Cole Haan Adler

Ahh yes, after that little detour, we're back to some bona fide riding boots for narrow calves.

At this point I'd like to think my eagle eye is developed enough to spot boots with 13 inch circumference even on a five-minute sprint through the department store. So I'm surprised at having missed the Cole Haan Adler on just such a sprint this fall. Worse, I picked up this boot, glanced at it & put it down, thinking it too wide. Only after seeing numerous kudos online from thin legged ladies did I decide to give it a closer look.

In size 7.5, the Adler measured 13" on the dot at the fullest part of my leg (midcalf, about 11.5" inches up from the sole) and 13.75" at the top opening. Both respectably narrow stats.

What could be a sticking point for some is the ankle measurement. This boot is a straighter equestrian style, with only subtle tapering from midcalf to ankle. I measured the ankle at 11.5" -- which leaves 3.5" of space around my ankles, obviously more than ideal. Overall, the Adler is structured much like the Tory Burch Christy, but with a smaller circumference at the top. It's also a softer, lighter, more pliable boot than the Christy.

You can draw your own conclusion from the photos, but I think the roomy ankle looks better with pants than the thin tights I'm wearing here.

On a very positive note, the ubiquitous (in narrow calf circles) stretch part of the boot is not a stiff elastic fabric this time around. Instead, the back half of the Adler is a supersoft stretch suede. Besides the relatively narrow shaft, that's my favorite feature. The combo of buttery soft leather & velvety soft suede is hard to resist. I'd love to see more companies swapping out fabric for suede in this manner, especially if they can do it for under $200, which is where the Adler's sale price is now hovering.

Nothing trendy about this one; it's a very simple style, save the cute gold buckle detail at the ankle.








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

In black, brown & dark gray.
Find it at (at huge discounts as of early 2015): Amazon

 

photo (c) amazon

Update: Based on input from a 12.5-inch-calved reader (thank you!), it sounds like the Kenmare (left) may be an even slimmer shafted Cole Haan boot than the Adler. Still available in some sizes -- and actually under $100 in some size/color combos -- as of spring 2017, so take a look.

photo (c) amazon

Update 2: It's late May '17 & I've just spend an hour or so sifting through the newer Cole Haan riding boots to make sure I haven't missed anything promising, and unfortunately most of their calf circumferences are too wide for us. However, the Dutchess (at right) looks to be one of the slimmer OTK leather riding styles on the market, with a "calf girth" measurement of under 14" for a size 7 boot, per the manufacturer. (Generally you need to look at stretch suede, faux suede or fabric for a calf fit this snug in an OTK boot -- or pay 2x, 3x the Cole Haan price for Stuart Weitzman, the luxe label that put OTK boots on the map :) Sorry to be late to the party on this one -- it's actually sold out at sites like Nordstrom, perhaps because of the unusally slim calf.  But there are still a few sizes available, some heavily discounted -- happy hunting!

Finally, you can see the Tilley II Cole Haan narrow calf boots on my skinny calves to get a sense of how they might look on yours. Not a bad fit!

Ash Prince

Speaking of Frye--I was hoping this offering from European brand Ash, pleasantly rustic and (like many Frye boots these days) made in Mexico, might prove a Fryesque thin calf boot. No dice. Not only was the calf way wider than advertised online, but I even got inaccurate info on circumference when I took the time to inquire by email. This happened once before with a supposedly narrow boot....grrr.

With a 16" opening, 15" midcalf, and 12" ankle, I'd go so far as to say this makes a nice wide calf option. So if you have any wide-calf pals who might want a straightforward, substantial riding boot in a rich brown color from a fancyish label for a less-fancy price, maybe direct them to Shopbop for a peek at the Prince.

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

Frye Phillip Tall Harness

 Phillip Wide is only 15 around, suggesting the regular could really be slim!

(June 2015 update: I finally got these -- the non-extended version -- on my legs! Check it out here.)

(March 2014 update: Don't miss my test-run of the Frye Melissa Tall Riding Boot if you prefer a harness-free look.)

If riding boots for thin calves are an elusive treasure, then Frye slim calf riding boots are the Holy Grail. The venerated brand simply doesn't cut their styles all that narrow. That's why, though I am the very happy owner of two Frye ankle boots & two midcalfs, I haven't yet been able to add a tall Frye to the collection. So imagine my excitement in finding the Phillip Tall Harness boot has a circumference of only 13".

But a funny thing happened on my way to nirvana. Not once but twice, Amazon sent me the extended-calf Phillip by mistake. Too bad, as the price was right with a coupon code, and the boot itself is gorgeous, at least in the wine-undertoned dark brown color I ordered. In my mind, this label is at its best on the more rustic end of the riding boot continnum. My secondhand 12Rs in the rugged "tan" shade, bought specifically to camouflage dust & mud from music festivals, have actually become one of my all-time faves and look especially good with girly ensembles for a tough-and-tender vibe. The Phillip is a couple inches taller, and softer looking with its almond toe, but still has plenty of that characteristic Frye rusticity going for it.

The good news is that the Phillip wide calf boot measured very true to its listings, which suggests the non-extended version might actually be a slim 13 around, which would be same as my midcalf Taylors (left) that fit fabulously. 

I'll post "on leg" photos if I manage to get hold of the standard-calf Phillip Harness. In the meantime, I'm feeling hopeful :)

Rating:
Beauty: *****/5
Value: ***/5
Calf slimness: Unsure for the moment, but hopeful!

Find the Phillip non extended calf at: Zappos
(Have yet to receive an incorrect product from the Big Z!)


Tip for the tiny! If you're under 5 feet tall with small feet, the kids' version of this boot will save you big bucks. Just add 2 sizes to the kids' size for a rough equivalency: kids' 3 is about the same as an adult size 5, kids' 4 = adult 6, etc. Only caveat is that some feel Small Frye quality isn't quite up to the adult brand. At half the cost, though, it may be worth a look.

One more note: Another candidate for best Frye boot for skinny calves, per reviewers, is the terrific looking Lynn Strap which is a half-inch taller than the Phillip & adorned with a small buckle rather than a harness. Hoping to try that one soon & report back. 

Joan & David Heathley

Boho-chic and equestrian don't necessarily mix on a routine basis, but there's a touch of "Almost Famous" in these plush suede skinny calf riding boots from Joan & David, the Heathley. They'd work just as well with my flowy Free People tops as my preppy J Crew sweaters -- especially in this soft medium brown hue. These also come in black, or a pretty taupe that I'd probably be too afraid of getting dirty.

At the midcalf, the Heathley comes in at a fairly slender 13.5" in size 8. The opening is 14.5, while the ankle is 11" when tightened to the smallest setting. This is a somewhat gappy boot on me, but it doesn't look bad over midweight stretch pants. (Speaking of J Crew, I'm wearing their Pixie pants in the first photo.)

Over tights, naturally, the extra space is a little more obvious. But what make this boot a winner in my mind, beyond the quality of that soft suede and overall solid construction, are the details that set it apart from the pack. It's the little things that give this under-$200 (at the sale price) style a pricier look.

Most noticeably, the leather harness adds texture and shape to the ankle and foot area. The little wood heel is really pretty, too.

Besides the full zip for easy on and off, there's a little partial zipper on the other side just for fun.

 And the sole has a nice pebbled texture to prevent slips.

So if you're looking to take a walk on the softer side with your riding boots, the Heathley is worth a try.

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


In brown, black or taupe.
Find it at:
Sorry folks; ebay is your only source for this beauty as of fall 2016, as far as I can tell.

Alfani Cabbie

These are the lowest-price riding boots with skinny calves I've found that are made from leather. So if your holiday bills are paid, but just barely, the Alfani Cabbie could be a good bet.

As far as I can tell, these under $100 (!) boots (as of mid-January) are virtually identical to the BCBGeneration Jericho -- also a wallet-friendly pair -- but are a teeny bit slimmer through the calf.

In a size 8, the Cabbie measures 14.75" at the top opening, a fairly narrow 13.75" at midcalf, and 11" at the ankle. The front is leather, while the back is stretch fabric, as with many narrow shaft boots on the market.The gap around my just-shy-of-12" calves is less noticeable, of course, over cords than over the thin stockings pictured above.

I'm not sure why they felt the need to put a shiny detail on the heel, but it's small and fairly subtle, so shouldn't be a dealbreaker for most.

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

In black or brown.
Find it at: Amazon