Bed Stu Glaye

The best-smelling narrow calf boots I've ever worn also feature a genius design to conform to skinny calves while also accommodating those with average-sized legs. It's the Glaye by Bed Stu.

Made in Mexico like today's Frye boots, this style combines sturdy construction, bold distressing that bumps the hip factor way up, and buttery soft leather -- including the lining -- that feels great on the leg.

Besides the full zip for easy on and off, there's a cute little partial zip in back (this is the genius design part) that hides a panel of very soft leather. Thinner folks can keep it zipped for a relatively small, though certainly not tiny, circumference of 14.5 inches, while those with fuller calves can unzip for an additional 2.5 inches around.

Leave unzipped for fuller calves, zipped for skinnier-smart, huh?

I wish Bed Stu had made this about an inch smaller around, for a top circumference range of 13.5 to 16 instead of 14.5 to 17, but as it is I think it still looks pretty cute, and not horribly gappy, on my just-under-12" calves....especially since the midcalf measurement is a wonderful 12.5" - yea!

They've gone out of their way to help us with our skinny ankles, too, providing a functional buckle that decreases the ankle circumference from 10.5 on the loosest setting to 10" on the tightest.

The Glaye also gets my vote for coolest sole. How fun is this cherry red?

Shaft height in the size 8 is about 16 inches, which should work fine for all but the tallest or shortest among us.

Important sizing tip: Reviews saying the shoe part of this boot runs small are absolutely correct. The tricky part is figuring out whether you need to order a half size or full size up from what you normally wear. I am between a 7.5 and 8 shoe size, and I took this one in 8. Partly because the rounded toe is forgiving on my right pinkie that tends to get pinched by narrower or pointier-toed footbeds, the 8 felt good on me, both with light stockings and with thin(ish) socks. With thick, heavy socks, I'd probably need an 8.5 -- but I don't think I'd want to subject these beauties to a Chicago winter. I see them more as a 3-season style.

Rating:
Beauty: *****/5
Value: ***/5 (or better at sale pricing)
Calf slimness: ****/5



In "Tan Rustic/White" as shown here, plus a very cool distressed blackish color -- and, as of early November '16, Amazon has a pretty "teak" shade as well!

Find it at:

Amazon (great discounts on the darker color as of mid May!)

image = screenshot from amazon

p.s. I'm impressed with this brand and was also drawn to its stunning Cambridge style (at right), with its lovely perforation and bit of back lacing for a custom calf fit. My only concern was at 5'4" I might be too short for the Cambridge's 18.5"-tall shaft. Well worth a look for taller boot lovers...

photo c amazon

p.p.s. - Spring 2018 quick update:
I have no idea how long this sale will last, but Amazon is offering big discounts on the gorgeous Bed Stu Weymouth, at left (could it be named after bass heroine Tina? I'm gonna go ahead & decide yes, as she would totally rock this boot) - which, based on my research around the web, is also a narrow calf boot. Quantities very very limited...

Frye Jenna Inside Zip

It's funny: These gorgeous boots, the Frye Jenna Inside Zip, have the exact same measurements in size 7.5 as the equally gorgeous Frye Tabitha, but to me they look a little slimmer on the leg.

I think it must be because the leather on this one is a firm type that will stand up straight in the closet, vs. the Tabitha's softer shaft. Whatever the reason, these rustic but sleek, ultra-versatile boots are a terrific find for Frye fans, especially those who a) hate stretch panels (there are none on the Jenna!) and b) love incredible deals (under $125 -- if you know Frye, you know how outrageous that is -- in some size/color combos as of April 2016!).

This is an older Frye riding style that for some reason I thought had gone extinct. So imagine my delight to find these small calf boots not only alive and kicking but priced kindly enough to bring this coveted brand into the range of many lower-end labels that don't carry anywhere near Frye quality.

On to the stats...

In size 7.5, the Jenna's circumference is 14.5 inches up top, 13" at midcalf, and 12" at the ankle. I wish an inch could be shaved off that last measurement, but because the leather is not slouchy, I don't think the style looks too baggy around my knobby ankles, do you?

Height: The shaft is 15.5" tall, which is reasonably petite friendly but will look great on an average to slightly longer leg too. The super-statuesque may want to look elsewhere.

The foot fits TTS, and I'd actually probably do better with a size 8 in this one (I wear between 7.5 & 8 in general) to accommodate thick socks in the colder months.

All the colors on offer are great, but I'm particularly a sucker for this rich dark brown that, with a little help from some Frye Conditioning Cream  (note: I realized this stuff is great for all my leather shoes and have gone through an entire tin at this point), will only get better with age.

Rating:
Beauty: *****/5
Value:  *****/5 at current sale prices
Calf slimness: ***/5

Find it at:
Amazon




*******

photo c Amazon

P.S.: One other heavily discounted Frye riding boot to check out quickly, while prices are low, is the Jamie Ring style (at left), which features a bit more detailing, avoids stretch panels just like the Jenna, and has earned some of those "bad" reviews we so love to see, complaining of a too-tight calf! As you know, one woman's "ouch!" is another's "hey, these don't look like leather galoshes!" :}

Boot Cuffs: Skinny Calf Solution?

image = screen shot from Grace & Lace site -- which (update!) as of January 2018 seems to be
 focusing less on this type of legwear and more on various other apparel & accessories

Gotta cop to watching some daytime TV today. Well, listening anyway -- I often have something fluffy turned on while conquering multiple loads of laundry and doing more mundane editorial tasks. Today I actually hopped over to the screen during a Shark-Tank-focused edition of "The View" to see if the boot cuffs sold by a company called Grace and Lace might help "close the gap" for us thin-calved boot lovers.

The legwarmer solution has been known for a while in skinny calf circles, but come spring weather, legwarmers might warm the legs a bit more than we really want. Same problem, but worse, for "boot socks" (how these differ from regular long socks I'm still not sure, but apparently they're a thing...). These boot cuffs, though, could be handy. You extend your calf circumference a little to narrow the leg/boot gap up top without adding unnecessary heat or bulk elsewhere.

So what do you think? Would these work? Are they cute? Too trendy? Worth a shot at sale price? And most important, with this company selling like gangbusters, why didn't we think of this idea?! :} Do share your thoughts in Comments...

Fall 2016 update: Steve Madden has gotten into the game too, with a cute line of cable-knit and lace-topped boot cuffs priced at under $20 each. Not sure how many department stores carry them, but check your favorite shoe sources online.

Freebird Wyatt

I come with a heavy heart. The Freebird  Wyatt  is absolutely stunning, completely adjustable through the calf, but doesn't fit my foot. Sob! With a shoe size between 7.5 and 8, usually 7.5, I went for the 8 in this one based on reviews it runs small. Even the 8 was not quite long enough on my foot for comfort, plus the toebox is too narrow for my problematic right little toe. An 8.5 might work, but tragically, the Wyatt doesn't come in half sizes, and a 9 would most likely be too long.

What's to love: Besides the work of art that is the beautiful distressed brown shaft of this made-in-Mexico boot -- and I think the solid black would be incredible, too -- it is, as I said, completely adjustable through an ingenious side lacing system and very soft, snakeskin-pattern insert that easily folds to conform to your lace tightening. It's a rustic, slightly tough looking boot, but so alluring. You will get noticed.

I'm giving this one an automatic 5 out of 5 for calf slimness, as it truly can work for any average-to-very-thin calf (not sure about wide calves). The only footnote on that would be re the ankle: I tightened it down to about 10.5 inches around but felt like going much skinnier there might ruin the long, lean line of the boot. I think it looks great, but you be the judge.

Shaft height: I measured that at 15.75 to 16.75" -- depending on inside vs outside measurement and whether I included the soft inner panel, which rises a bit above the main shaft.

Heel: It's a cool looking 2.5 inch heel, which I love for a leggy look. Most of my fave boots & booties have heels in the 2- to 2.75 inch range, so that's not a dealbreaker for me. But if you strongly prefer a flatter situation, the Wyatt won't be a match. Bonus points for the supercool tattoo-like sole, though it could be a tad slippery.

Besides the tricky sizing, my only other issue, and it's a slight one, is that the 3-inch long goring panel in the back hangs open a little. It's part of the rustic appeal, and no big deal really, but I guess I'm a little surprised they felt the need for goring at all, given the top-to-bottom lacing and full zip features for easy access and calf-customizing.

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

In black and brown.
This stunner sold out quickly in many sizes.
Act quickly & you'll find a few at: (finally on sale as of early November 2016! :)
Amazon (finally on sale as of early November 2016! :)
Ebay (where I scored mine for $50 under retail, NIB -- update: still a few left there as of October 2017, priced well under retail)

photo c Amazon

Amazingly, there's another totally adjustable Freebird style too: the Coal which looks like a particularly good bet for taller boot lovers. More color and size options available than the Wyatt, as of early March 2016, and arguably just as beautiful. Yea!

Joan & David Talaro

Oops! :-(

Ever since I slipped my scrawny legs into the gorgeous Heathley, I've had one eye open for more Joan & David boots for small calves. So I was so excited to show you the lovely Talaro -- knee-high leather for (as of early March 2016) under 70 bucks!

But as soon as I opened the box, I knew today's writeup wasn't going to go as planned. ShoeMetro sent me, sadly, the wide calf version of the Talaro -- which, truth be told, would probably not be wide enough for folks with truly wide calves. In shoe size 8, the top circumference measured in at a (yes, roomyish) 16", the midcalf a not-that-big 14" ... and the ankle was 11" around -- a pretty common stat even for the narrow calf riding boots I normally feature here. That gives me hope that the non-wide-calf Talaro would be pretty slim. (Caveat: the size 8 was comfy but not roomy on my foot, and I often take a 7.5, so those between half-sizes should go with the larger.)

I'm not sure yet whether I'll be able to get hold of the non-extended version to show here "on leg," but in case you're considering grabbing your own pair at the outrageously low pricing now available, here are a few pix.

The dark brown hue is pretty and versatile (there's a a black version too), and the dainty little studs are what really drew me to this boot.

This isn't luxury leather, but for $60 on sale and $189 retail? It's a find. Far from the most plasticky I've tried in the <$200 price range for leather boots.

For the stretch panel averse, there's none on this shaft, save a teeny bit of hidden goring up top.

Nice treads on the sole for unpredictable spring weather, plus an adorable animal-print lining.

And the shaft is fairly petite-friendly, at 15.5 inches tall.

I promise to be back soon with a bona fide skinny boot to show you. 'Til then, a Merry March to all :) And please do post a comment on calf fit if you're lucky enough to score a pair of non-wide Talaros!

Michael Kors Emma Lana

Inspired by having found some of my all-time favorite leggings in the girls' department, I decided to see about searching on kids' riding boots this time, to see if we might get lucky there as well. After all, lots of kids have skinny legs, right? And my adult shoe size, 7.5 to 8, is roughly equivalent to a girls' shoe size 5.5 to 6, so all I'd need to do is look for brands that carry kids' sizes up to 6. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought sooner of this source of boots for thin calves, especially given the potentially massive price breaks involved.

So I set out to find a pair of classic riding boots, real leather, size 5.5 or 6, with a shaft tall enough for a (smallish) adult leg. And....kind of struck out. Real leather was by far the biggest sticking point; virtually all companies appear to make their kids' tall boots, probably wisely given how hard the young'uns can be on footwear & how quickly they grow out of it, in faux leather or faux suede. Sizing was another hurdle, as far more styles went up to 5 than 6. After much searching, I settled on the adorable Michael Kors Emma Lana, crossing fingers that I'd be able to squeeze into a 5.

That turned out to be a bit optimistic, as I really could have used another 1/4 to 1/3 inch of length in the footbed. More importantly, the shaft was not as narrow as I'd hoped based on published stats. Up top at the opening, the size-5 Emma Lana measured 14" around, right underneath the (non-functional, alas) buckle. At midcalf, the circumference was 13.5" -- and at the ankle, a fairly roomy 12".

The shaft height was a pleasant surprise at 17" in the front, tall enough even for my proportionally long calves. FYI the back measured a much shorter 12.5 inches, from the sole to where the subtle, 3/4-inch-wide stretch panel stops and the top cuff (if that's the word...) of this boot begins.

Another happy surprise was how chic the pebbled faux leather looked. And though gold hardware isn't really my thing, if you're into that, it's employed nicely here at the ankle and top of shaft. With the possible exception of its very round toe, nothing about this boot screams "child." Not even close.

And not that anyone sees the sole of a boot when you're out & about, but I can't resist showing you what is probably the cutest-patterned rubber sole I've ever seen :)

All in all, not bad for under $80, and maybe even an inspired choice for wetter climes where expensive leather footwear can be almost a liability in the rainy seasons.


Rating for the Kors Emma Lana:
Beauty/style: ***/5
Value: ****/5
Calf slimness: ***/5


Find it at:
As of Nov. '16, this appears to be only available through ebay

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

Narrow Calf Riding Boots ~ 2015 All-Stars

Artwork copyright 2015 KKG

Not since 2013 have we had the material for a year-end "greatest hits" post featuring riding boots for skinny calves that will work for even the slimmest-legged among us. Despite my hopes, 2015 did not yield an abundance of 5-out-of-5-star boots for calf slimness -- but there were two standouts.

The Vaneli Vesper is, happily, still available at Amazon and for discounts (as I type) of 30 to 70 percent (!). It's a cute style that will be most at home in casual environments but, for some, may work at work too :) Most importantly, it hugs even scrawny calves nicely. So check that one out, if you haven't already.

The Skinnycalf Rider is a luxurious made-in-Italy boot that offers a good value for the price, especially if you use the code SKINNY20 at checkout. Drawbacks: It may not be quite as tall as more statuesque boot lovers would prefer; it runs a little small in the foot, as far as I could tell from my try-on; and (the biggie) it's mostly out of stock now. But there appear to be a few color/size combos available, so worth a peek.

photo: amazon.com

Note: I am 99% sure the reissued Solemani Gabi boots (at right) would rate a 5/5 for calf slimness, though I haven't tried on this year's model. Based on reviews, I'm guessing these are identical, or nearly so, to the Gabis I tried back in 2013. (The new quilted-leather Martina from this same reliably slim-friendly label looks pretty sharp, too, especially in black.)

*****

2015 honorable mentions: The Frye Molly Gore Tall, Frye Phillip Harness Tall, Aquatalia Gina and Via Spiga Bufu all rated 4 out of 5 in my book for both beauty/style and calf slimness. See if one of those strikes your fancy.

photo: 6pm.com

Last-minute tip if you're gift-hunting for a tall girl: The Ugg Danae is pretty elegant for a cold-weather (sheepskin-lined) boot and has a functional buckle for calf adjustment. Caveats: Based on reviews around the web, it sounds like this one runs narrow in foot as well as calf, so maybe go up 1/2 size from normal. And the shaft--somewhere between 18 & 20" tall, depending on which store you want to believe--may hit the knee awkwardly for shorter or even average-height folks.


Happy, healthy holidays to all ... and special thanks to everyone who has made this page more fun, useful, lively & engaging by posting a comment. May 2016 bring more laughter than tears, and -- just maybe, if it's not pushing our luck -- a few new skinny boot styles :-)

Clarks Pita Dakota

Of the dozens of slim calf riding boots featured here these past two years, the Clarks Mullen Spice is an all-time reader favorite, combining adjustable circumference (via functional buckles) with comfort, versatility and a fair price. It's been ages since I reviewed that one, so I was eager to take what looked to be a new Clarks contender, the interestingly named Pita Dakota (update: priced at an insanely low 60 bucks as of April 2018) for a spin.

Good news first? The leather upper is sturdy but soft, a little dressier/less rugged than the burnished-looking Mullen Spice but still unfussy and wearable for play as well as many work environments. For comfort, a lightly padded footbed is paired with a cozy faux suede lining that runs through the entire inside shaft and foot except for the stretch panel in back (which we'll get to in a moment). A full inside zip makes on & off a snap. And the price is, as with the Mullen Spice, reasonable for a tall leather boot.

Unfortunately, there's some not-as-good news in terms of measurements. I can never figure out why boots with stretch panels can't have a smaller base circumference. There's a need, and market, for both average-circumference boots that stretch to fit wide calves and narrow-circumference boots that stretch to fit average calves. Probably both markets are underserved, but the latter especially so, it seems (though I could certainly be biased...).

In size 7.5, the Pita Dakota has a midcalf circumference of 13.75" (not bad), but it's 15" at the top and, even with the buckle on its smallest setting, 12" at the ankle. I like the boot but can't help but wonder how much better it would look with a good inch or so knocked off each of these measurements.

Sizing tips: the 7.5 felt true-to-size, though not overly roomy, with a shaft height of 17" -- a true knee-high boot for me and possibly too tall for those of shorter than average stature or proportionally short legs.

For what it's worth, while the upper is leather, the stretch panel on this boot is a textured synthetic of some sort. I personally don't mind the texture, which like the upper is sturdy but pliable. (Apologies for the upside-down photo above that I can't seem to fix! It's gonna have to do for now...)

There's some texture, too, on the rubber sole, but for slippery environs it could leave something to be desired. The low wood heel is pretty & walkable.

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

In black or brown.
Find it at:

Amazon

Franco Sarto Maleni

A disappointing try-on in this blog's early days put me off Franco Sarto boots for a while, but I'm glad the pretty Maleni pulled me back on board.  In the modestly priced category, these are some of the best riding boots for narrow calves I've found in a while. If you're open to stretch panels, that is.

What does the Maleni get right? First, its measurements: In a shoe size 7.5, the top circumference is 13.5 inches; at the middle of the calf it's an even 13"; and the ankle circumference is a not-too-shabby 10.25. The overall effect is sleek, lean, and I would say work appropriate for many.

The gently curving cut of the stretch panels on the outer calves is a nice touch. Finally, I appreciate FS's pairing of a brown zipper with the goldtone zipper pull, rather than a shiny gold zipper that might cheapen the look.

The stretch fabric is more of a silky type, as with the the Kors Arley boot, than the rigid, tough-as-nails variety we've seen on some styles. Whether that's a plus or not depends on your personal preferences and, perhaps, how cold & rugged your local environment is.

Interestingly, the sole is partly covered in felt -- something I haven't seen before, and I'm  not sure what, if any, difference that will make on slippery surfaces. The footbed is lightly padded, and the foot fits true to size, though if you're between half-sizes & plan to wear thick winter socks underneath, I'd recommend choosing the larger. (The toebox feels just a tiny bit narrow to me, but that may be because one of my little toes has been sore from a boatload of autumn runs & walks lately.)

Probably the most important tip on fit is that the front of the shaft is quite tall, at about 18 inches in a size 7.5. You'll see from these photos that that's almost verging on too tall for my 5'4" frame, though I think it's fine, even flattering. If you're shorter, this style might not work out, as nobody seems to want an "on the knee" boot. (Over or under, great, but not "on.")

The back of the shaft, by contrast, should work for most heights, as it's a reasonable 16" tall in size 7.5.

Crucial question I haven't been able to answer yet: Is the shaft leather or synthetic? Amazon says manmade, while both Nordies and Zappos say a combo of leather & manmade. A "sniff test" was inconclusive on the pair I was sent. The only thing both my husband and I noticed was that this is very lightweight for a tall leather boot, which could spell synthetic. So far I haven't been able to track down contact info for the Franco Sarto brand, but I'll keep at it and update here if I find out. (Update: I spoke with a brand rep who didn't know the answer but promised to get back to me. Days later I got an email saying "The Maleni boot is available in both synthetic and leather materials." Sheesh -- not exactly enlightening...)

Rating:
Beauty: ***/5
Value: *****/5 if leather, ***/5 if not
Calf slimness: ****/5

In black & brown.
Find it at:
Amazon
(limited sizes as of January 2018)