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 :-)

Aquatalia Gina

Here in Chicagoland, our April showers were delayed a month or so by some unseasonably cold weather. So picking up a pair of cozy Aquatalia boots for skinny calves to face the May showers with seems somehow more appropriate than shopping all those summery espadrilles the shops have been showing.

A bonus to this way of thinking is that if you're vigilant, you can find an incredible boot deal this time of year, as I did when I scored this boot -- the lovely Aquatalia Gina, made in Italy -- for around 200 clams in late April. If you know this label, you'll recognize that as the outrageous bargain it was. Unfortunately, at press time the price had bumped back up significantly, but as the mercury rises I feel pretty confident that it will go down again sooner or later, so if you like the look of this style, put it on your watch list.

Slim-legged shoppers should be pleased with the measurements. Up top this boot is 14 inches, at midcalf it's 13, and the ankle is a bit roomy (as you can see from the pix) at 11". The shaft height in size 7.5 is about 15.7 inches.

The chain detail adds some style without looking too trendy or cheesy, I think -- aided perhaps by the fact that its finish is soft & fairly matte, not bold & brassy. I like the front-of-foot "yoke" (if that's the correct term) that it attaches to quite a lot....a classy equestrian touch. Overall, this is an office-ready pair of slim leg boots that transitions easily to nighttime too.

The cushy houndstooth fabric (microfiber?) lining is probably too warm for summer days, but ideal for the rest of the year. The sole is lightly textured to prevent slips and slides.The padded footbed is a nice touch, though not surprising at Aquatalia prices.

Skinnycalf foes of stretch panels will appreciate the near absence of goring on this boot. There's just one little panel up top (pictured at right), 5/8" wide x 2.5" long. Stretch doesn't get much subtler than this.

This is one of the pointier Aquatalia toes I have tried over the years, but not pointy enough to nudge the Gina into Western territory. The style manages to elongate the leg but not the foot -- quite a trick, and further proof that the Italians really do know how to prettify the female foot, no matter what shape they choose to work with.


Rating:
Beauty: ****/5
Value: **/5 at retail, ****/5 at the price I got!
Calf slimness: ****/5

In brown leather, black leather & black suede.
Find it at: ???
As of January 2018, even ebay's turning up nada :(

Try instead:

6pm has a precious few left of the Aquatalia Giada (right) and provides a helpful video clip. Great discount, plus a more more traditional toe shape for this brand.

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. :)

Aquatalia Lionna

I hesitated to review something that's disappeared almost everywhere, but it's so rare to find Aquatalia tall boots for narrow calves at a meaningful discount, I just had to feature the gorgeous Lionna before it's completely gone.

This Italian-made boot flatters the foot and leg just as much as its (also nearly extinct) sister, the Orso. Where the Orso has sturdy stretch fabric, the Lionna has soft suede. Plus there's a strip of the leather running down the back to tie it all together -- giving the boot a mostly leather look with a nice mix of textures.

If you like a metal-free look, this one's for you. But there's a little leather buckle at the top to add interest. The buckle is functional, though it doesn't tighten the calf a ton.

Luckily, it doesn't really need to. The Lionna comes in at a skinny 13 inches midcalf, 14 at the opening. The ankle to me looks and feels more fitted than its 10.5" measurement would suggest (the full zip in back is necessary) -- but you can judge for yourself from the photos. The shaft height is pretty much perfect. And the brand has again worked its magic on foot and heel shape, for a riding boot that is feminine but not fussy. The slightly squared toe skews more "modern" than "trendy."

Along with La Canadienne, Aquatalia has my favorite all-year boot linings (shearling is awesome, but too warm for summer). The Lionna is lined with a soft, cozy patterned microfiber. I slightly prefer the plaid print inside the Orso, but really, who's gonna see it? ;)

As I said, this one's almost gone, so if you're interested, I wouldn't wait too long to check it out.

Happy Valentine's, Anti-Valentine's or whatever you care to celebrate next week!

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

Update: Sadly, as of winter 2015, these pretty boots for skinny calves are sold out everywhere. Let me know if you see one on ebay or elsewhere!

Aquatalia Orso

Speaking of Aquatalia ... meet the Aquatalia Orso. This is one beautiful boot, and a true thin calf design, though it will stretch to accommodate average-sized legs as well. I measured its top circumference at 13.75 inches in a size 8, and the shaft stays slim all the way down.

I tried the Orso on with flimsy stockings, knit tights, and skinny cords. It worked with each. Truth be told, its stretch panels were never really "activated" -- not even over my cords -- but the material is not so soft that the boot slouched. (Riding boots should be sleek & streamlined in my book, or maybe rugged & rustic, but not slouchy. That's a whole other style.)

There is an interesting "arching" detail on the heel that might put some off, but I found it pretty and flattering. Not really a selling point, but not a negative either. What is a selling point is the high-quality look, feel and (yes, I'll go there) smell of these boots.

I have two Aquatalias, but they're both more obvious winter-looking styles. The Orso would handle snow, rain & ice just as well but without the outerwear look. A winner.

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

In black or brown.
Find it at: (as of Feb. 2016) it looks like ebay is the only option left

***fall 2014 update***

Based on some positive reviews from those with thin legs and ankles, the Obsession style may be heir apparent to the Orso -- check out the photo on a model leg that looks not skinny, but at least slim -- though its stretch panel has a more textured look. (Winter update: Looks like this style can only be found on ebay at this point...)

Another promising Aquatalia pick is the Odina, which has a listed circumference of 14" but, in the video clip, looks pretty sleek on a relatively slim-seeming pair of legs.

photo: amazon.com

Finally, another sleek style -- though adorned with slim buckles at top -- is the deeply discounted (as of fall 2014) Deliver (under $200 in some color/size combos as I write -- very rare for this brand). Interestingly, I'm not seeing any stretch panels in the photos, even hidden ones -- a daring move, as it would presumably limit this 13.5" circumference boot to only thin calved ladies.