Steve Madden Arries

Happy 2016 to my thin-legged friends! I'm finally back to road-testing narrow calf boots after a season of eating that plumped up some parts of the bod but not, of course, my calves :-}

Because, for some of us, holiday bills are still getting sorted out in January, it's a great time to look at a pair of relatively low-cost slim calf boots like the Steve Madden Arries.

I was super excited to try this one based on all the reviews either applauding or slamming its skinny calf circumference -- particularly the writeup from an early-November reviewer who posted a lovely photo.

Unfortunately, on my just-under-12" calves the Arries was a little roomy, especially over tights. But it's cute and budget-friendly enough to merit some pix and details here.


Stats for this boot: 15" circumference up top, 13" circumference at the midcalf point, and 11" circumference at the ankle.

In a long-ago post on a very different boot, the Tory Burch Christy, I waxed rhapsodic about the 15-13-11 approach as a flattering way to gently taper a boot, and I think the look of the Arries supports that, even though (over tights; the cords are much better) it's clearly too wide for my scrawny legs. A case can be made for these dimensions over, say, a 15" opening plunging to 12 inches at midcalf and 9-10 around the ankle -- which runs the risk of a pirate-y sort of flaring...especially in taller-shaft styles. (Re height: The 16" shaft  on this one should work for almost all but the shortest & tallest among us.)

Not a pure riding boot, the Arries employs some trendy moto details that may or may not fit your personal style. I'm a sucker for quilting on a leather boot, so the quilted heel made me smile. Not so awesome (but again, this is a matter of personal taste) is the brassy, shiny gold bit at the bottom of the quilted section.

As befits a moto-ish style, there's plenty of zipper here. The subtle-looking inside full zip (see second big photo above) makes the Arries a snap to get on and off, while the gold back zip is non-functional, so for looks only.

Three caveats: There's not a lot of texture to the rubber sole, so keep that in mind if slipping is a big concern. The foot runs a bit small, so if you're between half sizes, I'd recommend going with the larger. Finally, this isn't the most luxe leather...but you can't really expect that at this price point.


Rating:

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

In black & cognac.
Find it at:
Amazon -- at or around $100 in many sizes, still, as of October 2016

Steve Madden Avilla

After showcasing two higher-end labels in a row -- Frye & Skinnycalf -- I thought it was time for another budget-sensitive pick a la the Onna and Contigua.

Yes ladies, you can count on me for at least the occasional narrow(ish)-calf boot option in real leather for under $100!

What drew me to the Avilla were reviewer complaints about a too-tight calf, which almost always turn up a viable choice for us pegleg types. I also appreciate its merging of riding & moto styles (is that what the "engineer boot" term implies?) for a younger, edgier take on the classic look we all appreciate.

Personally I would prefer silver hardware to the Avilla's gold, and probably no hardware at all at the heel -- hope that fad dies soon -- but the truth is that at about $85 as of late February, this is a trendier boot more concerned with looking current now than grabbing a permanent, "reserved for classics" spot in the closet.

Circumference measurements? In a size 8, the opening is 14.75 inches around. Midcalf measures 13". And the ankle is 10.5. All totaled, these stats earn a 4 out of 5 on my calf slimness scale, though for some reason this style looks somewhat wider than that on my calves over thin tights, as you can see in the photo at right.

This was the first boot in this particular soft, almost suedelike leather that I've tried -- not sure if it qualifies as "nubuck" or not -- and it's pretty cool. I also wish other brands would take a cue from Steve Madden here and line their boots with cozy fleece, as featured in the Avilla.

Petites take note: The 15" shaft should work well as a knee-high boot on most shorter-than-average legs. It may seem a bit too short on the statuesque or particularly long-limbed.

In terms of slip prevention, the sole is a no-nonsense rubber crepe (shown close up at right).

I agree with other reviewers who have advised that this one runs on the small side. If you're between half sizes, go with the larger. 

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

Find it at:
As of October 2016, I'm only seeing this one on Ebay

Steve Madden Ryyder

I'm not sure where Macy's (or Steve Madden) got their 13 inch circumference measurement for the Ryyder. By my tape measure, it's 13.75 at midcalf (still decently slim), 10.75 at the ankle and 14.75" up at the very top. In short, a slimmer than average but not terribly skinny boot.

What distinguishes the Ryyder, then? Very nice, soft feeling leather, to start. And an overall look much like the coveted (but skinnier) Kors Arley, with a soft, not stiff, stretch panel in back and pretty gold hardware.

Where the Arley has a gold nameplate in the front, across the top of the foot, the Ryyder has a small, textless gold bar in back above the heel, which I rather prefer.

These accents nudge the boot into slightly dressier territory than many riding styles, though it will still look terrific with jeans.

Oh, and the sale price is fabulous, too.

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

In black.
Find it: As of spring '15, this one seems to be gone everywhere. Share in the comments if you find it!