Well, my doves,
Before I head BACK into the kitchen to prepare for another clergy gathering (I hosted a breakfast two weeks ago and will host a luncheon tomorrow — what was I thinking? Mere days after the chaos of Thanksgiving!), I commend to you this inquiry from Flo,
Hi, I have a question about boots. I am a largish person, and I have been completely unable to find any boots that will go over my calves. I have a fairly standard size foot (8 1/2 womens) but I guess my calves are far enough bigger than average that buying boots is a nightmare. I want some that are flat-ish, comfortable and look nice (none of those UGG boots or silly stiletto ankle ones either) I’m a vegan and do not like to buy leather, but any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks!
Flo, I feel for you, hon. My calves are not the slim thangs they used to be and I’ve had similar challenges. I did find a terrific pair of stretchy zip-up Aerosole boots with a 2″ heel at Filene’s Basement that look great with skirts and were just what I’ve been looking for for years, but that was sheer luck (and they’re an old style you wouldn’t find in the stores). For awhile there I felt like some kind of retail Cinderella’s step-sister, yanking on boot after boot and trying in vain to get them zipped up all the way. I agree with you that UGGS are no real solution here; I take it you want something professionally appropriate, not a snow boot or a squishy slipper-y thing.
Readers, can you help? I have perused many of the plus-size sites (Avenue, Lane Bryant, etc.) and found nothing that looks good, or looks like it would feel good. And excuse me, but what does a chubbette like me need to be tottering around on stiletto heels fer? Like these boots from Avenue:
Whose dumb design idea is that? Are they TRYING to make me/us look like a meatball on two toothpicks? SHEESH. There’s an aerodynamic issue there, too. Asking a big girl to walk around all day on heels the size of golf tees is just like handing her an engraved invitation to arthroscopic knee surgery. In fact, I think the pair I bought several years ago came with a gift certificate to New England Baptist Hospital (local joke there, gang– they have a national reputation for hip and knee replacements). Good thing the ones I bought last year were on sale for $6 at DSW shoe warehouse. I got four or five wears out of them and can give them away with a clear conscience.
I feel like we talked about this in the past, so Flo, you might want to check the archives and see what you can find.
Good old cowboy boots might work well — I have a neutral brown pair by Indigo (Clark’s groovier subdivision) that I love and have been wearing constantly, and a pair of Franco Sarto pointy-toed bronze boots that I bought three years ago and also love. Both look great with longer skirts. I sprayed them with water repellent so they’re even wearable in wet weather.
Well, this is interesting. I thought I had found the answer at OneStopPlus.com, because my calf measures 17″ and the boots in my size were supposed to be 18.5″. (Up to 20″ for size 12.) I was looking for a riding style, by the way.
But when they came, I found I needed 1.5 – 2″ more clearance. Very disappointing. And kind of puzzling, because I am neither the smallest nor the largest person around.
OneStopPlus.com is really much more a clearance website for WomanWithin.com, LaneBryantCatalog.com and Roamans.com. You would be better off trying the regular websites.
And since I love them so much, I will suggest Easy Spirit and EasySpirit.com. When I got caught in the big snowstorm last year in NYC, I went and bought my boots there and have been thankful ever since.
I don’t know how big a selection they are going to have(they’ve changed a lot in the last few years),but Naturalizer used to be a good place to go too.
I bought dress boots from zappo’s earlier this year. I have a wide calf and short leg, so I just measured my calf and how high I could possibly go in a boot. Zappo’s includes everything on their page, so I got lucky on the first pair that I bought. They had wide calf boots, too.
I got a fabulous pair of black boots (1″ heel, just below knee tall) made by Naturalizer. They have a “plus calf” size. I got mine at Macy’s, but online or the actual Naturalizer store might be an option too.
and they’re great quality, too.
WR
Here at Manolo for the Big Girls we have great luck with Duo Boots. They are spendy (about $300), but custom-made in England to fit your calf. They should last a lifetime.
This is not just an issue for us sturdy-built gals. My sister, who danced ballet, jazz, and tap for many years (almost as many as me, but my training weight was 225 and hers was 140) could never find boots that would fit her calves, either. Because she *had* calves.
What she used to do was buy the pair she liked, then take them to a shoe repair place and had them professionally stretched.
I, myself, picked up a lovely pair of knee-high boots about a year ago at Payless made of that stretch-vinyl stuff. I wear them about once a month or so, so they’ve lasted quite a long time, but I cannot recommend them if you need to be on your feet for more than 15 minutes all day.
I get the Maryland Square catalog seems like every week, and they have many different brands for us plus-sizers. Good luck!
Ooo, and has Peacebang ever told us how to wear boots? I have three fabulous pairs I love, but I can’t figure out what to wear with them. I used to wear one pair with a cute tweedy, knee length skirt (which is gone now), but really: sweaters? Suits? Button down shirts? Help! How can we wear our boots?
Also, how can we make our boots quiet? One pair with a chunky-heeled, 1.5″ cutie, but it’s SO noisy and hard to pull off.
I *heart* those cowboy boots. I must go buy a pair.
I have had a similar problem finding boots but I now have the most perfect pair of 2” heel, 9 West (WIDE) boots that make me feel both professional and sassy when I wear them. Warning to the animal friendly – I think they are leather.