Sam Edelman Paradox

I'm a fan of Sam Edelman, with several of his cute flats & a pair of ankle boots in my closet, so I was excited to try on his taller boots for narrow calves, the Paradox. Indeed there is a paradox involved: Why does this style look sleek on the leg, even with a larger-than-advertised opening measurement  (15" in a size 7.5) and a roomier-than-ideal ankle (11")?

The sleek look probably has something to do with the Paradox's quite narrow (13.25") midcalf measure. But also, the design of the boot really helps. The stretch panels on either side are only 1.5" wide, giving the Paradox the mainly-leather look many of us prefer and making this a standup style (no flopping). Thumbs up on the leather itself, which feels soft to the touch but is still sturdy and has a bit of gloss to it without being "shiny." Absolutely a 24/7, dress-up-or-down style.

Other nice touches: A grippy sole combats the slip-sliding issues that sometimes plague stylish riding boots...

And a cute "SE" logo under the pull tab in back models subtlety. (Other labels, please take note! We don't all like to pay for the privilege of serving as walking billboards....)



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

In black or brown.
Find it at:
Great deals on ebay -- and as of March 2016, I'm not sure where else you can find these particular Edelman boots for small calves

Steve Madden Ryyder

I'm not sure where Macy's (or Steve Madden) got their 13 inch circumference measurement for the Ryyder. By my tape measure, it's 13.75 at midcalf (still decently slim), 10.75 at the ankle and 14.75" up at the very top. In short, a slimmer than average but not terribly skinny boot.

What distinguishes the Ryyder, then? Very nice, soft feeling leather, to start. And an overall look much like the coveted (but skinnier) Kors Arley, with a soft, not stiff, stretch panel in back and pretty gold hardware.

Where the Arley has a gold nameplate in the front, across the top of the foot, the Ryyder has a small, textless gold bar in back above the heel, which I rather prefer.

These accents nudge the boot into slightly dressier territory than many riding styles, though it will still look terrific with jeans.

Oh, and the sale price is fabulous, too.

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

In black.
Find it: As of spring '15, this one seems to be gone everywhere. Share in the comments if you find it!

Elizabeth & James Heidi

A sort of moto-riding hybrid, the Elizabeth and James Heidi seemed like a potentially perfect addition to my narrow calf boots collection -- especially at their current sale price. So I'm bummed not to be head over heels for these.
 

I do really love the asymmetrical zipper that modernizes this style. I love the leather quality (the pricier boots often do have a subtle glow to them, don't they? I don't think it's just psychological...). I love the very dark, espresso brown color I chose, too.(Note: As of mid-March, the brown version is half the price of the black, and frankly, the brown is just about dark enough to pass for black -- with both on sale -- so keep that in mind...)

such cool details up top - if only it were an inch smaller around!

The issue is calf fit. Designer boots tend to run skinnier, so I had high hopes, but the Heidi measures 15" up top, which leaves too much of a gap around my just-under-12" calf. The ankle, at 10.5" is also wider than I'd like, though it doesn't look slouchy, thanks to the structure and quality of materials. At 14", the midcalf measurement isn't quite small enough to compensate for these other rather roomy stats.

One important caveat: I'm in between a size 7.5 and 8 in most boots and went with a 7.5 in these. Result was that I couldn't even zip around the heel on one of them. Which is why I am modeling the Heidi one-legged for this post!

Bottom line, if your calf is more like 13" wide and you're looking for a hip, "downtown" designer take on a riding boot at a great sale price, do check out the Heidi. As for me, I'll keep looking...

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


In brown & black.
Find it at: Amazon (wow -- up to 83% off in some color-size combos as of late Feb. 2015)

Going Going...Gone?

Unlike with wide calf boots, there are almost no special products designed for the slim calf market. So when a respected label comes out with a pair of bona fide tall narrow shaft boots, word travels fast. Discounts are elusive, and the product often sells out quickly in popular sizes.

What to do when your dream boot has vanished, with no restocking on the horizon? Do as I have in a couple of cases, and try ebay. Here, three fave finds...

1.Stuart Weitzman Setaside, a wonderful calf-conforming, minimalist design in leather or suede, 20+ pairs on offer as of early March 2016. This one has a skinny-minnie listed circumference of 12.75", retailed for $595 and sold out in my size everywhere before I could try it personally :(  The relative steals on ebay are well worth exploring, especially since Weitzman essentially remakes this same classic style year after year, tacking on a new name, and year after year it sells like hotcakes. Read reviews on this style.

2. Tory Burch Christy (shown below on my skinny legs), brown or black, 20+ pairs on sale as of March '16

See my comments here for this sought-after, virtually disappeared luxe riding style, including ankle, calf & opening measurements. Retail $495, but of course with ebay you can score a pair for far less.

 

3. Aquatalia Orso (above on me), brown or black, 20+ available as of mid March '16. I measured the circumference of this boot in person, at 13.75" Retail $498 and was extremely "sale pricing resistant," except for on ebay :) trom has, but not in the middle sizes. Read the reviews there.


Have you ever bought a boot on ebay? I have the site to thank for my favorite Fryes and see an ebayed Weitzman in my future at some point. What's been your experience?  

Aquatalia Lionna

I hesitated to review something that's disappeared almost everywhere, but it's so rare to find Aquatalia tall boots for narrow calves at a meaningful discount, I just had to feature the gorgeous Lionna before it's completely gone.

This Italian-made boot flatters the foot and leg just as much as its (also nearly extinct) sister, the Orso. Where the Orso has sturdy stretch fabric, the Lionna has soft suede. Plus there's a strip of the leather running down the back to tie it all together -- giving the boot a mostly leather look with a nice mix of textures.

If you like a metal-free look, this one's for you. But there's a little leather buckle at the top to add interest. The buckle is functional, though it doesn't tighten the calf a ton.

Luckily, it doesn't really need to. The Lionna comes in at a skinny 13 inches midcalf, 14 at the opening. The ankle to me looks and feels more fitted than its 10.5" measurement would suggest (the full zip in back is necessary) -- but you can judge for yourself from the photos. The shaft height is pretty much perfect. And the brand has again worked its magic on foot and heel shape, for a riding boot that is feminine but not fussy. The slightly squared toe skews more "modern" than "trendy."

Along with La Canadienne, Aquatalia has my favorite all-year boot linings (shearling is awesome, but too warm for summer). The Lionna is lined with a soft, cozy patterned microfiber. I slightly prefer the plaid print inside the Orso, but really, who's gonna see it? ;)

As I said, this one's almost gone, so if you're interested, I wouldn't wait too long to check it out.

Happy Valentine's, Anti-Valentine's or whatever you care to celebrate next week!

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

Update: Sadly, as of winter 2015, these pretty boots for skinny calves are sold out everywhere. Let me know if you see one on ebay or elsewhere!

Donald Pliner Prize

These are the first two-tone slim calf tall boots I've ever tried. I was worried that the brown on this Donald Pliner Prize boot would be closer to a caramel or butterscotch, yielding too much contrast with the black, but in person it's more of a milk chocolate. (Sorry for all the candy descriptors...I'm late on lunch!) 

One reviewer had said the Prize, which also comes in all black, is "preshaped" for a larger calf, and I didn't really get what she meant until I tried it on. It's a structured, non-floppy boot with a curved shaft that, I would say, is not proportioned for a large calf but more for an average to moderately slim one. I don't know from horses, but for some reason this shape strikes me as particularly equestrian inspired.

On my legs, the Prize looks terrific from the front, but from the side there's a bit of space inside where it curves out, even over thickish J Crew stretch pants (left). My calves have zero curve, so this illusion isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bottom line, if you want a decent fit and the appearance of a bit curvier calf, this look may be for you.

Measurements? The opening is 14.5", midcalf where I'm fullest is 13.5, and ankle is 10.5. These are for a size 7.5 boot -- remember that the dimensions will almost always increase gradually as sizes go up, decrease as they go down.

If stretch panels are your nemesis, you might not do much better than the Prize, which is all about long, lean leather (at, happily, a  lean price to match, as of early Feb.), with just a touch of covered goring at the top.
  
The shaft is tall, but not as tall as on the Nellie. No problems with it hitting my knee uncomfortably, but if you're much shorter than I (5'4"), it may be too tall for you.



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

In black or brown/black. 

Jan. 2015 update: I think this one's gone! As in, gone everywhere. If you like it & find it somewhere, do share in the comments...

Donald Pliner Nellie

I've been waiting forever to try these lovely skinny calf riding boots, the Donald Pliner Nellie. And now that I have, I'm smitten. With the beauteous Nellie following on the heels of the superslim Boxer, Pliner may actually be outpacing Aquatalia as my most preferred purveyor of narrow calf riding boots.

My favorite part of the Nellie is probably the ankle. Why? For starters, it's only 9.5 inches around, which makes for a sleeker look than most styles I've tried. And then there's the sweet detail: a trio of small silver buckles that add just enough style to this boot without detracting from its timeless quality.

Another sweet touch is the curving half-zipper for easy(ish) on & off. So cute. 

At midcalf -- or about 11 inches up -- the Nellie measures a nice, skinny 12.75" in my size 7.5. Yea! The top is slightly bigger than advertised, at 14", but combined with the small ankle and midcalf measurements, the overall look is reasonably fitted.

The back of this boot is an unobtrusive stretch fabric, while the front is a smooth, fairly luxurious feeling leather -- not too shiny, not too matte. Definitely a dress-up-or-down style. The toe has just a bit of point to its almond shape.

My one caveat involves the shaft height. I am 5'4" tall with longish legs for my height, and the front of the Nellie hits the bottom of my kneecap. (You can see this best in the top photo, with the barely-there stockings.) The back is a bit shorter. The boot is pliable enough that this shaft height is not uncomfortable, but ideally the shaft would be a half-inch to an inch shorter. On the other hand, I suspect taller women will applaud that extra inch, which may afford them a true "knee high" boot for the first time ever. I would say if you're 5'2" or under, think twice about this one unless you're open to an over-the-knee look.

Oh, and a word on sizing: I take between a 7.5 & 8 shoe and went with the 7.5 on this. Good call, as it does run just a bit roomy in the foot. 

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

In black.
Find it at: Amazon
(wow! at or around 100 bucks as of early August '15 -- and as of early 2017, this elegant boot is pretty well represented on ebay - happy hunting!)