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!)

Donald Pliner Boxer

sweatery tights almost fill the gap

One of the best tips on boots for thin legs that I got through my Boots for Skinny Calves page was from a fellow skinnylegs called Anj. She came through again, hugely, with a forum tip on this boot, the beauteous Donald Pliner Boxer, available in croc (my fave) or black or brown suede. (Outrageously low price alert: The brown has at times plunged to $90 in some sizes! This fluctuates, of course, depending on the season, so you'll need to decide whether cost trumps the wait factor or vice versa.)

(Fall 2016 update: When I contacted the Pliner folks to confirm the shaft on non-patterned brown and black versions will be as narrow as my croc pattern ones, they said it's the same. Yea! Bur the bummer news is that as of right now, this terrific boot seems to be sold out everywhere except for ebay. Maybe Pliner will bring it back in the months ahead? We can hope...)

just enough room for skinny cords

The croco-look boots are the same rich espresso color & texture as my vintage croc bag that is, at long last, coming apart at one side. They seem quite well made, so I'm confident they won't meet that fate anytime soon!

Their midcalf measurement is an incredible 12.25 inches (at the point where my calves are their widest -- 11 1/2 inches up the shaft) and they're a modest 13.5 inches at the top opening in size 8. The ankle in size 8 is 10 inches around, which is about an inch bigger than my ideal, but it's so hard to find boots for thin legs -- let's face it, boots with 13 inch circumference or smaller require some serious searching for my shoe size or larger -- that fit as well as the Boxer that I really can't complain.

The front half of these boots is a pretty croc-embossed leather, and the back half is a substantial feeling stretch panel. But they've taken the trouble to add a couple of croc details on the stretch half that I really love -- an arching bit at the heel and a long strip up the back.

The foot to me feels true to size, maybe a little roomy in the heel but not enough to cause problems. The toebox feels great. Definitely a chic pair of slim calf riding boots that you won't see coming and going.

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

Note: The long, lean Pliner Nellie (above) has a pretty buckle embellishment and has won over numerous thin calf wearers. Very few left as of March 2016, but heavily discounted -- and worth checking ebay for too...it's a good one. 

Kudos & kisses to Donald Pliner for offering multiple skinny styles! Keep 'em coming!