I like the buckles. I'd wear those boots. The toes seem a bit wide more like what you might find with men's boots or clogs. I agree that the buckles should be a little darker, a pewter color instead of a silver I think. The zipper is in an odd place, normally with those type of shoes the zipper would be on the inside of the leg and the straps of the buckles would end there, making the zipper go through them instead of going over the top of the zipper.