Sesto Meucci Boyle

No signs of a crocus yet in our front yard, and no hint of a warm(er) breeze in the air. Yet this month brings the official start of spring, and with it the unofficial worst time of year to look for knee high women's boots for slim calves.

Or is it? Sure, the selection may not be what it was back in September, but the prices! I would argue that we're heading into the absolute best time of year to score a perfect pair of boots on a budget. And by way of proof, I've got a stunning offering all the way from equally stunning Florence, Italy.

Sesto Meucci is a rather under-the-radar label that is nonetheless known in thin calf circles. The cut on this brand's boots tends to be pretty sleek and streamlined. That reputation certainly holds with the Boyle boot, coming in at a skinny 13" midcalf (for shoe size 7 1/2), gently widening to 14" up top, and circling the ankle at a relatively slim 10". 

But wait! The very cute lacing detail at the back of the ankle is actually functional. That is to say, you really can tighten those leather laces for a narrower ankle circumference, bringing it down (if you so choose) to my ideal measurement of 9 inches. Such a simple trick, yet so so welcome for those of us used to flopping around at the ankle. Why can't more companies employ this technique?

And this is another wonderful choice for those who dislike large stretch panels, as its goring section is relatively small, and covered with leather.

What we have here is a high-$300s Italian boot (I would in fact put it up there with $400+ Aquatalias I've tried, in terms of fit and beauty) that you can grab now -- what'd I tell you? spring bonus! -- for low 200s. (Though with the Sestos, you'd need to do your own spray-on waterproofing, if that's important to you.)

At that price, some sizes are gone. If yours isn't, give this one serious consideration. One of my fave looks yet.

Rating:
Beauty: *****/5
Value: *****/5
Calf slimness: ****/5 with the ankle laces loose, *****/5 with them tightened

In black & brown
Find it at: 
Amazon 
(nearly 50% as of April 2015 -- under $200! - but just one pair left...)

ps -- if you're really into the lacing idea, I stumbled across a very cute Donald Pliner boot on clearance, the Baude, that laces all the way up the back. That's a super hard-to-find design trick (I see it on maybe one or two decent-looking styles per year) that may or may not be up your alley, but in general the Pliner people tend to cut their riding boots pretty narrow, and with the extra adjustability from full-length lacing, this could be a winner.