Anyone else have large calves?

crasdy

I know a lot of the members have the challenge of small calves, but I have the opposite problem and I'm looking for compatriots.

My calves are 17.5 inches. I've found that most "wide calf" boots top out at 15.5 or 16 inches. I've yet to find any knee-high boots that I can comfortably wear. Has anyone found a source for truly wide calf boots that are also stylish? I've found a few boots online that might fit, but honestly, they are just ugly and matronly.

14 years ago

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from rosee

Elly

Veteran

What size shoe? Are your ankles wider or narrow? Do you wear wide size shoes?

14 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I have wide calves because I'm a big girl, but they're really proportional to my body. If I was slimmer I'm sure I would have normal sized calves. My problem is that wide calf boots are too wide on me, yet some normal sized boots can be too small.

In my experience, wide calf boots go up to 20 inches and above!

Check out this website:
http://www.widewidths.com/

14 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I'll join this club. I'd given up on finding knee-high boots until I tried on a pair of Clarks' Berwick Court boots this fall. I wasn't too sure about the full length gusset when I first saw it, but, after I tried on the boot, I really liked the way it looked. AND I could zip up the boot on my 17" calf from bottom to top with ease. Gotta love that!

http://www.zappos.com/clarks-b.....uctReviews

14 years ago

crasdy

Active Member

Gaylene, those boots are gorgeous. I might have to give them a try.

Marianna, thanks for the link. I will check that out too.

Elly, I wear a size 10 shoe, but not a wide width. My ankles are also quite thick.

14 years ago

Anonymous

meeeee, meeeeee... And to top it off, I have a calf that is 1/2 inch bigger than the other. A seamstress measured me so it's legit

14 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I do too - the only knee-high boots I've ever had were the stretch faux-leather kind, and even they didn't fit perfectly. I'm fairly tall and have long limbs, and I can never find a knee-high boot (or sock) that actually comes up to my knees - they get to upper calf, maybe, which means the calf shaping is all off.

I look forward to hearing people's suggestions for sources and brands.

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Yep - I have this problem too. My left calf is 16 1/2", right is 16". I've had good luck in past years with Eddie Bauer extended calf boots. I have both dress boots and flat riding boots from them. Unfortunately last year their extended calf boots were actually TOO wide for me - there was some gaping at the top. I haven't had that problem in years past, so I guess they're using a different last?

I do not like the stretchy faux-leather boots at all. I tried some (Aerosoles) and just did not like the look.

I completely lucked out last year with a pair of Rockport (Ainly) - a "normal" boot which fit perfectly. I bought both black and the brandy (great color!) but they're quite casual with a lug sole. (Kari also bought these and wears them a lot in her pics!)
http://www.shoebuy.com/rockpor.....one-_-none

I'd love something scrunchy, with some buckles this year. The search is on!

14 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Yes indeed - I am a member of the large calf club. I'm around 15.5" (which varies a bit depending on whether I'm measuring flat-footed or in heels.)

I was going to highly recommend the Rockport Ainly boots, but I see that Tara beat me to it. She actually suggested those boots to me in the first place. They are the first pair of knee high boots that I bought, and my FAVORITE pair. The price is expensive, but they are worth scoping out. (I found them on Amazon for $55 when I bought them a year and a half ago.)

I've also had good luck with Clarks wide leg boots - I got the Clarks Cardy boots last year, and love them. They may still be too narrow for you, but worth checking out as they have a bit of stretch along the side seam.

I also saw yesterday that my local DSW store had a large variety of boots, many of which were in the wide calf size, and some of them were pretty cute. Unfortunately I can't remember a specific style that struck my fancy, but if you have a store nearby, I'd highly recommend popping in for a look.

14 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

onestoplus has a lot of different boots for wide calves, hopefully you'll find something there....

14 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I'm also a member. Even though I've lost circumference in my calves with weight loss, they are still on the large side- about 16 inches (see Tarzy- I told you mu calves look like yours!) Like Marianna, I seem to hit right in between the regulars and the wides. I have found some boots that do fit, though.

14 years ago

Mac

Veteran

I used to have small calves but when I put on weight, some of it went to my calves and now plenty of boots are waaay too small. So, yeah, I have to be very careful when I order boots online (I buy 90% of my footwear online) because they're often too tight.

14 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Count me in please! My calves are over 15" and I am actually quite petite in general, so they really are large in proportion to the rest of me. It drives me crazy to wear a size 6 US and still have trouble trying to find nice boots that fit and nice but non ankle strappy shoes (which highlight my cankles even more). Grrrrrrr.

14 years ago

Steph

Veteran

I have large calves: 15.5 inches, although I'm only 5'1 in height. However, my ankles are also small--8 inches--so there is a huge difference between my calf and ankle, making finding boots even more difficult. In my experience, wide calf boots tend to be cut generously in the ankle, which does not work for me.

Last winter I actually had my shoe repair guy take the zippers off of a pair of boots and insert fabric, then reattach the zipper. It worked: I'll try to take a photo to post later. Another idea is going to duoboots.com and getting custom-made boots. I can't go this route because I don't purchase leather, but I know others have had great success with them.

14 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

A very large-calf girl here, north of 19 inches at the moment. I strongly recommend the site Marianna linked to. They have a reasonable selection and excellent customer service. Other brands to keep an eye on include Ros Hommerson and Blondo.

14 years ago

Ashley

Member

I checked out http://www.WideWidths.com a few weeks ago and for the first time in my life I have finally found my first pair of wide calf knee high boots! I am only a size 12 in clothing but my calf is 19” and when you go into a shoe store it feels as if you are a creature from another planet because of the way you are treated when the salesperson sees your calf. On top of this, I was "blessed" with wide feet too and I need an extra wide width shoe size which they have in just about every style!

When you buy something online, every company calls their boots a "wide calf" but when they arrive you find that they are only an inch or 2 larger than the standard boots that the stores carry since these generally have 14 - 15" calves. This is so frustrating and I have been so upset for years.

The best part is that they list the calf size for every foot size so you know exactly what size you are actually getting and as long as you measure your calf, the boots should fit. These are the boots that I bought: http://www.widewidths.com/maryland.html and I am now waiting for a pair of their flat heels to arrive too: http://www.widewidths.com/sphere.html. The customer service people helped me a lot too and they were very nice. Good luck!

14 years ago

crasdy

Active Member

Thanks, everyone. I'll check your links and suggestions.

Ashley, how is the quality of the Ros Hammerson boots? I've seen them online and considered them, but to be honest, they don't look that lovely in the pictures. Are they more stylish in person? Is the leather quality nice?

Tara and Kari, those Rockports are really nice. I wonder if I could fit into them. Might be worth checking out.

Thanks!

14 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

When I was heavier I had wider calves and had good luck with Easy Spirit wide calves.

14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

My people!

Actually it was a little weird to read the narrow calves thread and see people with measurements close to mine -- because I have NEVER had a boot be too gappy on me!

Like Katiepea I wear a smaller shoe size, though, which means the circumference shrinks, sigh. [And like others I have the 0.5 inch difference L to R...when I can juuuust squeeze into some boots with the R, the L will *not* zip.]

Unfortunately I am also one who usually find true WW calf boots too big. So for now I will continue with my trial and error, though I really need to look into the custom gusset. I've only ever found one leather stretch boot I like (and of course even that it a TAD snug!).

One thing I *do* do -- for RL shopping, I bring a tape measure and whip it right out before the boot comes anywhere near my calf. Helps keep my blood pressure down.

[I don't know about you all, but I have to add 0.75 inch to my circumference(s) to get a boot that fits!]

Truthfully I am enslaved to online boot shopping...but again I have to often guess at what the size 6 will be and make sure I am "buying up" vs buying a measurement that is exactly my calf size (x two, grrrr.)

If I find any other tips or resources I will bring them here; in the meantime I will be hoping for more!

14 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

19-inches here--with the added contrast of not having wide feet or thick ankles.

Widewidths.com is great but a little out of my price range right now. Most of my boots have come from onestopplus.com which aggregates different plus size retailers into one site. The quality has a range, some are better than others.

14 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Crasdy, yes, Ros Hommerson is quite nice quality. Lovely leather and well-made, at least in my experience.

14 years ago

(website)

Active Member

Another wide calved woman here. Mine are 15 inches, plus I have short legs, smaller ankles, and small feet (6 1/2).

I tried on a few pair at DSW last week and got depressed. One pair labeled "fits wider calves" actually gave me a muffin top on my leg! Boo hoo.

I wish I could find some beautiful cognac riding boots that would look amazing with skirts, but I'm not counting on it.

And I worry if I do find the elusive boots if they will just highlight how wide my calves are anyhow?

Hmm, the boots on Marianna's link ARE quite nice looking!

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

NK - I've been wondering the same thing about buckles on a boot. For instance - this boot (which I love, but is too small to fit me) - I sort of think the buckle at the top would make my calf look even wider.

http://www.amazon.com/Miz-Mooz.....B0023NVX8A

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14 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

As 17" calf member, finding a boot that fits is only half the battle. I've passed over wide calf boots that I could zip up because the overall look was, to put it mildly, less than flattering. The muffin top is only the beginning of our woes.

A boot that flatters a large calf needs to be designed for our leg. Adding a huge, extra-wide gusset, or flare, at the top of a boot just emphasizes the width of my calf, especially when the top of the boot hits anywhere on the actual calf. The same thing goes for a style that incorporates buckles/decorative stitching around the circumference of the cuff or, my personal peeve, uses a tall slender heel that looks like it will collapse under the volume of leg above it.

One of the reason's that I purchased the Clark's Berwick Court was that even my normal-calved sister remarked on how long and lean my leg looked (and she is not noted for complimenting her older sibling!) The long gusset did not splay out at the top and gave the boot a long, vertical line. The top of the boot fit nicely just below my knee so it didn't emphasize the widest part of my leg. The buckle looked normal for once and added a bit of equestrian vibe. The salesgirl, another member of the large calf club, kept saying "I know, I know, isn't it a nice boot; I bought a pair, too!". The only downside is that the boot only comes in black. I would have bought another pair in a heartbeat if it came in a cognac color.

14 years ago

sweety08

Active Member

I am 4'11 with 39 cm calves in which it is 15.4 inch calves and its all muscle but I am so with the big calves department, because I fit the description all the way!

13 years ago

rosee

Veteran

I'm a joiner too. My knee boots didn't fit this past winter due to excessive weight gain. My legs have always been long but on the slightly muscular side -- I used to have 14" calves (at 5'6") but now they are 16 -3/4".
I had a bit of trouble buying boots a couple of years ago when slimmer b/c even then a lot of the boots were too narrow in the calf. The 2 pairs I ended up with, both riding boots, have an elasticized panel, that helps fit my (old) calf better. They were sold as "wider calf" but -- ha ha -- they don't fit my wider calf now. I really missed my boots this past winter b/c I wear both pairs a lot in the colder seasons. I have not bought new boots yet (due to the expense, it's always expensive when I like boots) but I am hoping I slim down (for health reasons even more so than style ones).

Will check out the above links though, just in case...

13 years ago

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