I bought these shoes for daytime walking on the cobblestone streets and for more formal evening wear. They're great for a day on the pavement and acceptable for everyday business situations. I ordered half a size larger than usual and it has paid off going uphill and downhill. The only downside is that after a few days of wearing, the black paint has peeled off the stitching and raw edges of some leather parts, resulting in an odd white lining effect. Applying black paint to heels and shoes restored the original look, but customers should expect to have to do this on a regular basis.