This is a nice well made shoe. I'm not sure what material the upper is made of; I've never seen anything like this. It is a type of semi-rigid mesh material that is durable, breathable and cool to the touch. They are a bit stiff when you first put them on. But after wearing them for a whole day, they're pretty worn out. I got them as something I can just quickly put on to run errands. We live in the beach area and they are perfect for that. They look great and stylish. They are much more durable than the similar shoes they replaced. Even though I've only had them for a week, I'm sure they will last quite a while. The size is correct in my experience.