Is anyone having ANY luck finding narrower-calf boots? - YouLookFab Forum

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Is anyone having ANY luck finding narrower-calf boots?

April

Veteran

So frustrating. I found a gorgeous pair of Sudini boots advertised as having a 13" calf. I need something slightly smaller than that, but had decided that if I could find 13", I wouldn't quibble. They arrived and yes, like most boots, they have a 14-inch calf.

The Calvin Klein Tippers in the YLF store would have been great, but Nordstrom doesn't have my size and Zappos says they have a 14.25 calf circumference. (Angie -- do you know which measurement is correct?)

Has anyone found good-looking, comfortable, non-high-heeled boots with a smaller calf that are also reasonably priced? Medusa -- any luck at all?

General

44 replies

Latest reply was from FloSchmidt1975

garmenta

Yes. I found boots with a 13" calf circumference. Suede, casual, a little slouchy, and with a less than 2" stacked heel, which feels comfortable to walk in. A couple of inches below the knee. I have horribly painful feet and I can wear these all day. I also have a very slender calf--12.5" circumference. I recommend them highly!

DSW Kelly & Katie Jade boot:
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/c.....dId=193483

What surprised me was that the website listed them as 14"--but they're not. What clued me in was all of the reviews complaining that they were so tight on the calf. Hmm. . .interesting. . .what else is mislabeled??

Perhaps they will work for you.

Joy

Veteran

I'm still looking for a black leather flat riding boot with 13" (or less) calf circumference at a reasonable price. I have Aerosoles I got last year at DSW but they have just enough of a heel to not be all-day boots and are faux leather with too much shine to look casual.

taylor

Veteran

Well, April, as you know this is my prob too. I have a 10 in. calf and would be thrilled to find something in the 10 to 12 in. range....I could tuck my jeans and be ok I think...I don't think such a beast exists in leather"(

Cole Haan makes a narrow calf that I tried on at NAS...they might work for you.

I mentioned this before, but they didn't work for me because although my calf is narrow my feet are not, and could not squeeze my foot into the boot.:(

April

Veteran

Wow, Taylor -- I don't think even Duo goes that small in the calf. You may have to bite the bullet, find a good pair, and have them taken in. I always know this is an option, but would really like not to spend $80 on top of the cost of the boots.

Joy -- we'll keep each other (and Medusa!) posted if we find such a thing, okay?

And Garmenta -- aaagh, the DSW site is down at the moment. I will definitely take a look at these when they're back up. I was hoping for smooth leather, but am becoming desperate.

garmenta

April--
I saw these Jeffrey Campbell boots at Nordstrom--the measurement they give is 12.5". I haven't tried them but I seriously considered them while I was looking. Again, suede, but with good waterproofing, suede can deal with snow and salt.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults

Of course, with unlimited funds to spend, there's Prada, Robert Clegerie, and Delman, all cut narrow in the calf, but even for a good fit, $500-$1000 is a lot to pay for boots!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

April, the CK’s have a 14 inch calf. Too wide for you.

Unfortunately, the boots with 12 inch calf circumferences that I am familiar with this season are very expensive. Designer :0(

shiny

Veteran

I need about 13 inch (not 12) and I have to say it is a very frustrating year for boot hunting. Especially because I also can't wear a boot any taller than 13 inches, which complicates the search even more. I have been able to find 13 inch calves but in 14-15 inch height, which is much too high for me. (Sorry don't remember the brands)

Thankfully, I am in good shape for boots; any boot I'd buy now would be for fun not necessity. I can tell you that in looking over my boot collection, there seems to be a trend: I seem to have the best luck with pull-ons that are not necessarily made of real leather (and also weren't all that expensive). The boots I have that zip are all Franco Sarto, so I would suggest you might try that brand?

fathenry

Veteran

I have narrow calves and have found that aerosoles work well for me, have a small heel, are extremely comfy and are classic looking. I posted a pic of them in an earlier post.

Louise

Veteran

Have you tried Duo Boots? http://www.duoboots.com/
I think Boof has a pair, not sure of shipping costs to the US. I'm madly saving for a pair x

April

Veteran

Here is the sort of ruminative brain-lock I get into when I contemplate buying Duo boots:

1. The shipping adds 20 pounds to the price (currently, about $32.)

2. If they don't fit correctly, they must be shipped back at comparable cost.

3. If I'm going to take that risk, why not just buy boots I know are great and spend the $80 to have them altered?

And so it goes...

I will definitely try Franco Sarto and Aerosoles -- thanks for those suggestions! And yes, Angie -- I have actually had great success finding slim-calf boots in the thousand-dollar price range. Not exactly a resounding triumph.

Boof

April, I hear you on the boots! I did order a pair of Duos, which I love. Customer service was excellent, and they helped me with sizing, etc. to reduce the chance that I'd have to ship them back. The pair I ordered were on the less expensive side for Duo, so the extra 20 pounds for shipping was not too bad. I did get hit with a customs fee from their delivery company, which I wasn't expecting. Yuck. I ordered from Duo, because I wanted at least one pair of boots that fit my calves (13 inches), and I didn't want to search the ends of the earth. I just took the easy way out. :o)

I second Shiny on pull-on stretch boots. They usually work. I've also become a big fan of slouch boots, because it's ok if they're looser around the calves. Good luck with your boot search!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

April, there are plenty of boots for narrow calves in the $400 to $500 price range. Still not a resounding triumph I know, but at least it’s not quite in the thousand dollar price range.

Joy

Veteran

I bought Aerosole boots in brown and duplicated in black last year because they came the closest to fitting my calves. They are faux leather, comfortable and classic looking with a small heel, and I wear them on their own or with jeans tucked in. I recommend this brand as comfortable and affordable. This fall I lucked out at a consignment shop with a pair of Donald J Pliner black knee-high leather classic boots with small heels that ok in the calf. I'm still lacking the classic flat leather riding boot for skinny calves. I'm making do with my vintage 80's black flat leather boots that I've made into slouchys until the right ones show up. I also have a pair of brown suede wedge heel slouchys and am liking that the slouchy style adds volume to skinny calves. The pull on stretch boots just don't appeal, but maybe I should try a pair on.

Maya

Veteran

What kind of boots are you looking for April? Have you considered getting a pair that buckles? Even if they're big, you can poke extra holes in the strap to make it smaller. I had to do that with my Ecco boots and it worked fine.

marianne

My calves are 13 inches and I have the hardest time finding anything affordable, so I can't imagine the trouble you have with smaller circumference! Anyway, I just bought a pair of Eric Michael Lola boots (all thanks to Tanya!) and they fit pretty well - and the fit is more forgiving since they are slouchy. Other than that I can only commiserate

taylor

Veteran

Angie,

What designers have them in the 4 to 5 hundred range...do they have a heel? are they pretty? Not looking for anything sturdy, or cowboyish(have those) or with buckles(have those) or any details at alll . For now my boots must be hidden under pants:(
Just a pretty oval shaped toe with at least a 3 inch or higher heel with a very narrow calf.I want something to tuck my jeans into, or wear with a skirt. I would be interested in a stretch leather as well. I would be willing to spring for something if it was perfect:) Ankle size might come into play here too...:(

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Taylor, a 10 inch calf is very narrow, but you could get a 12 inch boot and have the circumference altered. Have you considered slouch styles? Those won’t need to be altered.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Admittedly I just scanned all the replies, but it seemed as if no one had mentioned La Canadienne, which is fairly narrow, isn't it? I have a pair that fit my 12 1/2-inch calves fine, and the price is more like $200 than $400.

taylor

Veteran

Thanks Angie, I have considered slouchy boots, and have looked and tried on,but I guess I just haven't found the right pair.
I have a pair of Carlos mid calf boots...but still too big to tuck. I thought mid calf would work because honestly the mid calf is wider than the area below the knee where a boot ususally hits.

I think I will just have to find the perfect boot and alter.:(

Maya

Veteran

Taylor, you may raise an eyebrow at this suggestion, but I'm curious if you have ever tried kids' boots? I honestly can't tell the difference between adult and "big kid" shoes in terms of style, but my guess is the calf would be smaller. I doubt you'll find any with a 3"+ heel (thankfully, gross!), but if you're ever in the market for flat boots or a low heel, it might be worth a look.

Laura, I find LC to vary a lot though they have all been on the narrow side. I just wasn't sure if they would be narrow enough for April.

taylor

Veteran

Funny, my husband suggest childrens stuff all the time...I am 5'4 so I am too tall for the pants...but I swear those childrens jcrew cashmere sweaters do appeal:)

I would consider a childrens boot with a 1 or 2 inch wedge for tucking my jeans ,but want heels for my skirts ...thanks..I hadn't thought of that...my foot isn't that small though...6 1/2 or 7....I wonder what that is in childrens sizes, must do my homework:)

garmenta

Taylor--
I found this chart that lets you compare foot length for women's and children's sizes. It looks as though a women's 6 1/2 or 7 is bigger than the largest kid's shoe sizes. Too bad...Take a look. http://www.softmoc.com/us/shoesize.asp

We'll all keep searching for options for you.

taylor

Veteran

Garmenta,

Thanks so much") that was my fear...If my foot was a sz. 5 I think it would work though. Feeling a little like" Olive Oyl " about now...remember her:)

They cut it off so that girls have to jump into womens sizes...more expensive that way, better for the retailer I guess.

April

Veteran

I'm so glad this thread has retained some life because I really want to find well-fitting boots! And I want Taylor and everyone else to find them too...

The $400- 500 range is beyond my means at present but I will certainly check out La Canadienne. Also, Joy, I went to the Aerosoles site but they don't offer circumference information. I will look on another site that does (though now I mistrust online measurements since they seem to be so often incorrect.)

Maya, what I am looking for is a classic black riding boot. Low-heeled without being totally flat (say an inch and a half heel). So far, buckles have not helped much, either because the gap was too big or the leather too substantial to be yanked in.

<Sigh.>

Boof

April, check these out.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....tiveSearch

It says the calf is 13 inches, but it may work.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Stuart Weitzman, Donald Pliner and Cole Haan do 12 inch-calf-circumference boots. Prada and Gucci do 11.5 and LC has a pretty good section too.

I’m sure you could slouch and tuck with slouch boots, Taylor.

And for that matter April, you should try slouch boots! Tanya has a 12 inch calf and has had no problem finding comfy slouch boots.

Maya

Veteran

Taylor, I wear a 6-6.5 and I think it's the equivalent of a "big girl" 4.5 (or maybe 5). They definitely carry kids' shoes in our size.

http://www.zappos.com/c/shoe-size-conversion

Personally, I'd be all over these in white if I had a small enough calf!

http://www.zappos.com/kenneth-.....outh-black

taylor

Veteran

Maya, I think you are on to something...
according to this chart ,I can easly fit into a childrens size..."_ And the calf is 11 1/2.....those are super cute, but won't work with my wardrobe...but the search is on thanks to you ,I am going to search everywhere...I looked at Nordies ..Steve Madden has the perfect pair. but the wrong color....I won't find a high heel of course, but the wedge heel is all over the kids boots....Thanks for the suggestion,this could work:)

April

Veteran

OMG -- Taylor, there are some seriously cute (in the grown-up sense of the term) "kids" boots linking from the pair that Maya posted! Who knew. I see that you're already onto them, just agreeing that some of these are amazing...

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