With scrawny 11.9-inch calves, I've been on a mission for years (decades!) to find the very best, most beautiful slim calf boots. There have been successes, but for whatever reason, what remain most elusive are the perfect riding boots for thin calves. Heels and wedges are challenging to find with a narrow shaft, but equestrian inspired? The toughest of all. In this blog I'll review riding boots with calf circumferences published, or reported anecdotally, at under 14 inches around. If your legs are like mine, maybe you'll find your dream boot here :)

Please note: Except where otherwise stated in the captions, all photos & text are copyright this "Howdy Slim" blog and cannot be used elsewhere without permission.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Attilio Giusti Leombruni Riding Boot

My last tall boots for thin calves for 2013 are real beauties. With a brand name this Italian, how could it be otherwise? This boot features some of the softest, smoothest leather I've felt in ages. And the styling has some wonderful grace notes, thanks to three sisters who've joined their elders' longstanding, eco-conscious family shoe business, vowing to create for all women the stylish but comfortable footwear they crave for themselves.

Nordstrom lists these specifically as "narrow calf," and based on the essential midcalf measurement, where most of us are at their fullest in the lower leg area, that is fairly accurate. In a size 8, they measured 13.75" at the midcalf.

The ankle is quite slender looking but came in at 10" -- not nearly as wide as average, but not the smallest we've seen on this blog. The top opening measured 14.75" and would have suited my legs better at an inch or so smaller, though -- you can judge for yourself, through the photos -- there really wasn't an odd-looking "flare" effect from the midcalf up.

I'm finding that, in some cases, an unexpected side effect of slimmer calf boots is that the snug leg can make an average (like mine) to larger size foot look rather clunky. Not the case with this boot, which IMO gives the foot quite a pretty appearance. I think the "daintier" than typical (for a riding boot) heel on this boot may contribute to that, but it's also just the overall shape of the foot. Nicely done.

Besides the pretty foot, something I absolutely love is the way they've approached the stretch inserts. They've kept these on the small side and created a curving shape for them that looks like a purposeful design element, not just a utilitarian way to accommodate different sized legs.
To recap, this is a very pretty boot that's not the slimmest we've come across, but certainly narrower than average. At the current sale price, it's a chance to get a timeless, luxury product you won't be swimming in, at a relatively moderate price. Hope these talented Leombrunis will keep the slim boots coming! 

Rating:
Beauty: *****/5
Value: ****/5
Calf slimness: ****/5

In black.
Find it at:
These sold out at Nordstrom,but as of March 2015 ebay has a few of these on offer, unused, starting at $140!



2 comments:

  1. Hi Mary, I absolutely love your blog. God bless you for running it. I'm 5' with a 12" calf and an 8.5" ankle, and after going through four years of your posts I have new hope that I may find the perfect boot as soon as this winter...!
    I know this post is very old, but if you've still got the measurement lying around somewhere, what was the shaft height on this boot?

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    1. Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind words! I am pretty sure this pretty Leombruni boot had a shaft about 16" tall in my size (whatever the equivalent was of US 7.5-8). I worry it might be a bit tall for you, though if your shoe size is small, you will probably find the shaft in that size is shorter too. Good luck!!!

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