They have a kind of a shiny velvet look. My daughter loves these shoes. To the point where that nice true to size fit out of the box no longer exists and I have to constantly and consciously grip them (apply downward pressure) with my toes to keep them on. This however does not steer me away from my Merrills. Han resistido bien, se secan muy rápido, son comodas y tienen buena apariencia. Great casual patio shoes, not good for the cockpit ;-) The quality of material and thickness were better than I expected and they slid on easily and fit like a glove (he wears an 11 1/2 so I bought a size 12. This shoe fits my wide foot excellent. These slippers are comfortable, great support, and last longer than any other slippers I have had. Ive had them for about 3 months now and they no longer turn on or off when taking them out or replacing them in their charging case.