Looking for knee-high riding boots - YouLookFab Forum

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Looking for knee-high riding boots

medusa

Veteran

My big quest for the fall is to find flat or low-heel, knee-high riding boots, in an equestrian style. I'm hoping all you boot experts can help me out!

I think I'd like a dark brown color, but I'm open to other ideas.

I measured my calves to hopefully make this easier: my calf circumference is 12.5 - 12.75 inches (depends on the calf), and from the floor to the base of my knee is 16.5-17 inches, depending on whether I measure to the very bottom of my knee or the base of my kneecap. What does this mean for what boot measurements I should look for? I'd like to wear the boots both with skirts/leggings and with skinny jeans tucket into them, so what boot opening measurement should I look for?

My next difficulty is that I have bunions and wear orthotics, so I'd like a pair that are compatible with orthotics. Maybe this is impossible to find off the rack, so I'm open to having the boots stretched (the Star Ling Julian boots are at the cobbler right now).

I want to get a good quality pair and keep them for a long time, so I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars.

What do you recommend?

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Inge

(website)

I'm not sure you'll be able to wear one and the same pair with skirts and jeans Medusa. Angie always says boots for skirts/dresses should be quite fitted (which means that most of the time, they won't fit over jeans, there are a few exceptions though).

I found a bit of info on how to measure your leg height here, hope that helps:
http://www.duoboots.com/pages/.....ing_guide/

I'll have a look around and see what I come up with;-)

medusa

Veteran

Inge, thanks for that measuring guide. That looks helpful.

Angie - is it true? Must I give up my dream of having just one pair of boots for both skinnies and skirts? :-{

cciele

Veteran

I think a pair that is stretchy, lace-up, or intentionally slouchy might solve the skirt/skinny dilemma. Although I would love to hear what Angie has to say!

marianne

Medusa, you should get the tall doc martens!

anne

Veteran

Medusa, I bought some flat brown riding boots last year that I wear both tucked in with skinnies and with skirts. The caveat is; only for a casual look (I have since bought some more form fitting heeled black boots for skirts and dresses)

Here they are with skinnies http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....0_7028.jpg
and with a skirt http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....aug016.jpg

They were probably my best fashion purchase of 2008.

I can't really give any specific recommendations though, not being in the same country as you, just wanted to say how versatile I have found a flat riding boot to be.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Medusa, your dream is hard to achieve but not impossible. The same slouchy boots worn both over jeans and with skirts will work, but the usual type of fitted boot won’t unless they have an adjustable buckle at the side, or laces that adjust the width at the calf. I hope these blog posts help:

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

I have Docs with laces (you can adjust the width), riding boots with adjustable calf buckles and three pairs of slouchy boots that I can wear with skirts, dresses, clams and over jeans. #2 and #4 in these pictures:

http://youlookfab.com/2008/09/.....igh-boots/

But I have 4 pairs of sleek knee-high boots that will only work on bare legs (I'm a bit obsessed with boots). They have to fit really well and not gape at the top. Slouchy boots are forgiving at the width so they will work with everything, BUT! You have to like the look. It’s still a fringe trend here in the US and I’m already hitting a wall with clients who need to adjust their eyes to the look. Hopefully that will change because it’s excitingly new AND practical. I wore my slouchy boots on my 30 hour flight last week and was in heaven.

marianna

Veteran

Have you thought about Frye boots? They're beautiful, will last you for years, and I think they can be dressy or casual. I LOVE this pair: http://www.zappos.com/frye-cindy-slouch-dark-brown

I would get a pair of Fryes in a heartbeat if they made my size (they don't!)

Look at all of the different styles:
http://www.zappos.com/womens-frye-boots

April

Veteran

Medusa -- sadly, I think you're going to find it not that easy to find boots as narrow in the calf as you would need to wear them with skirts. I am always looking, and most boots are at least 14" in circumference, sometimes as much as 16". Angie has pointed out Stuart Weitzman as a brand that runs narrower. (Zappos gives the calf circumference, though many sites do not.)

I am currently lusting after these in black patent: http://www.zappos.com/stuart-w.....lack-suede I think the elastic backing might make them stretch enough for skinnies. Alas, even on sale they are spendy...

medusa

Veteran

Hmmm, this is useful. Thanks for all the help so far.

Cathy and Marianne - I am thinking about some tall Docs, so that's a good suggestion. I still have a pair of lower Docs from long ago, and I kind of want to try the riding boot look first.

Anne - thanks for posting your photos, that's the type of look I am so excited to try.

Angie - I think that riding boots with adjustable calf buckles is what I want. #2 in the photo you posted are beautiful. If I can't find that, I think I'll go for a pair that just works over skinnies and not wear it with skirts. I'm not opposed to a slouchy style - I got the Star Ling Julians specifically to try that look out - but I definitely want a pair of non-slouchy equestrian flat riding boots.

MC - Thanks for the Frye suggestion. The Cindy Slouch is gorgeous, but probably too big a calf circumference. Here's another great one:

http://www.zappos.com/frye-dor.....dark-brown
in color Bordeaux is lovely, but again it has a 15" calf circumference.

April - The narrow calf problem is exactly what I'm worried about. Where do you look for skinny calf boots?

Possibly stupid question: how much do you add to your measured calf circumference to get a good boot calf circumference?

medusa

Veteran

Bumping...I'd love more comments.

Inge

(website)

I'd definitely give the tall Doc Martens a try Medusa. I have them in silver and they are so much more versatile than I had ever expected.

Good boot calf circumference: if you're going to wear them with skirts and dresses, I'd say about 13", if you want to tuck in skinnies, maybe 13.5"? But don't take my word for it;-)

I tried to find some suitable boots (mostly boots with an adjustable buckle, I'm hoping that 14" inch circumference would still work for you then?).
I actually found a few pairs that have a 12" circumference too, if anyone's interested.

http://www.zappos.com/celine-3.....-half-calf

http://www.endless.com/dp/B002.....B0023NVX8A

http://www.endless.com/dp/B001.....B0019D3GI0

http://www.endless.com/dp/B001.....B00171TDBS

http://www.zappos.com/la-canad.....wn-leather

http://www.zappos.com/franco-s.....ve-leather

http://www.zappos.com/stuart-w.....etch-nappa

http://www.duoboots.com/produc.....lfwidth/C/

http://www.duoboots.com/produc.....lfwidth/C/

http://www.bornshoes.com/Produ.....uctID=4651

12" circumference:
http://www.zappos.com/stuart-w.....black-calf

http://www.zappos.com/stuart-w.....ack-patent

medusa

Veteran

Inge, you are AMAZING! Thanks so much. I'm going to try ordering some of these soon and see what I can find.

marianna

Veteran

Medusa, I was just looking for boots for myself and saw this one with a 12.5" circumference:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....8&P=1

April

Veteran

Medusa -- did you find any boots to try on?

shiny

Veteran

Medusa, I think you may not want boots that 16.5-17 inches high. If they come up to the base of your knee, they will probably be too high in the back, in which case, not only will they rub when you bend your leg, you may have trouble driving in them because your boot will get stuck on the car seat! This happens to me. I have a pair of boots that fit just a tad too high like this and I'm thinking of putting them up for swap. Can you wear a size 6? They are black patent leather with calf width that would likely fit your calves (mine are 13 inch width and these are tight with jeans).