It's definitely a metal look, and the pieces you put together aren't exact fits, so it doesn't look as beautifully clean as in the pictures. For example it's "expandable" where the shoes rest (i.e. the metal pieces slide apart), but since the metal pieces are a loose fit, it just sags in the middle of the rack if you try to slide them apart too much. If that makes sense. there was also a bent piece. Meh.