https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:56:12 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1847345 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:47:04 +0000 Anonymous 1847345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have many issues with tall boots, even though I'm only 5'2" tall, but my 5' tall DD sure does. They're all too tall and hit her in the wrong place. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1847241 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:10:23 +0000 Chris987 1847241@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much all for the terrific information! </p> <p><b>Gryffin</b> thanks for the brand suggestions, and especially thanks for the pointer to wardrobeoxygen.com. I checked it out and found a page titled <i><u>“tall boots for wide calves”.</u></i>&nbsp;..do a search on that title to find it. The post is 11 years old so some of the links to web sites might no longer work but it is full of great information on how to measure and think about fit. </p> <p><b>Emily K</b> thanks, great fitting info, especially that tidbit about widest part of calf being “lower” on a petite person and how to work with that. I’ll check out widewidths.com too but you are right to raise an eyebrow at too many “final sale” items. I personally learned my lesson on that and never buy “final sale” items online, ever. </p> <p><b>Suz</b>, YLF Qjeen of dressing well for a cold messy winter, your advice on footwear is THE BEST! Thanks for elaborating further on the measurement info <b>Emily K</b> provided. Those stories of nasty SAs are sort of funny but NOT. It’s so childish to dislike people simply because of their body size and shape and if a clothing business hires SAs with that attitude the store deserves to not do well. It’s also good to understand that even once you pour over measurements on web sites the fit can still be a little bit off ( &nbsp;guess that’s true for almost everything). I DO remember your story about ordering a bunch of stuff with Sveta delivered to a Nordstrom store, it sounded like a real hoot! I DO ask strangers about their outfits if I like something I see. No one ever minds :-)&nbsp;</p> <p><b>MidwestMarie </b>thanks and an elastic gore is definitely one good possibility. I will check out BarkingDogShoes...and thanks <b>Style Fan</b> for also recommending it. also, I learned about that site a few months ago and it’s really awesome. Love the name too. </p> <p><b>Jenni Z </b>congrats on your terrific luck in fining a perfect pair of boots like that! </p> <p><b>Muffin</b> good point about being willing to pay a high price for tall boots when the perfect pair appears.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Janet</b> thanks for the note on the Borns, will definitely check it out. And good tip about having a cobbler stretch them…</p> <p><b>Angie</b>, yup, yup, yup. Thanks for the support in our tall boot quest and the validation that it can take a lot of looking</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846949 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 17:26:15 +0000 Suz 1846949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Karen13, there's no strict "extra" amount I follow, because honestly, the width measurements are rarely accurate in my experience anyway, or rather, the boot is made to fit a normal height person's calf and so might be "too wide" or "too narrow" in the wrong spot for a shorter person anyway. Experimentation -- and elasticization -- is key. Elastic gussets or panels or stretch leather are godsends to the narrower or wider and shorter of calf.&nbsp;</p> <p>With a 15 inch calf you might be a tweenie in some brands but might fit perfectly in others in regular calf width. I wouldn't peg you as wide calf, though. Each brand (and each boot within a brand) can be different.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846943 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 17:15:39 +0000 karen13 1846943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for starting this discussion Chris! I have an additional question for the tall boot-wearing brigade.  How much additional room does one need in comparing calf width with boot width if you want to tucking in pants? .5"?</p> <p>I'm 5"2, with a 15 and 1/8" calf circumference at 11.5" off the ground - large and low attaching - they stay large for quite a ways down.  I have never worn tall boots as I don't own any skinny pants (because of said calf issues), and I don't wear skirts. But I recently took a flyer on some B.O.C. Faye boots with wide calves on line. I didn't carefully read the specs, but when they arrived in a size 7, the shaft had 2+" of extra room, all the way down. It turns out they are 18" circumference. So I may be a 'tweener in terms of calf width. And anyone looking for wide calf with a 6, 6.5 (and maybe the 7 I returned at the store will pop back online) might want to check them out at Sierra Trading Post! On sale with 25% coupon code at $43!! At that price I wish they had a regular calf to try.</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.sierratradingpost.com/boc-faye-leather-boots-wide-calf-for-women~p~232wd/?filterString=womens-boots~d~255%2Fsizefamily~shoe%20size!6dotdot5%2C7%2C7dotdot5%2Fsizefamily~width!w%2Cm%2Fwomens-casual-boots~d~491%2F#specsSection">https://www.sierratradingpost......ecsSection</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846922 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 16:35:04 +0000 Angie 1846922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tall boots are HARD to fit. I get it, <b>Chris</b>. You need to be regular height or tall with a 14.5 to 15 inch calf for things to fit more easily. I have different fit issues, but nodded along with your points because I dress people for a living.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks for the extra info, ladies. You simply have to keep on looking till you find a pair.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846877 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 14:14:17 +0000 Janet 1846877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It looks like some good fitting suggestions have already been made, and the height is a problem I can't relate to since most tall boots look short on me. However, I wanted to note that the Borns I just bought come in wide calf fits too, just in case you're interested. Nordstrom also has them in black and camel, I believe.&nbsp;</p> <p>I do have occasional problems with tall boots being slightly too tight in the calf. I'm right on the brink of fitting nicely into many of them, and some won't even zip up. However, I've had success in getting my cobbler to gently stretch the shaft of the boot to accommodate my calves -- the first time I did that was with my Ugg Cortona convertible boots, which slipped on my legs perfectly after just a bit of stretching. They're still workhorses six years later!&nbsp;</p> <p>In addition, I'd be looking at boots that have elasticized backs or gussets, like the Stuart Weitzmans, or lace-up styles that also have zippers, which can be adjusted but are still easy to put on and take off.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846865 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:21:47 +0000 Muffin 1846865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hear you! My calves/ankles are heavy and shopping for full length boots is a depressing experience. I prefer to have them sent to my home where I can struggle in peace but I have also brought them into fitting rooms for privacy. That being said, I have one pair of tall heeled boots (very expensive, but for me have been so worth it). Someday I will muster up the energy to look for flat ones- so whatever you find keep us posted! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846839 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 09:19:36 +0000 Style Fan 1846839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great info here.&nbsp; Barking dog is a great site for footwear information.&nbsp; I have no time for nasty SAs.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846838 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 09:13:32 +0000 Jenni NZ 1846838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wish I could help Chris! I just replied to Laura G's post and now have measured the shaft of my tall boots. About 11 inches, hit just a bit below my knee. Suz says look for 12 inches. Pure dumb luck I think- had looked on-line, saw a style I liked, went to the shop and they fitted right off the bat. I had better keep them for ever! They're only the fourth pair of tall boots I have ever owned. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846789 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 04:24:25 +0000 Emily K 1846789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Last year I was shopping for rain boots and I ran across this site: &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.widewidths.com/shop-by-wide-calf-boot-size.html">http://www.widewidths.com/shop.....-size.html</a>&nbsp; I was impressed by the offerings but, in the end, did not buy anything so I don't have actual transaction experience with them. </p> <p></p> <p>ETA: &nbsp;Now that I am visiting them again, I notice that a lot of the boots are on Final Sale. &nbsp;Hmmm... what's up with that?!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846785 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 04:09:42 +0000 Emily K 1846785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Suz</b> --Ain't nobody got time for nasty SA's. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846753 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:22:34 +0000 Anonymous 1846753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I copied over my post from another YLF who was wanting boots for her narrow calves.&nbsp; I have curvier calves but typically look for an elastic gore in my boots<br /> to help with the fit especially if I'm wearing boots with tights and a<br /> dress versus skinny jeans. I do not know if you follow the blog<br /> "Barking Dog Shoes" but the creator usually does a great post on tall<br /> boots for women of various sizes: curvy calves, narrow calves, wide<br /> feet, narrow feet, etc. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.barkingdogshoes.com/2016/10/authoritative-guide-womens-tall-boots-2016.htmlhttp://"><a href="https://www.barkingdogshoes.co" rel="nofollow">https://www.barkingdogshoes.co</a>.....tmlhttp://</a> <br />The<br /> post is from 2016 but I'm hopeful that you would still find some of<br /> these styles or at least have other brands to focus on in your search.<br /> As a petite woman who is about 5'3", I have found that Born boots and my current Naot brand are the perfect height on my calf and also accommodate my curvy lower half.&nbsp; Best wishes and happy shopping! </p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846738 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:35:14 +0000 Suz 1846738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>EmilyK</b>, that site (whatever it was) is <b>GENIUS</b>. I'm not a true petite but my calves are proportionately short. They are also relatively narrow (at 13.5") But for years I thought they were <b>WIDE</b>, precisely for the reason you gave -- boots meant for regular height people were narrow where my calf has its width! I can't tell you the number of eye-rolls I got while trying on tall boots over the years. Seriously. <b>Nasty</b> SA's giving me attitude because of my "fat" calves. Or maybe it was my "stumpy" legs. Who knows. I can only imagine how horrible it is for larger women or true petites to shop in these circumstances! Solidarity, friends. Fit problems are us. But we can overcome!!&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Gryffin</b> is right on that in terms of height, some (not all) La Canadienne styles might work. I find they tend toward a narrow calf (they fit me, so they must be relatively narrow, ha ha) and fit on the shorter side of tall on short-calved, but non-petite, moi. They come a couple of inches below my knee -- not true equestrienne style -- but then again, they are not equestrienne boots. Definitely not as high as Janet's hit in the photos. I still think it would be worth trying, Chris. But do a measurement of your calf around its thickest point.&nbsp;</p> <p>My new Aquatalias hit higher. But still work just fine, as they <b>are </b>a riding boot style.&nbsp;</p> <p>There are custom boots you can order if all else fails. But I would measure your shaft height and compare to measurements on Zappos and Nordstrom. These are not always accurate, however. Theoretically, my new Aquatalias "should" be too tall for me -- but they are not. In other words, you may just have to deal with the order/ return cycle until you find some "go to" brands.&nbsp;</p> <p>I would try -- Blondo, Naturalizer, and Born (but those might be too tall and wide). Definitely try ship-to-store at Nordies -- <b>Sveta</b> and I did that one year during NAS and it was brilliant!! (And hilarious. You should have seen our piles of boxes!!!) </p> <p>Lace-up boots are super adjustable and can work. So can stretch boots. Even if described as too tall in the shaft, if you calf is relatively wider, that will "eat up" some of the height and you may be able to wear them.&nbsp;</p> <p>Look also for "mid-height" boots -- about 12" tall in the shaft. They won't be a true equestrienne knee high on you but they will at least not hit your kneecap and might be closer to knee high than you think! That means searching sites for "mid-calf" as well as "knee-high" and reading the descriptions.&nbsp;</p> <p>Another strategy -- see a shorter woman with similar calves wearing a great fitting pair of boots? <b>ASK HER</b>. Seriously.&nbsp;</p> <p>My current "knee high" and near knee high boots below (the Uggs are not knee high but still are tallish boots, good for snowdrifts, but darn it, awful for my plantar fasciitis!!).&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846733 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:16:42 +0000 Emily K 1846733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was watching a fitting video (can't remember the site, unfortunately) that stated that petites need to look for a calf circumference &nbsp;or top-of-the-boot circumference measurement that is actually 1 1/2 inches larger than the actual calf measurement because petiteness puts the bulk of the calf further down in the boot shaft where the boot is not as wide. &nbsp;That's not good news if one is already shopping for wide-calf boots! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846719 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 23:27:05 +0000 gryffin 1846719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chris - I know Duo makes boots for wider calves. &nbsp;Ariat has widths for the calf, however I'm a regular width and my calves are 13 1/4 inches. &nbsp;Not sure how full, the full is. &nbsp;Also I bought a short shaft and I have my height in my calves. &nbsp;I do think La Canadienne runs short in the shaft and wide. &nbsp;They are way to short for my calves, I like my boots high, and too wide. &nbsp;They are worth a try. &nbsp;Also stuart Weitzman makes some stretch suede and many reviews say they will fit a range of calf sizes&nbsp;</p> <p>ETA - check out wardrobe oxygen, Allie has the same issues. &nbsp;There are probably some great recommendations!!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/23seeking-advice-re-tall-boots-in-%e2%80%9cwide-calf%e2%80%9d-sizes#post-1846711 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 23:13:50 +0000 Chris987 1846711@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet’s  posting today about her new tall boots got me thinking about how great tall boots are. Versatile, many different choices, a popular must-have item for cool to cold climates, and if you chose the right style and sole type can work in snowy icy conditions.    </p> <p>For those of us who are petite with not-slim calves, they present a lot of fit issues.  I had a PM exchange today with another fabber with the same issues, and I bet we’re not alone. Angie wrote a great blog posting almost a year ago recommending you keep your tall boots, in part because they are tricky to fit right, so I guess we petites are not the only ones with fit issues.  <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2016/10/25/keep-your-tall-boots/">https://youlookfab.com/2016/10.....all-boots/</a></p> <p>Here are the issues from my perspective.  Many of these apply to anyone who needs “wide calf” sizes regardless of overall body height.The one pair I have is similar to the find – a riding style but with flat heels. Franco Sartos</p> <ol> <li>On a petite, some tall boots might hit the back or front of your knee in ways that uncomfortable. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of  “short” tall boots. </li> <li>It is tricky to get just the right amount of space between the top of your boots and the bottom of a skirt or dress. When you are petite there isn't much room to work with. The column of color approach with opaque tights in low contrast to the boots and skirt helps a lot. High contrast between boots and skirt/dress can be visually shortening.</li> <li>Stuffing jeans into the boots only works (at least on me) if they are skinny jeans or leggings without extra length, otherwise the boots won’t zip up. Heavy weight denim is a no-go for me, no matter how slim the cut.. </li> <li>  “Wide calf” sizes are  more available than they were some years ago,  but still somewhat limited especially in stores. (I haven’t actually looked lately). For some, the “wide calf” sizes may not be wide enough. </li> <li>The  pair I own, in a wide calf size, does not taper in enough<br /> at the top so the inner leg zipper pulls catch on each other<br /> when I walk and the overall silhouettes flares out just below the knee and is unflattering. </li> <li>Even the least expensive ones are pricey, so it’s painful to make mistakes. </li> <li>Tall boots are heavy and come in large boxes, so the order and return process can be daunting. The ship-to-store option that Nordstrom offers might be a great way to go…try on a bunch in a store and only bring home those that make the first level cut. </li> </ol> Would love to hear any and all suggestions for how to get the right fit, how to address the logistics of ordering/returning,  brands<br /> that work, and anything else you’d care to offer.</p> <p>I’m not going to get back to this for 24-48 hours but promise to read every comment eventually…so let the conversation begin!</p> <p>  </p>