K/R: Short legs are fab, but tall boots are TOUGH! - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R: Short legs are fab, but tall boots are TOUGH!

Kristin SF

Veteran

I'm trying to find a great pair of tall black boots, and with my short legs and 5'2" height, this is proving to be tough.

I bought a pair of Born Lissa boots at Nordstrom today, on sale. In most ways, I love them: they are very comfy, they have the right heel, they can be dressy or casual, and they have a nice non-slip sole.

However, I have 2 issues:

1. The shaft seems a bit tall for my stubby legs. The shaft is 15", per Nordstrom website. I think this might be too high -- does it look too tall on my legs in the pics?

When I sit, the back top of the boot *does* pinch me a teeny bit in the back of the knee, but it's something I'm willing to overlook.

2. The top of the boot does gape open just a tad, which gives the boot a pirate feel, to my eyes. I would like a closer fit to my calf, but maybe my eye is off.

Thank you for helping me decide whether to keep these boots!

BONUS QUESTION: I'm wearing HUE leggings in this pic. Is this inappropriate with this length of shirt? Or is it OK for weekend wear? These leggings are so comfy, but sometimes I do feel as if I'm missing my pants. Thanks!

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20 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Thistle

Veteran

I think the boots do not fit you properly, and I vote return. They do look too tall and too wide at the top. I am not a boot expert, so others may be better able to answer this.

I think the leggings and top look nice together!

Kristin SF

Veteran

Thanks Thistle. I think I agree with you. I so wanted to keep them because the right boot is hard to find, but they are going back. Thank you for the confirmation!

cciele

Veteran

Yes, I agree with Thistle -- too tall and too wide. Nice boot though!

I'm 5'3" and find 15" is pushing it for height, for me. I like the 14" shaft length of my Frye Veronicas Slouches.

As far as the leggings go, I personally would wear a longer top (I have similar Hue leggings) but it seems like people are wearing shorter tops with their jeggings/skinnies these days, so who knows

Kristin SF

Veteran

Thanks cciele - those Veronicas look great and esp nice for a MOTG like myself. Thanks!

catgirl

Veteran

I'm 5"1" and I find 13" to be the ideal boot height for me. Good luck trying to find that shaft height. The boots I just got are fllat but hit right at that sweet spot for me and it's amazing how easy it is to wear them. I don't have to style around them at all - they just work. It's worth finding the right one.

Kristin SF

Veteran

Thanks alaskagirl, it's great to hear about ideal boot height from other petite gals. I will look around for boot heights between 13-14 inches.

Agree with you on it being worth the wait to find the right boot. I am preparing myself for a long but fun search.

These Born boots were not cheap, even at the sale price, so I am leaving soon to return them to Nordstrom. (No hardship there, I just have to be sure to return them and then LEAVE.) Hehehe....

Queen Mum

Veteran

Glad you're returning them. Finding great fitting boots is NOT easy... but well worth the hunt. Don't settle for "good enough." Hold out for perfect.

Raisin

Veteran

I don't mind the height so much, but I think they are gapeing too much, so I would I return them. As for the leggings...well I'm not a huge fan of them with just a shirt in general. I prefer them under a tunic or longer. But I think as long as when you bend over they are not sheer enough to show your undies then they pass.

catgirl

Veteran

I agree with RunnerRae, the leggings don't seem like quite enough coverage with this shirt.

Kristin SF

Veteran

Thanks Rae. Funnily enough, that is how I bought my very first pair of Lululemon pants - the salesgirl had me bend over in the store so she could check for sheerness. I was laughing so hard but I did it anyway.

K. Period.

Veteran

LOL at the bend over test, but love it too because that (coverage) is an essential for me for all leggings. I only wear mine with something longer than my crotch point and I only really feel comfortable if I can touch my longest finger to the hem of the top and not the legging.

Glad you are sending the boots back. They are too high and too wide in the calf. Tall boots are an expensive purchase and they need to be right. You will find the right ones--they just aren't these!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sad about the boots, but you've got great advice here about the best height, and you'll probably find at that height they gap less as well.

I vote a longer tunic with the leggings, or perhaps a flat heeled boot (which takes away from the "bombshell" effect a bit.)

Aida

Veteran

Agree with the others that the boots are too tall in the shaft (pretty, though!). I personally would not wear these leggings as pants, and would treat them as thick tights to wear under short dresses

JR

Veteran

I agree with the consensus, both on the boots and on the leggings. They look more like tights than pants so they look underdressed with a short top.

Too bad about the gaping problem.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Glad to hear you're taking them back, because I agree with the others, they are too tall for you.

I am 5'1", although I do have proportionally long shins...but still, 14" is about the most my little legs can manage. I have the Hunter tall boots and they are about an inch taller than I'd like (although I bought them anyway and they are darned useful). I just measured them, the shaft height is 15". My other pairs of tall boots, which do fit well, have shaft heights of no more than 14". So you're probably looking for something in that ballpark. If you have proportionally short legs, you might be looking at more like 13". They can be found, though!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Yep, your pictures brought back sad memories from my NAS boot shopping...:-(
They are too tall in the shaft and therefore to wide in the opening.
I am 5'10" and have the same problem finding tall boots which are not too tall in the shaft. I guess my legs are on the longer side to the knee and shorter from the knee down.
Don't give up though and you will find them. Good luck!
As for the leggings I personally don't wear them with anything shorter than mid-thigh - tunic or dress. It is true you can see them everywhere worn like pants with shorter tops but it looks very unattractive and even trashy to my eye. Leggings are not pants!!!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Oh, poo. Yes, they do seem too tall and too wide. I'd go with Una's advice on boot height; she knows her boots! I cannot give any good style recs, since I have unusually long shins for my height.

catgirl

Veteran

Okay, I'm going to add more hard-earned advice, after regretfully sending back any number of boots...

If they hit the back of your legs at all when you sit, they're too tall. If the shaft is too wide only at the top, they're too tall. If they bunch at the ankle, they're off unless meant to be shouchy. If you look like you're standing in a tube, they're too wide and tall.

My calves are skinny AND I have short legs (compared to the average person - I'm actually fairly proportionate), which makes it even harder to fit. If you have the money and are willing to pay return shipping, there's a company out of England that does custom calf sizing. I tried a pair of their boots and they were really well made but they style did not work perfectly for me in the ankle fit. However, they'd be worth a try.

http://www.duoboots.com/

Kristin SF

Veteran

Thank you Una, that is a great reco, I like their styles - aside from the cm to in conversion, ugh math.

I did take your advice and went back to look for a boot with a 13" height. Just for kicks, I tried a mid-calf boot, which I always thought would look terrible on a short person like myself - the top of the boot would hit me right at the widest part of my calf, ick no.

Surprisingly, however, I really like the look and - could it be possible - the boot almost makes the rest of my legs look longer? Anyway, these are not the dress boots I was looking for, but I think I found one of the 5 basic boots that Angie recommends: the Born Treddy in snare. I like it so much, I might go back for the black.

Granted, you have skinny calves and mine are very, ahem, athletic. But in your boot experience, what do you think of the mid-calf boot for shorter women? This particular boot has a height of 12.5". Thanks!

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catgirl

Veteran

See, that would not be midcalf on me - 10 -11 inches is midcalf, anything above that hits close to a "knee-high" look for me. The Gidigio boots are 13" and right at the perfect spot for the style But my favorite Rockports were 11" and very versatille. So yes, I like that height!