Ask Angie: Tall boots for wide calves

Have you ever wanted something for so long that when you finally got it, you realized you weren't into it anymore?

I have never had a pair of tall boots, because my calves are about 18inches around. The tallest boots I have are a pair of 14 hole Doc Martins, and they aren't really tall, about mid calf.

Several years ago, a friend of mine bought some Fluevog Michelle boots (see photos here: http://brassgoggles.co.uk/foru.....pic=3896.0 ), and I tried them on and loved them. Unfortunately by the time I realized how much I loved them, they were sold out, never to be seen again.

Enter Miz Mooz with the very similar "Myrtle" boot: http://www.endless.com/dp/B003.....B003LVTOD4
I ordered them from endless (an excellent website, by the by) and was excited to think I had found a pair of boots that I liked even better than the Michelle boots and that might be my favorite boots in the entire universe.

But when they came, they were not all that I had hoped. For one thing, they smell... bad. Not like nice leather shoes. And for another, they are a bit loose around the foot, even thought my Miz Mooz Ansel Oxfords in the same size fit me like a glove.

But the main problem is this: I realized that all this time I thought I would have to resort to lace-up tall boots, because my calves will never fit into slip on or zip up boots. But I don't want military look lace-up boots! I want sleek, smooth boots without laces.

So how about it Angie? You said it's possible to find boots for me. Where do I look?

15 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Try http://www.widewidths.com

They give specific calf measurements for each pair in each size.

Laurel Pederson

Active Member

Thanks! Oh, but my feet are narrow, it's just my calves that are wide... does that make everything more complicated?

I found two boots sort of stylistically like what I want. The slouchiness I could do without, but the foot shape I like.

http://www.hushpuppies.com/US/.....HER/22786W

http://www.zappos.com/gabriell.....ea1c14c19b

Vix

It may be worth your while to check out this thread...lots of discussions about wider calves and boots that work/don't:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rge-calves

Also/FYI: There's usually a small boost in calf circumference as shoe size increases. So it pays to try to talk to a customer service rep and/or work out what each brand uses as a baseline in their listing -- if it's a size 7 in the listing and the calf circ = 14.5", you will likely see an up/down depending on your shoe size. [I find a 1/4 inch can mean the difference in getting a zipper up!]

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, ladies.

Laurel, start off with these leads first. I've had great luck at Lane Bryant and DSW this season for my clients with 18 and 19 inch calves. It's not an impossible feat to find tall boots for your great calves at all

Michelle

ANGIE!! Lane Bryant does boots in my calf-size? DSW too? *off to check them out!* I was getting discouraged by the lack of suitable options at WideWidths!

Steph

You might also want to try duoboots.com, where you can get boots custom-made to fit you. I also have large calves, but am otherwise small, so my foot is a 6.5 and my ankles are pretty skinny. A lot of wide width boots don't work for me because they are way too big at the ankle--it sounds like you might have a similar issue. You should be able to find boots, but it will just require a lot of trial and error!

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