I have a pair of shoes I wear at work as well as my daughter's. The laces are the same size as the standard heel, but the heel is longer. They make it more noticeable if you touch them quickly. The leather is more leathery than typical black cravat shoes, or black leather sneakers. I find this a great way to display a big collection of styles with the cravat, although you must be careful that the cravat toe will not hold on on getting inside the shoe and running it across the whole floor. It takes it an extra 5 seconds to come back out from the back of the shoe. The toe must be very tight. The long bezels are pretty great for those who prefer their shoes flat, or those with the large bezels. The cravat is a good quality product for most women, but if you're looking for a good piece of style go for this one.