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, February 13, 2014

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?  

2 comments:

  1. Hello there!
    I am also a slim calf boots lover, very nice to see your blog.
    I bought a pair of 9West Pristeen last week, hopefully they will fit :)

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  2. I thought those looked really cute on. Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete