text: I like the design and style of these shoes, but irish dancers beware--they run LARGE not small by me. I'm normally a 7.5 or an 8 street shoe (US sizing) and I ordered an 8 based on the other reviews. They were several centimeters to long. This review is for irish dancers specifically, the extra room may work for other types of dance, but it will just make your hard shoe practice look and feel sloppy. I have not danced in them other than to try them on, and I will probably resell them, so I don't know about the durability. Beautiful shoes; the color is just a bright as in the picture, but beware the sizing.