https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:07:14 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053534 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 18:16:47 +0000 K. Period. 1053534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thistle, I think they are harder to find than jeans! At least with jeans you can walk into most stores and they'll carry a wide selection. &nbsp;For women with wide calves (mine too! and I love my curvy legs too!), it can be distressing. &nbsp;I don't know how wide your calves are, but I've found that JCrew boots fit my wide calves in their normal width (i.e., I don't buy extended calve size). &nbsp;Their wide calves version was much too wide for me! &nbsp;I just checked a pair online and they are 15 1/4" wide. &nbsp;Don't know if that would work and don't know if that is accurate. &nbsp;But it gives you another option. &nbsp;I've found their boots to be exceptionally high quality. Here's the one I was looking at:&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/boots/PRD~04187/04187.jsp">http://www.jcrew.com/womens_ca...../04187.jsp</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053522 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 18:06:45 +0000 Thistle 1053522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*cries*&nbsp; I am starting to think these may be harder to find than jeans!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053373 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 15:56:51 +0000 Isis 1053373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thistle, I would use the published widths as only a guide. &nbsp;Another complicating factor is that the width will go up as the shoe size increases. &nbsp;For example,&nbsp;it'll be wider for a size 10 boot than a size 6 boot. &nbsp;But sites only measure one size (typically an 8, I believe)......so just be prepared to order and return a lot! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053274 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:57:46 +0000 AnnieMouse 1053274@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thistle, Allie at WardrobeOxygen recently had a <a href="http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/2013/09/my-favorite-wide-calf-boot-resources.html" rel="nofollow">great post </a>for those of us with sturdy calves, also, if the items you've ordered don't work out quite right! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053186 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:22:23 +0000 Suz 1053186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for doing this, Thistle.&nbsp;</p> <p>I would concur with your judgements so far -- as someone who needs a slightly narrower calf, I quickly learned that <b>ONLY </b>the higher priced brands had a hope of working. Except most of those are also too tall for short me. I guess they are building their boots for racehorses.&nbsp;</p> <p>It's ironic, too -- I used to think I had wide calves. It turns out that was because of the height/ width ratio. My calves were simply wide at the wrong places for the too-tall boots.&nbsp;</p> <p>I sympathize about that sales clerk. I don't know how many times I endured <b>EYE-ROLLING </b>from SAs&nbsp;when I couldn't do up boots on my calves. No joke. It was so &nbsp;humiliating and infuriating. I have not purchased anything in those stores since, needless to say. It makes my current boot woes trifling in comparison.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053139 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:43:14 +0000 Thistle 1053139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are right! They only give the opening measurement. Grrrr. I hadn't thought of that!</p> <p>Well, I have numerous wide calf pairs to try on the way. I will report back. I figure free shipping and returns with Zappos. I will also try to take some decent measurements. Might help other Zappos customers as well as the ladies here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053075 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 08:04:24 +0000 Diana 1053075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I go for the actual measurement of my wider calf or a little wider for slouchy looks. Since I only buy leather they do stretch. Something else to consider though is that the widest point of the boot may not hit at your widest point, in which case they will bunch in funny ways. And some companies / sites measure the opening rather than the actual calf. Unfortunately no good way to tell but to try on. </p> <p>My calf is 15" and these days that's not so hard to fit. My problem is ankles, which are 7.5-8" (narrower than most esp When you take into account the borderline wide calf) and nobody gives ankle measurements! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1053054 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 06:23:22 +0000 unfrumped 1053054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this is why I have never owned any tall boots. It seems like such an ordeal. What dobyou wear when you go shopping? A skirt outfit? Take boot socks? And boots are big packages to wrestle with if you order online, and all that stuffing to pull out.<br /> I need to get a grip and try, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052957 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:55:06 +0000 Thistle 1052957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So, I tried stopping after work for boots, and no luck.&nbsp; The "mall" doesn't carry wide shaft boots. And I hope the sales clerk scalds her tongue on hot cocoa. I like my calves, thank you very much, and if your store doesn't sell something in my size, well, that is what the internet is for!!</p> <p>After my escapade, I bit the bullet and ordered numerous pairs from Zappos. A couple of things I learned from spending 2 hours boot shopping:<br />1. Wide width means NOTHING. It is 15 inches in one brand, 18.5 in another.<br />2. The higher end the brand, the skinnier the calves. No Aquatalia, Cole Haan, or Kate Spade coming my way.&nbsp; No Uggs, either *sniff*&nbsp; *sniff*&nbsp; Love my leather Uggs and hoping the cobbler can stretch them.<br />3. Within the same brand, there is WIDE variation. Well over an inch in different styles.</p> <p>Once I have some of these in my hands, I will try to give a good review on them. Boot shopping is hard, but maybe I can make it easier for someone else. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052924 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:25:58 +0000 maggiemae 1052924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>check out duoboots.com. They've got a video on how to measure. And Zappos has both circumference and height which they call shaft measurement. One thing I did learn is to ignore equestrian sites - riding boots should fit differently if you actually intend to get on the horse. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052833 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 00:44:54 +0000 Suz 1052833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes -- if you "fill the boot out" you can take a taller shaft. If you don't, it will stick up oddly or gap in the wrong place, even if it's technically not too tall.&nbsp;</p> <p>And with width -- it depends where it hits on you whether you'll need it wider or not. Because it's the relationship between height and width that is at issue.&nbsp;</p> <p>No wonder tall boots are as bad as bras to fit!!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052820 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 00:29:08 +0000 pil 1052820@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz makes a good point. i thought my tall boots would be too tall - but they're not. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052817 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 00:26:09 +0000 Suz 1052817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's a mystery. I think they measure them all differently. I would pick as many as you an order for free and just try them. Honestly -- as far as I can tell it is the only way. Same goes for height. The height measurements are quite inaccurate at times. The same height that supposedly <b>didn't</b> fit me, <b>does</b> fit me, in a different boot. Argh. Actually -- I think I know what it is. If the boot is too wide the shaft will seem taller. If it's too narrow, the shaft will seem shorter (if you can get it done up at all.)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052679 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:24:54 +0000 Liz A. 1052679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd say try to get as close to that measurement as possible, since most boots do stretch out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052670 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:16:31 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1052670@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I add a 1/2 inch to my calf measurement.&nbsp; My calf doesn't seem to get bigger when I flex - anyway, if you have large calves like me you probably won't be able to try a lot on in stores, if any.&nbsp; I've ordered a pair in the past that was just my exact calf size and can't tuck jeans in them.&nbsp; If there is a very large stretch panel, you could probably still tuck with your actual calf size, but not with just those small gussets that are usually on the sides of tall boots.&nbsp; Zappos and 6pm.com have searches by calf circumference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052661 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:09:35 +0000 JAileen 1052661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know, but I would try some on, see what feels good, and then measure it (the boot). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052655 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:04:29 +0000 ManidipaM 1052655@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I want to know too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-measure-for-riding-boots#post-1052652 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:01:22 +0000 Thistle 1052652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When you measure your calf for riding boots, I assume you should flex your foot so the calf muscle pops. </p> <p>Once you have this measurement, do you then look for boots with at least that large of a circumference, or do you go for a bit smaller for the stretch element so it keeps a good fit?&nbsp; Or, do you look for a bit larger for jeans and such? </p> <p>Not that I think I would wear boots over jeans as I primarily want them for skirts, but the option might be nice. </p>