicas every day... until I discovered Bed Stu. Not only do these Bed Stu boots have the stylish and polished look of a tall dress boot, but they are completely comfortable and walkable, in the way you can imagine a boot designed for walking all around NYC would be. They are beautiful, make me look polished, and can also handle a rainy day and even the (thankfully gone now) snow or icy sidewalks.What I love most about these boots is their ability to deliver chic style, a sexy sleek leg, and also the kind of swagger I love about my Fryes. What they also deliver, and which will make me add Bed Stu to my list of favorite boot companies, is quality. Having grown up around horses, I have an appreciation of quality leather craftsmanship. I've had my Fryes for nearly 10 years -- they hold up and get better with age, compared to so many 'this season's style' boots that are only meant to last a couple years. In these Bed Stus, I am in love with the bespoke sense of craftsmanship, down to the cobbled soles and the Y-yoke at the ankle.How else can I gush? I love the fit. Reading other reviews, most talk is about how they pull on. Here's the thing: from the picture, you might expect these are the 'stand up straight in your closet,' rigid leather boots. They are not. The foot is rigid, with the solidity of a true riding boot, with solid toe and heel, but the leather from the ankle up is supple and unlined. If you have large calves, they may not fit, but mine are thin-to-average, and I routinely wear these pulled on over a sock and skinny jeans, leggings or cords. I found them true to size, with this explanation: I am a true 6.5 but sometimes size to 7 in shoes where I'll wear (heavy) socks. My Fryes are tight with wool socks, and so are the BedStus, so I'd say order in your regular size for wearing with regular socks or tights. In the BedStus, I ordered a 6.5 and at first thought they were tight in the toe box (another reviewer mentioned) with regular socks -- but I've worn them now entire days and don't think so, so it may be something you feel when they are brand new. The other issue in reviews has to do with the unlined leather being hard to pull up your calf. Answer? They're just the kind of boot that goes on more easily if you first fold your pantleg against your leg and pull your sock over the pantleg, so the boot floats smoothly over it -- which also keeps your jeans/pants more sleekly tucked down as the day goes on. No issues with leggings or tights. I have no complaint about that little finickiness, as the snug fit is what makes them so gorgeously sleek. The lacing at the back of the knee is a great touch for fit and style.As for pricing, I held out to shop for the best price and missed a month of winter wearing in order to wait for a sale price, which had them down to regular boot prices. This made them easier to enjoy without the guilt. For a higher priced boot, I would want Bed Stu to keep working on its finish, as a second pair I saw showed that staining is sometimes uneven, and would do well to wrap around the edges of leather so a white edge does not show (Bed Stu, listening?). But overall, the materials, craftsmanship, style, fit and hardware on these boots justify their pricing with other boots that last more than a few seasons.Obviously I love these boots, and definitely recommend them.