Getting boots altered for small calves?

Sara

I'm sure there have been threads about this before... But I haven't seen them!:)

I know lots of ladies here have slender legs, and boots don't always fit. Has anybody taken them to a shoe repair place to get them taken in? Have you had good results, and did it cost very much?

Thank you in advance ladies!

15 years ago

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from Noe

felicia

Active Member

I have. It was very well done and you couldn't tell the boots didn't come like that, nothing was wrong in terms of proportion or 'drape'. I went to a sort of 'high-end' cobbler, he advertises himself as a 'shoe hospital'.

The cost was $45, worth it to me.

The only caveat is you can't alter every boot, so make sure you can return them (and don't wear them) first.

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I'm interested in this question too! What are the criteria for a boot being alterable?

15 years ago

felicia

Active Member

Something to do with the seam down the back, if there is one, if it has weirdly placed hardware. Not really sure.

What you do is buy the boots, first making sure they can be returned, then take them to the shoe hospital. If they can alter them, good, if not you return them.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

April has had this done with varying results (I think once it turned out perfectly, but the most recent attempt was a bit of a disaster). Perhaps she will chime in.

15 years ago

April

Veteran

Maya is spot on. The first pair fit perfectly, and the second pair are back at the cobblers for stretching after he made one boot too small and the other waaaaaaay too small.

I have no idea if they'll be able to stretch sufficiently for me ever to wear them, or what my recourse is if my brand-new boots are ruined.

So, Sara, I would say that my bad experience is probably not typical. If you have boots you love that are sitting unworn because they gape at the calf, in my view it's better to pay to try altering them than to continue not wearing them. (Of course, it's always better if they fit right off the rack, but everyone with skinny calves knows that those are not easy to find.)

15 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

I've taken mine in to two places to check. The first wasn't able/willing but the second place could have done it.

They would have taken them in on the back seam. They quoted me $80 and a month wait time. I had to think about it because the boots were a little over $100 and I don't want to miss a month of the winter.

I may just save them for jeans and find another pair. In the future I'll probably be pretty careful about fit in the calf unless I absolutely love them.

15 years ago

Sara

Active Member

huh! Thank you, ladies.

They were a gift, actually, so I probably could return them... But would really rather not because they're gorgeous. They fit well with jeans tucked in, I just wanted the option of wearing them with hose or bare-legged too.

I'll look into it more!

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Sara you will probably find if you have them altered to fit bare/ hosed legs you won't be able to wear them with skinnies x

15 years ago

Marigold

Active Member

I have skinny calves too and have yet to find boots that fit my bare legs (however, I love skinnies and don't have to dress up for work so I don't mind the fit with skinnies only). Have you thought of lace boots? It's going to be tough to have a boot properly fitted with bare legs and skinnies if they're not somewhat adjustable.

15 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

A friend of mine does this to ALL her boots... I think she's never ever found boots that fit off the rack. She counts the extra cost towards her sanity. She does know and trust her cobbler, though, as he has a long history with her family.

15 years ago

ashley87

Member

My entire life I have had this problem! I discovered a cobbler in Toronto who specializes is altering boots. He only charged $35 to take them in and did an OUTSTANDING job! I could hardly tell that anything was done to them, but they fit my calves perfectly:) I would recomend him to anyone if they are in Toronto. His website is http://www.bootalterations.com

12 years ago

abc

Veteran

I ordered "custom fit" boots from DUO UK but apparently either I mis-measured, rounded up, or they ran big. Instead of trying to deal with international return and reshipping, I found a guy to take them in for me, I believe I paid just under $100 but he did them in about 3 days. He is in Kansas City, if by some odd reason you are near there let me know and I can pass on his info. He did a great job.

12 years ago

Julie

Veteran

This is one of the easiest alteration that can be done to a boot. I've posted the link to this video a few times, so once more isn't going to hurt. If your cobbler is reluctant, show him/her the video. Might be just the short course needed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

I've had several pairs altered one way or another. Saw one of those sewing machines at an auction once. Went for $50.00. Should have bought it, myself.

Cheers

Julie

12 years ago

Noe

Active Member

Dear abc,

I am so sorry to bother everyone with this post, but I cannot figure out how to send you a message without posting here. I found your post while googling around to figure out whether boots can be taken in at the calves (I am so glad to see others have had success!!), and I actually live in the Kansas City area. Would you mind sharing the name of the cobbler you used?

Kindest regards,
Noe

11 years ago

Anonymous

Noe, to send a member a message, touch or click on their name and their profile page will come up. There is a "send message" grey box above Personal Information. I also live in the Kansas City area and find it very hard to find boots to fit small calves.

11 years ago

Dixie

Active Member

That's a great idea. Now I'll think twice when I reject a pair of boots because they don't fit my ankles.

11 years ago

Noe

Active Member

Hi, Joy! I think the issue must be that I am not yet an "active member" (I have been lurking for a while, but I don't have anything interesting to add to everyone's great thoughts and advice, so I didn't join until I saw abc's post to try to send her a message), so when I click on abc's profile, I don't have the option to send her a message. Maybe I'll have that option after one more post?

I have honestly lost count as to how many beautiful boots I have sent back because I look like I'm standing in galoshes... For me the issue is less that my calves are particularly skinny, but more that I'm short, so where boots would hit taller people at the widest part of the calf, they hit me at the narrower part of my leg (by my knee), and I look ridiculous--but I think they'd be fine if they tapered in a bit. It never occurred to me that maybe someone could take them in! Thank goodness for the advice here!

11 years ago

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