Frye Melissa Tall Riding

Once you've tried Frye, it's easy to go broke on the brand. But less so for us thin-legged ladies, as this venerable label tends to cut things wide, and slim calf Frye boots are not easy to find.

That's why I'm so excited to show you the Frye Melissa Tall Riding (June '17 update: now priced under $200 in some size/color combos). It's essentially a reboot (ouch! sorry, couldn't resist that dreadful pun) of the stunning Paige Tall, but made significantly slimmer.

Yes, I know, it's confusing. There's already an array of "Melissas," so why couldn't they just call this the "Paige Slim" or something like that?

What matters, though, is that these are the closest things to bona fide skinny calf Frye boots I've tried so far in a knee-high style. (June 2014 update: The Frye Chelsea Riding has a different look and color options but is even slimmer, in case you want to check that one out.)

Like the Paige, this version of the Melissa has a lovely "layering" or doubled effect in the shaft that adds a little style without slipping into trendiness. We will definitely be seeing this boot on ebay a few years down the road, fetching strikingly close to retail even pre-owned, as with many of the classic-looking Fryes. And if you're averse to stretch panels, these beauties have absolutely none -- not even the hidden kind. So I wouldn't recommend them for calves over 14 inches. (You could hope they'll stretch with your leg, but why push it when you can just pick the Paige for a wider fit?)

A pretty foot shape cuts a lot of butter with me, as the combo of scrawny calves & not-tiny feet (size 7.5-8) tends to make my feet look a bit boatlike when in less artful shoemaking hands. This boot comes through with an almond-ish shape that walks the line between polished and rustic. The color I chose -- "camel" -- is somewhere in between my beloved "fawn" ankle and "cognac" midcalf Taylors. Those have both proven super versatile, so the camel in-between shade will likely go with virtually anything. The "redwood" option also looks really nice, and of course the classic black. In the camel, at least, the burnished effect is subtler in real life than shops' web photos, which suits me fine.

Measurements?  In size 8, these narrow calf Frye boots were 13.5" at the midcalf, where most calves are widest; 14.5" at the top; and 11.5" at the ankle. The ankle measurement would be more of a concern if the leather were slouchy, as has been the case with a few boots I've reviewed here. Instead, it's quite structured, so there's no bagging, just an equestrian-inspired straightish line from top to bottom of the shaft. I did need to undo the half-zip to get these on, which is always a good sign!

Note:  If you go for these, I highly recommend at least two layers of weatherproofing spray (let it dry fully before reapplying) before the first outing, though it may darken the leather just a tad. That approach worked miracles for my taller Taylors, which look new despite being worn into the ground, and I'm still kicking myself for not using it on my shorter ones :(

If you've got a firsthand Frye with narrow shaft recommendation, please do share in the comments. As I said, this isn't an easy find.

**ps: If you don't love the layered shaft as much as I do, check out a gorgeous cousin to this boot, the Melissa Tall Tab. A glowing review I read by a petite person was very encouraging -- though for those of us who take a shoe size larger than hers (6-6.5), the shaft will be a bit roomier too. (I know, I know -- calf width is not, in reality, proportional to foot length, and I don't know why the manufacturers all do this! Maybe we can start a petition...)


Rating for the Melissa Tall Riding:
Beauty: *****/5
Value: ****/5 (show these some TLC & they'll last a loooong time)
Calf slimness: ***/5

Find the Melissa Tall Riding at:
Amazon