Knee-high boots? - YouLookFab Forum

Help! I've been lurking in the forums listening to your invaluable advice on all sorts of things and finally delurked to ask for advice.

I've been looking into knee-high boots partly on the recs here -- I'd stayed away from them for ages because I have big calves and always thought that they would just add bulk, but now I'm reconsidering. The problem is, boots that go up to the knee end up jutting out past my calf, and boots that end at the fullest part of the calf (avoiding that "jutting out" problem), well, end at the widest part of my calf, which I always thought I should avoid. What do people think is the optimal boot height? With a taller boot, what do you do about the bit that sticks out on the side (or is that just me)?

You can see what I mean here and here (hope I got the links right!). This is the taller pair of boots...the shorter one is shown here. For good measure, I'm adding a picture without tights, a different boot on each leg :-), to show the full optical-illusion/leg-widening effect. Sorry about the all-black outfit and the odd angle; I was trying to focus on the boot view.

Any thoughts? Which pair is better, or should I keep searching?

Oh, and if you're looking for La Canadienne boots (which have been talked up on this forum for being sturdy and waterproof), go check out Lord and Taylor. Although the style names don't correspond to anything that La Canadienne includes on its website in its fall/winter collection, I think they're either the same or very similar boots under different names -- and for lower prices, in some cases. Plus, there's a 20%-off discount through Wednesday, I think, that can be applied to these boots. The site doesn't have that many styles available, but my store had more (for example, the Dreamer boots under the name "Wish"). The Larens that I'm wearing in the first two photos are similar to the Passion and Jenny boots, I think, but for 20% less even before the discount, which is a steal for these boots. (The suede boots were on sale at Endless.com.)

Thanks in advance for your advice -- these forums are great!

P.S. Sorry about any confusion earlier...I accidentally posted this in the wrong forum. Thanks for your patience with the newbie!

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hi trix and welcome to the forum! For starters, you might like to read this blog post:

http://youlookfab.com/2008/10/.....-the-calf/

Kari

Veteran

Welcome, Trix!

I have large calves too & have struggled finding boots that will fit. Actually, I thought your calves looked pretty slim, especially since the taller pair seems to be a little wide for you.

I prefer my own boots to be a little bit taller than the shorter pair you have, but I don't think it looks bad on you by any means - it's just what feels most comfortable on my own legs. I buy boots that have some stretch or give built into the construction or material, which means they will actually zip up over my calves.

Also, my two most recent pairs of boots had a little stretch/goring built in at the top, so they stretch around my calf when I'm zipping, but they don't gap. Maybe looking for this feature will help you get a better fit when you're boot shopping. (For a visual of what I'm talking about, see these and these.)

Maya

Trix, it looks like the first boots you have on are too tall in the shaft rather than being the wrong size. I had the same question as you and even posted the same kind of picture, with mismatched boots!

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....G_1498.jpg

The boots on the left got the axe. This is what they looked like on my legs, no jeans tucked in:

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....G_1492.jpg

The problem wasn't the fit around the calf, but that they were too high.

These were the winning boots:

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....G_1632.jpg

So I think the suede ones you have on are shorter than necessary (to Kari's point) but they are a better height than the first pair.

And you are so right about Lord and Taylor. I haven't found the LC boots I got from there anywhere else, and L&T has great sales.

trix

Active Member

Thanks so much for the welcome and advice! That was a really helpful post on how knee-high boots should fit, Angie -- I took one look and instantly recognized the look on the left as the way my boots looked. I think Maya pegged the problem exactly: I'm short (5'3", and a "short shinner" on top of that, to quote another fashion blog), so boots that come up to a normal height on other people are practically hitting my kneecaps. It's hard to tell b/c of the angle of the camera, but I actually need a boot circumference of 15" (though it made my day when you said you thought my calves were actually slim, Kari!). The taller boots in my photo do actually have goring, but it starts above where my calves start tapering in toward the knee.

So I guess the boot hunt will continue. I've got another LC pair arrving today (the Jennys), though I think they still might be too tall; I don't think LC makes any boots that I like with a height of 13". Maya, I really loved the look of the boots you chose. Mind if I ask you which boots they were?

Thanks again everyone for all your advice!

Maya and Kari were spot on. You have to get the shaft height right too. Keep us posted with your boot adventure and we're here if you need us, Trix!

Alas, the Jenny boots arrived today, and though they're more fitted, they're the same height as the Larens. I like them more, but I'm afraid they're not better enough. Waiting for the 13"-tall Tia boots and considering the stretch microfiber boots on the theory that they'll be more fitted below the knee even if they're on the tall side...too bad they're wedge heels, which wasn't what I wanted. The quest continues...

shana

Trix, I have the same issue in terms of the shaft height of most boots being too high. I just bought a pair of Ecco boots this weekend that have a 13" shaft and I realize that is the max I can go on shaft height. Mine feature an adjustable buckle but are probably on the narrow side for you (13" circumference) but you can take a look to see what other models they have.

Thanks for the suggestion Shana! I started hunting around for Ecco boots and 13" boots...and while I didn't end up buying a pair of Eccos, I did find another pair of 13"-tall boots that lace up in the back and come in three different calf widths. So I should have a bunch of 13" boots coming next week and hope to have better news then!

Oh wow, that's surprising. I'm only 5'2 and I own the Larens. I didn't realize that's what you had on! I do have long legs for my height though.

The boots I have on that fit are these.

Oh, that's such a funny coincidence that you have the Larens too! Amazing how differently they fit. I'm going to go back to L&T this weekend (their "buy more, save more" shoe sale) and look at the microfiber boots -- I figure that if they have stretch, they might hug the calf enough even if they're tall. Not a lot of their boots have working buckles, which seems to be the key for several of you.

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