The picture made the shoes almost like a mustard suede. Actually, they are a textured faux leather and the color is even more versatile because it is a creamy coffee tan that throws a mustard hue or a brownish hue like a suede would. I love the heel because it is shiny black. This gives the shoe a more elegant look. Most tan or brown shoes come with a brown or wood like heel that dresses down a shoe in my opinion. The heel size is 2.25 inches or 6 cm exactly. The shoes are more versatile in use than I had originally purchased them for.