Declan Plain Toe Derby (Men)

These are nice shoes but this review is mainly about sizing. Uncertainty about sizing was a roadblock for me on these for a while, so I hope this review is helpful to others. I typically wear a 9M but sometimes I need to size up/down depending on the shoe. Other reviewers have tagged this shoe as "runs large" which seems to have led Nordstrom to recommend buying a half-size smaller than one would normally wear. Other sites, including the brand's site, say "true to size", however. Who is correct? The uncertainty (and inability to try these on in person) had me on the fence on these for a while. I came across a NWT pair of these in 9M on another site at a steep discount. I took a gamble on my normal 9M and I am satisfied with that size. They do run a little large lengthwise---my heel slips a bit when I walk---but they fit well in the front of the foot. I probably wouldn't do a lot of walking in the 9M but perfect for the office. I would not say they are a half-size larger than stated. I suppose a 8.5M would eliminate the heel slip but might be too tight for me in the front of the foot and maybe too tight overall. (Again I'm not able to try these on in a store and compare sizes. I miss being able to do that.) In choosing a size consider how you like to your shoes to fit, and either go with your normal size or a half-size down, depending on your preference.