Aquatalia Oralie

I've been speculating about which 2014 Aquatalia boots would most closely follow on the heels (sorry! ;) of last year's wildly popular Orso. And now I think I might have the answer.

The Oralie is a stunning example of boots for skinny legs that I might like even better than the Orso, and I'll tell you why.

While I loved the Orso's super slim shaft, flattering foot shape and overall versatility, the Oralie brings these same assets plus features a quilted heel that I think is more classic and luxe (quilting = Chanel in most fashion-loving minds) than the cute arch pattern on the Orso's heel. It may not seem like an earth-shattering difference, but riding boot shapes are generally so simple that little details can make all the difference.

The ankle, which features a pretty little buckle detail, is perhaps not as skinny as some of us would like, at 10.75 inches, but it doesn't slouch much due to the structure of this style. It's hard to find much smaller in today's marketplace than the circumference of the top opening on this boot, which comes in at 13.75". And the midcalf measurement delivers, too, at 13 inches on the dot in size 7 1/2.

The stretch panels are very much there, so if you object to the use of that device, this is not your dream boot. If you're open to it, these particular panels are nice and sturdy and should weather the changing environment well, as will the waterproof leather this label is known for. Tip: For best results, even waterproof leathers should probably be toweled off at home after exposure to rain, snow, sleet, "wintry mix" (ugh)...whatever it is they've had to content with. They'll last even longer that way.

Speaking of bad weather -- I think you'll like the cozy, cushy microfleece lining on this one, too, in a classic houndstooth pattern, and the major grip factor on the soles.

Someone close to me once said that when you're entering an intimidatingly posh locale -- like the Paris Ritz, which is where he said it -- you just need to "walk in like you own the place." The Oralie is undoubtedly a boot to do that in, and (bonus!) you'll do it without slipping :)

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

Find it at:
Sigh...as of early February 2016, this one appears gone everywhere except ebay

May 2016 update: While the Oralie is nearly extinct this point, three of its sister narrow calf riding boots are alive & well -- and available in some size/color combos at absolutely stunning off-season prices. We're talking knee-high, leather, Italian-made Aquatalia riding boots for under $200, and in some cases even under $150. Yes, it's more fun right now to scout for sandals and such, but seriously -- luxury boot savings are off the hook right now. Check out these boots and the kudos & complaints (depending on wearer calf size) they've garnered from reviewers:

(photo: 6pm )

Nicolette looks uber snug in its accompanying video clip (bonus point to the narrator for cracking up at the cheesy rhyme that ends her script :) - and the leather-shaft version is popping up at a terrific price.

(photo: amazon)

The Odina -- also offered in black and espresso -- is listed at 13.5" around.

(photo: amazon)

The Ohanna  -- described as 14 inches around -- offers the most color options, with black, dark brown & a nice warm, classic brown called "luggage." Its listed circumference is 14 inches.







Word to the wise: If you've been wanting a high-quality narrow calf riding boot forever but are on a budget, see if you can grab one of these at a deep discount, make sure the fit and feel suit you, then stash it box, tissue & all in the closest until Labor Day. While everyone else is spending $400+ at a ritzy department store for their classic Aquatalias, you can pull out the near-identical pair you got for a fraction of that. :)

Stuart Weitzman Equine

How does Stuart Weitzman charge $500+ for its wares year after year, almost never resort to sale pricing, and still sell out its narrow shaft riding boots with ease in all but the very ends of the shoe-size spectrum? Behold the Equine.

Truthfully, I only go horseback riding once every year or two, on family trips to North Carolina. I don't know much about what the hallmarks are, exactly, of a "real" equestrian boot. But I've come to develop a pretty good sense of what so many of us love about equestrian-inspired styles that get it right, and I think the word is "grace." They're sporty but not sexless; strong but not severe; simple but not boring; luxurious but not showy. You put them on and start moving around a bit more fluidly. At least that's how this sleek, Spanish-made boot feels to me.

Enough rhapsodizing & on to the stats. True to its listings, the Equine comes in at only 13.5 inches for the top opening -- small! But here's where things get interesting. The midcalf measurement is actually a little larger, at 14", thanks to a very gentle curved design through the shaft.

At 12", the ankle measurement is definitely not small, but because this is quite structured leather -- a stand up in the closet type, not flop down -- the roomy area doesn't have that elephant-skin effect sometimes seen in lesser boots. 

Speaking of ankles, there's an ingeniously designed, small elastic inset at the inside ankle that felt pretty important for getting the boot on easily. But that's the only elastic you'll find, and it's hard to spot unless you're looking, so if you aren't into the stretch panel look, you're in luck with this one.

You can go to the movies in this boot, or you can defend your dissertation in it. It's what you'd want to be wearing should you bump into a prince at St. Andrew's ;)  It would probably not have been a great choice for that time when I got booze spilled on me twice in one week -- wine at the theatre and beer at an indie rock show -- although a clerk at the Stuart Weitzman shop assured me that yes, you can stainproof/waterproof-spray even their most buttery leathers. (Phew!)

The topline is classified as "asymmetrical," but there's only about a 2/3" difference between the shaft heights for inner (about 16 1/3 inches tall in a shoe size 7.5) and outer (17" tall) leg. At 5'4" tall, I found the shaft height just right, but if you're much shorter, the Equine may be too tall for you.

The color shown here is "walnut," a rich, dark brown that could almost pass for black in certain lights -- though black is also available. The boot comes in a chic croc-embossed leather, too, but I think this smooth, gleaming finish is what the label is most known for -- and a big part of why folks with the budget for it pay the big bucks.

Rating:
Beauty: *****/5
Value: ***/5
Calf slimness: ***/5
Find it at:
Alas, ebay looks like the sole source as of fall 2016

photo: stuartweitzman.com

Note: The Equine is a real riding look. But if you're after a more fitted ankle and "legging boot" style shaft, you'd probably be happier with the Mezzamezza (right), a knee-high version of Weitzman's cult-classic 5050 but with an inch more heel to flatter the leg.

photo: nordstrom.com

Or -- a great deal (for this brand) popped up last summer through the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: the Stuart Weitzman narrow calf Mixitup knee high boot, at left. Almost identical to the Mezzamezza, no? But at a much friendlier price. After bouncing around on & off sale pricing for months, these unfortunately are available only on ebay as of spring 2016. They were a mammoth hit with narrow calf boot seekers, though, so worth checking out if you can find a NIB or gently used pair.

Nine West Contigua

Narrow calf riding boots in leather, for under $175 100? Done and done. Nine West has come through this fall with the Contigua, a simple, streamlined style that can easily be dressed up or down.

What drew me to this boot was, of course, the 13-inch calf circumference listed -- and the fact that even its "wide calf" version lists only a 14 1/2" circumference. I decided to fact-check those stats live and in person.

As is often the case, the midcalf came in pretty close to what's advertised, at 13.5 inches around. That's the good news. The ankle is a not-super-skinny 11", though, and unfortunately the top opening in the size 7 1/2 boot I tried measures in at 15.5 inches. So there's a bit of a "flaring" effect between mid leg and knee that may or may not be to your liking.

Another taste-dependent detail is the slightly curved shape of the calf -- like a less dramatic version of the Donald Pliner Prize. This very equestrian element tricks the eye into thinking the calf underneath is somewhat fuller than it really is, which to me doesn't look awful, just a little awkward.

You can see what I mean in << this photo<< -- particularly on my left leg (in front); the curve you're seeing is the boot, not my calf.

The foot is pretty rounded, so you shouldn't have toe pinching problems with this style. I feel like this foot shape visually shortens my feet a bit, which again, is really a matter of taste, but probably better shortened than lengthened, as has been the case with some of the slimmest-calf boots I've reviewed.

If you're aesthetically allergic to stretch goring, you'll be happy to know there's almost none of that on this boot....just this teeny hidden patch on the inside top of the shaft that doesn't seem like it would even offer much give in terms of circumference.

As for the leather, well, to some extent you get what you pay for. Unless you're taking advantage of some outrageous clearance price -- usually in the dead of winter or dog days of summer -- boots in this price range generally are not luxury leather. The Contigua features kind of a middle-of-the-road variety, not cardboard-y but not as rich & supple as some of the (generally much pricier) Italian and Spanish made styles I've posted about here.

I wasn't sure what attracted me so much to the warm brown color I chose, until I realized it's almost an exact match for my beloved, worn-into-the-ground, cognac Frye Taylor boots (at right). So I can attest to the versatility of this shade, if you're in the market for a brown boot.

Bottom line, if you have a) a tightish budget, b) thin but not scrawny legs, and c) a preference for straightforward, relatively unadorned riding styles, give the Contigua a spin. 


And if that one doesn't appeal, here are some other Nine West slim calf riding boots for fall 2014 that may be worth a look, based on their published stats...

photo: amazon.com

<< The Bringit comes in a broader than average color palette -- with four choices -- and has what appears to be a functional buckle both at the opening and the ankle. So theoretically an extra punch could be added in both places, though I'm not sure how that would look, given that the existing holes have gromets, so a new DIY one wouldn't match.

photo: amazon.com

<< If you don't mind stretch panels, the Bridge has garnered some positive reviews from self-reported thin-calved customers.










Rating for the Contigua:
Beauty: ***/5
Value: ***/5
Calf slimness: ***/5

Find it at:
(Heads up! In some sizes/colors, priced around or under $70 -- yes, you read that right --as of early Aug. 2015)
Amazon (in black, brown or a nice looking "dark gray")

October 2015 bargain alert: If you're looking for an exceptional deal on leather boots for skinny legs, check out two styles whose Amazon sale pricing and customer comments on calf circumference -- both thin-legged women rejoicing & average-legged women lamenting -- caught my eye. Like the Nine West Contigua, these are both going for under $100 in some color-size combos as of mid-Oct....

photo: amazon.com

The Naturalizer Jamison (right) allows for a customized fit with what appear to be two slim, functional buckles along the back of the shaft.

photo: amazon.com

And the Kenneth Cole Kent Play (left) adds interest to a classic riding shape with a cute wrapped-strap detail at the ankle.