My calf circumference is 13 inches, which makes it somewhat tricky to find well-fitting knee-high sleek boots that are NOT supposed to gape around the calf area. Slouchy boot styles on the other hand, are easier to fit because the gaping works with the relaxed vibe of the boot. 

There is good news and bad news. You’ll find tall sleek boots to fit a narrow 12 to 13.5 inch calf, but you’ll more than likely pay a premium price. Brands like Stuart Weitzman, Donald Pliner, Prada, Cole Haan, Chanel, Aquatalia, Munro, Sudini, and La Canadienne regularly make tall boots to fit narrow calves, but they’re expensive. Your best bet is to keep your eyes peeled for a sale.  

Here are 10 dressy and casual boot styles with a narrow calf circumference. I’ve had most of the styles on my own feet and can vouch for their comfort. 

• Vaneli ‘Riwana’ Boot: A few of our forum members have raved about this classic little riding boot, and the reviews are great. Currently on sale. 
• Aquatalia by Marvin K ‘Minnow’ Weatherproof Boot: Casual and simple. The shade of brown is rich and lovely. 
• Aquatalia by Marvin K ‘Undy’ Weatherproof Woven Shaft Boot: I own these and they are heavenly. What an absolutely beautifully made boot. The elasticized top actually stretches out to 15 inches, which is the measurement given in the description of the style. But they also fit my 13 inch calves extremely well. 
• Dr. Martens 20 Eye Zip Boot: You can adjust the laces so that they fit both a 12 inch and 15 inch calf. The shafts on these are really high so unless you are regular height or taller, they will be too tall for the bottom half of the leg. I stand at 5ft 6 and the height of the shaft only just fits. 
• Stuart Weitzman ‘Demi’ Stretch Suede Boot: A stunningly elegant boot. 
• Gentle Souls Mona Beam: These aren’t as elegant as the Weitzman’s but they are fun in a more retro and ’70s way. Nice slim ankle fit. 
• Cole Haan Air Rosalyn Boot 75: A classic boot with a tidy heel and dressy vibe. Super soft leather and fab for a formal office. 
• Frye Riding Chelsea Boots: Rugged and great with jeans. 
• Fitzwell Luna Boots: A pretty good price for a sleek boot. 
• La Canadienne Dorina: This short shaft height makes them ideal for narrow calved petites. 

There’s also the Franco Sarto Yonkers boot that I featured a few weeks ago, and Duoboots make boots to fit a narrow calf. It’s a costly exercise but you can have the calf widths of boots tapered to fit a narrow calf if you bring them to a skilled cobbler. 

It’s also important to make sure that the shafts of sleek boots aren’t too high, which is especially crucial for petites. A boot can actually fit in the calf but still gape because it’s too tall for your leg. In that case look for boots with a shorter shaft height.

Thanksgiving is particularly meaningful because it allows us to reflect back on what we have to be thankful for. As I reflect back on YLF and my work as a fashion stylist, there are several people that I would like to acknowledge. 

• Our fabulous friend Morgan, who worked with Greg on the iPhone and Android apps for YLF. Greg loved working with you and I also enjoy spending time with you, your lovely wife Christina, and adorable French bulldog Biscuit. Your spunky and fashion forward style is the cherry on top. YLF is lucky to have you. 
• Inge, our fabulous new addition to the YLF Team. We couldn’t be more thrilled with her wisdom, input and hard work. YLF Books is stocked with a brilliant assortment of books that cut across all sorts of fashion and style topics, and the competition section runs like clockwork. Thank you for lightening our load with such skill, and for the finesse and kindness that you bring to all that you do. 
• My incredible local and international clientele. I throughly enjoy working with you, especially when we laugh up a storm. Thank you for entrusting me to find your sense of style and making it a fun process. You are all too fabulous for words.
• Our engaged and supportive readership whose wit, warmth, intellect, compassion and wisdom know no bounds. 
• Our Veteran forum members who give up so much of their time to lovingly encourage and help others out on the forum. 
• My incomparable husband Greg, who makes my world a better place. Thank you for constantly being my number one inspiration.
• Our little Yorkshire Terrier Rosie, for her loyalty, companionship and inexhaustible cuteness. She is always with us as we type away on our computers, snuggled up on one of her beds by our feet. Her adorable little snores and sighs are the best background noise in the world. 
• Last but not least, thanks go to our other little angel from heaven, Jasmine, who is constantly in our hearts. Words cannot express how much we miss you. 

We are YLF wish you a happy, peaceful and safe Thanksgiving weekend. 

What force out there has the power to draw nine women from across a vast Canadian province and one visitor from the opposite coast to a single mall in Toronto? What could possibly compel those 10 ladies to adopt an animal theme and turn said mall into their very own urban jungle? What could prompt the group to tackle all topics from handbag shape to Moroccan cultural norms and go from virtual strangers to fast friends in a matter of hours? This mysterious, potent force, whatever it is, recently resulted in one very special day!! 

It really began weeks before when Sveta, inspired by international YouLookFab conventions around the globe, suggested the Canadian contingent get in gear and make something happen. What began as a forum post with few responses began to snowball when Seattle fashion star Kari floated the idea of spending her midwinter vacation in Toronto, home to some fab shopping and a handful of YLF stalwarts. A little peer pressure later and Kari’s plane ticket was booked, while those closer to home began plotting ways to show her a good time. The impetus to deliver a special day only grew as other Canadians living two, three and even five hours away, began rearranging schedules and forking over train fair in order to get in on the action.

And so, with a little help from train, plane and automobile, 10 lovely ladies gathered at Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall on a surprisingly glorious November day. The busy brunch staff probably wondered what hit them as, one by one, we trooped in garbed in our chosen theme of the day. In an effort to showcase our up-to-date style and adherence to YLF wisdom, we’d all opted to don an animal-inspired item as part of our outfit. Leopard scarves were the order of the day for Sveta, HelloKitty and Angela, while Erin carried the print over to her shopping bag and paired it with snakeskin shoes. A faux fur vest and a butterfly pin were Celia’s contribution to the menagerie, while Patty tapped into her wild side with an abstract animal print top. The outfits from Suz and Krishnidoux took flight with help from bird pins and owl earrings, respectively, while Kari and your humble blog writer went all out in animal print dresses (mine in zebra, hers in leopard). My darling guide dog Reva wanted in on the action, of course, and fit so well into our theme that she didn’t change a thing!

We all exchanged the sort of hugs usually reserved for long-lost friends and swapped rapturous exclamations about the differences between our online pictures and ourselves in the flesh, but from that moment on fashion became a footnote to the rest of our wide-ranging conversation. Keen questions, wise insight and witty banter were all on display at our table as we set about getting to know each other, a process that felt surprisingly easy after our months of interaction on the forum. I’d always read that YLF gatherings had the feel of a party where only your favourite people take time to show up, and I can now categorically say this is true.

Two hours flew by in the restaurant, and we likely could have spent twice as long in this way, but we decided to hit the stores and see what kind of headway we’d make on our winter shopping lists. The complications of group travel kept us moving at a sedate pace and prevented us from covering more than a tiny fraction of the stores on offer, but your Canuck animals gave it a game try! Angela, Suz and Krishnidoux tried to find jeans at Seven for All Mankind and Lucky Brand, and Krishnidoux showed her metal as she resisted our enabling influence and bypassed a pair of jeans that fit like a glove but that gave her heart palpitations with its dizzying price tag.

Zara proved a fruitful stop for Erin, who came away with a flowy blouse with exposed back zipper. Angela hit pay dirt at Holt Renfrew, where she acquired two Obi belts in black and brown. And after witnessing first hand the joys of shopping with discerning eyes and style mavens who encourage me to push my envelope, I came away with a handkerchief hem tunic in red, black, white and grey.

Some of our party had to say goodbye at this point to start making their way back to their far-flung homes, but five of us remained and decided to revel in coffee and conversation. Before we knew it, another two hours had flown by and we reluctantly dragged ourselves to the parking lot, taking scenic routes and chattering all the while. Every departure was heralded with multiple hugs from everyone and promises to reunite the gang very soon, a promise I have no doubt we’ll keep. Because our pleasure in the day came not from the clothes we purchased, but from the people our mutual interest in fashion has connected us with. It’s rare at any time to find a large group of intelligent peers who share a common interest. This group has so much more. The diversity that opens the door to cultural learning experiences, the humour that kept 10 people laughing throughout the day, the kindness that prompted people who had never met before to open their homes to one another, and the wisdom to harness the power of that mysterious force out there.

What is that power? YouLookFab, of course. Heartfelt thanks to Angie, Greg, Rosie and Jasmine for creating an online community unlike any I’ve ever seen, for freeing 10 animals from their fashion cages and opening the door to new social and style pastures in which to run wild.

Having told my own skincare story in the first post of the series, I’m now going to ask three lovely ladies to each share their own journey. Today I’m talking to New York Fashion Stylist and author, Kendall Farr. With several best selling books under her belt, the author of The Pocket Stylist and Style Evolution is at the top of her game. When we met in person during fashion week I noticed her lovely nourished skin and she was on the top of my list when I planned this series. 

Angie: What is your skin type? Has it changed over the years? 

Kendall: I have pink skin with freckles that’s highly, highly sensitive. I used to have a more oily skin, but now have true combination skin with an oily T-zone. Growing up, my skin was prone to rashes and break outs, and it still reacts that way. Sometimes I find myself looking for adult acne cream! But I am a master with concealer, which really helps. 

How did your Mother influence your approach to skincare? 

Yes, yes, yes. My Mother has great skin and influenced my skincare regime 100%. I grew up seeing her come home from work and really take the time to cleanse her skin with cold cream and a warm water washcloth. She massaged her skin and made sure that it was spotlessly clear of make-up. She told me to NEVER go to bed without removing my make-up, no matter how tired I was. This is something that I have taken to heart. 

At what age did you start thinking seriously about skincare? 

My highly sensitive skin makes me very diligent to learn about skincare. As a teen in the ’70s, I went to a hippy Wellness Clinic in Boston and that’s where I changed the way I thought about skin. There I learned that essential oils are precisely what an oily skin needs to calm it down. It sounds counter intuitive to put oil on top of oil, but it fights the bacteria and clears redness. I looked like an oil slick, but essential oils really worked to clear up my break outs. 

Are facials part of your skincare regimen? 

I’m not big on them, but do find them relaxing. 

What is your current skincare routine? 

I use both low and high-end beauty products. I cleanse twice a day, but don’t use toner. After cleansing, I moisturize and finish off with essential oils. My nighttime moisturizers are stronger than my daytime moisturizers. I also wear sunscreen both in my moisturizer and tinted moisturizer. 

How has your skincare routine changed over the years? 

I now use an electrical skin cleansing brush with a gentle cleanser daily. I highly recommend this cleansing system. Wow! It really makes your skin look and feel clean. It’s *amazing*.  I also stay hydrated on the inside with water and iced green tea. I drink as much as 10 cups of green tea a day. Yeah, there has to be a restroom close by wherever I go.

Were there any big sudden changes in your approach to skincare?

At age 45 my skin turned truly combination and I started cleansing and moisturizing in different ways to accommodate the change. 

What are the most important things that you have learned about skincare? 

One, never let the surface of your skin dry out. Two, wear sunscreen. Three, adjust your skincare routine with the changing seasons, thereby adding more moisture in the Winter months. 

Where do you purchase your skincare products? 

Sometimes I splurge on pricey essential oils, but for the most part I’m a drugstore and health food store girl. I’m also a product junkie, always looking out for the next best thing for my skin. 

If time and money were no object, how would you improve your skincare routine? 

Ooooh. I’d routinely zap myself with electrical currents to improve the texture of my skin. I have a friend who regularly does this type of treatment and she has the best skin. Hmmm. I think that’s what I am going to give myself for Christmas. 

What’s your number one skincare tip? 

Being savvy about the sun! Wear sunscreen every day. 

Kendall and I also spoke about how we prefer the look of a shiny face, as opposed to one that is made to look more matte with powder. There is no right or wrong here because it’s a completely subjective stylistic preference. Kendall uses a very light brush of powder on her skin once a day to combat excessive shine. Kendall also says that using too much powder on her freckled skin makes her complexion look grey and unhealthy. 

Your wisdom is much appreciated, Kendall. You are charming and eloquent, and I adore your wicked sense of humour. I’m not very good at drinking water, but love hot green tea and will enjoy drinking more of it. You’ve also sold me on the electrical skin cleansing brush. I’ve just ordered one and hope to find it on my doorstep very soon. 

Ladies with combination and oily skin types, do you have further skincare tips to share? Did you know that essential oils can work for an acne prone skin?