I love these boots, the wyoming leather is nice and soft and required no break in, unlike the Doc Martens smooth leather does. The Victorian flowers pattern is pretty and not scratchy. I can wear these boots without socks. These are comfortable right out of the box. Love both sets of laces for different looks, the ribbon ones for a dressier outfit and the flat ones for everyday.  I laced mine folded down ( you double lace through both upper and lower eyelets together) with the tongue folded under the laces and left them over night to train them down. It's easier if you clip the back buckle before you start lacing. Now they very easy to wear laced up or wear folded.