My Favorite Wide Calf Boot Resources
As soon as September comes I start thinking about boots. I can go without sweaters and scarves and pumpkin spice lattes, but I miss my tall boots. For many years, I was jealous of others for they were able to snag great tall boots, and my large calves and shins made it impossible. I purchased my first pair of wide calf boots in 2007 and now I have a pretty great selection. If you’re willing to step outside the shopping mall, there’s a ton of online retailers who offer wide calf, extra-wide calf, and custom sized calf boots made from high quality materials and in trendy as well as classic styles. Here’s a list of my favorite retailers:
Naturalizer
This is not your mother’s Naturalizer. I have been so impressed with their recent collections – stylish shoes, on-trend heels, and fantastic well-crafted boots. Naturalizer’s boot shaft circumference varies with the foot size, but their wide calf boots are two inches wider. As an example, a size 9 boot has a 14 and 7/16” circumference, and the wide shaft version is 16 and 7/16”.
This season Naturalizer has some drool-worthy styles in their boots. Jersey is a classic riding boot, and has an elastic gusset to add a little more comfort for those with wider calves. Available in Banana Bread (warm honey brown) and Black, this is the type of boot that would work over skinny jeans or leggings, with flowing midi skirts, or even a simple shift. I love Britain, a tough boot with a distressed finish and workboot details that would make it perfect with this season’s ‘90s-inspired fashion, or with slim jeans and a slouchy sweater.
DUO Boots
I own two pairs of DUO Boots and find them to be amazing quality, well designed, and comfortable. My first pair is over six years old and I still wear them regularly; I just got my year-old pair back from the cobbler where I had them reheeled and resoled for fall. DUO is a great choice whether you have large or small calves, as they sell the boots by shaft size, measured in centimeters. While DUO is in the UK, they have improved their shipping policies to the US and you don’t have to pay customs and they often have promotions of free shipping to the States. Their customer service is stellar, I highly recommend contacting them prior to an order to be sure the style you desire will fit the height of your leg, the size of your calf, as well as the size of your shins and ankles.
DUO has many classic styles, but updates their collection each season with boots that fit the current fashion trends. I love the Olson in Black, which has a military or even steampunk feel, and would look amazing with dresses as well as a pair of skinny cords and a sweater. Beaumont is very similar to the black riding boots I got from DUO last year, and I find them incredibly comfortable and versatile. And I am loving the croco-embossed leather of Amora, which give a luxe feel to a classic boot; it would look so chic with skinny jeans and a silk shirt, or paired with a simple wrap dress.
Wide Widths
Wide Widths is an online resource for many different brands of wide calf boots. I have found their customer service to be excellent and their prices competitive with other retailers. They have an extensive selection of Ros Hommerson boots, which come in wide and extra wide calf sizes, and are made of quality leather. I bought a pair of Ros Hommerson boots from Wide Widths and find them well made, a classic style, and quite comfortable.
This season, I’m loving the Ros Hommerson Jenny, which is a classic riding boot with boot detail. For those who prefer a deep chocolate brown to the more caramel hues, Jenny comes in a great espresso color that would look amazing with the jewel tones that are on trend for this fall and winter. And there is something so amazingly badass about Ross Hommerson’s Sherlock with it’s slender heel and soft leather shaft that pulls over the knee; I want to wear them with some ponte leggings and a soft cashmere sweater that falls off one shoulder and a ton of kohl liner!
6pm.com
Once I know the fit of a brand, I head to 6pm where I can often find brands like Fitzwell, Naturalizer, and Ros Hommerson for far less. I found a pair of wide calf riding boots there last winter for under $50 and this summer I scored a pair of tall tan boots for less than $40. Sizes and styles are limited, but sometimes you can really score a good deal. On 6pm you can narrow down by shaft width, even by specific shaft circumference.
I’d love to hear from you – where have you found great wide calf boots? What styles and brands have you found to fit and flatter?
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Allie, what has happened to our beloved Duo Boots? I ordered my first pair last year, and loved them so. I just went to the website to order another pair, and it is now called tedandmuffy.com? Now…before I purchase…is it just a name change? Have you heard anything about other changes?
I don’t know. I reached out to them and no response. I don’t have the need or the funds right now for new boots so I haven’t checked them out and I haven’t seen much online about the change. I think it’s a super weird direction to go in, wonder why they did it and how they’re doing now.
Hey there–I’ve been salivating over DUO Flora boots (http://www.duoboots.com/us/womens-boots/tan-leather/flore/d/shoesize/40/calfwidth/R/) thanks to your turning me on to that site. I just wanted to confirm that you have recently purchased from them and you did not have to pay any additional fees (ie: customs). Since the boots are so expensive, I don’t want to be socked with an additional $100 fee or something. I’m a bit nervous about ordering from them as I think my calf is in between sizes that are offered for this particular style. Don’t want them to be too loose or too tight. Thanks so much for this post and for your response!
I ordered last winter with no issues. But contact them first – they are SO GOOD with email responses, really lovely people. It would be better to be sure than take my word for it. They usually reply within 48 hours!
Not sure if you’ve already ordered or not, but I have the DUO Flore and love them to tiny pieces. The shaft has elastic gussets on both sides of the zip, and there is definitely some stretch once you start to wear them – mine were a tad too tight when I first got them, but between the elastic and leather’s natural stretch it wasn’t really a problem after a couple of wears around the house. I would definitely size small if you are in-between.
I can’t speak to fees everywhere, but I ordered from Canada via the US website in the spring and did not have a single customs or delivery fee, which was a delightful surprise (normally we get hit for everything, particularly if it was shipped via UPS…).
Would you happen to know where us gals with wider calfs can get over the knee boots? Not bothered whether they are flat or have a heel – maybe I’m being over-optimistic? 🙂
I think DUO has them and I know Wide Widths has at least one style! 🙂
Thank you for posting this very important information. I too have trouble finding wide calf boots.
I am soooo happy I now live in a country where I can get wide calf boots without it costing the earth. I love Clarks shoes ‘cos they’re generally really comfy and they do some boots that work with wide-ish calves. See here for my take: http://birdybegins.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/autumn-dressing-heroes/
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! NEVER knew where to go for my WW ordeal!
Funny timing. I just bought the jersey naturalizer boots in banana bread yesterday (thanks, Dillard’s gift cards!). After trying on several boots with zero zip up success, I was none too pleased when the sales clerk said there were only two options in the store for me with wide shafts. When she said “naturalizer,” I’m pretty sure I visibly recoiled and did an obvious lip snarl. She then told me I’d be surprised…and I was! The jersey boot is a great looking boot! I did go up half a size because my foot is wide and my regular size was quite tight and on the verge of painful.
I do have a question though. The top of the boot fits snugly around my leg, not too tight, but definitely snug. I know it will stretch a little over time. How loose do I want the top of the boot to be. It’s doubtful that jeans will work with the current tightness. Right now I think I will only be able to zip them over thin tights (which is fine for Texas weather).
By the way, the other boot in stock was an Ecco boot with three adjustable buckles on the side and a low heel. It was beautiful, fit well, but was a bit out of my price range at $240.
P.s. I found your blog about a year ago through a google search for cabi. You have been a great resource for me and I value your honesty, confidence, and integrity in blogging.
Ecco is another amazing brand, I have a few shoes from them and love them. And seriously, Naturalizer is ROCKING it lately!
As for the boot, you’ll find with just two wears it will be less snug. Likely not enough to slip in denim, but within a half dozen wears you may be able to do leggings! A cobbler can also stretch the shaft gently to give you more space, possibly even for jeans. As long as you don’t have leg muffin top over the top of the boot shaft, you should be good!
And I am so glad you have found my blog beneficial, thank you! 🙂
Also, you can buy ‘stretch spray’ to spray on just before you wear the boot to help the leather relax. With shoes, I spray and use a teaspoon to push the leather out in the bits I want stretched (i.e. across the ball of the foot or whatever).
I’ve also heard great things about the Bootmakers (http://www.thebootmakers.com/), who make bespoke boots for wider calves. Frocks and Frou Frou gave a great write-up http://frocksandfroufrou.com/2013/07/the-bootmakers-are-the-happymakers/
Great post – figuring out what works and heading over the 6pm.com has been a very good deal for me on more than one occasion. The one downside is that those ads with pictures of things you’ve looked at in the past few days will follow you around the Internet.
To flip the question around, if I may, do you have any suggestions for tall boots for people with extremely narrow calves? I have searched, for years, to find a classic black boot that works for narrow calves (And doesn’t cost a small fortune). To give you an idea – If I put on a normal-width boot over jeans, I can usually still fit my entire hand down between the side of the boot and my leg.
Again I must recommend DUO who offers their boot shafts in ALL sizes. Check out the reviews, many are from women who can never find boots narrow enough for their legs. Many of their boots are under $300 USD
Thank you!! I’ll be sure to check that out.
I was coming here with that exact question. I wear lower boots because I don’t want to look like a puss in boots. Still 300 is a little over my budget. I’ll look over here now that winter is over, maybe I can get lucky on some sale.
I just discovered Legroom. Also a UK company, but shipping is easy if you order from SimplyBe. I ordered two pair this year. Great quality and very warm. The leather is stiffer than other brands and I have not worn them yet to see of they will soften with time.
I was at the new The Frye Company store in Georgetown and found a great all leather pair that I think would work well for wider calves. Just blooged about them yesterday! Check it out here: The Frye Boot | An American Classic.
The link didn’t work so I’ll share it here 🙂 http://thestylelobby.com/2013/09/18/the-frye-boot-an-american-classic/
Thanks– it looked like a hyperlink when I pasted it in, will have to watch that!
Make sure you have a couple spaces after the link, Disqus can be wonky 🙂 And great post, those boots ARE brilliant!
YES! Thank you for this post! I am definitely ready to start some boot shopping and the wide calf resources are key. Other boot related things I’d be curious to hear form you about:
I love the shootie look (or whatever those are called) but I am struggling a bit with the confidence to try them with skirts with my wider legs. Any tips? I get nervous about chopping my leg at a weird spot and – maybe it just doesn’t matter?
Also, I feel like every winter I buy nice boots and then demolish them through the slush and snow. Do you have resources/suggestions for maintaining your boots over the years?
Just found your blog recently and love it! Thank you!!
Shootie – I find the Western inspired ones are more flattering to large calves and usually run wider at the top so they don’t suffocate the leg. Also come fall, pair with tights of the same color and it gives a longer leaner line.
Head to REI or your favorite outdoor store, they have sprays that are perfect for weatherproofing boots. Each fall I get my boots reheeled and resoled, replace the insoles and spray them down with protectant. I keep them upright with rolled magazines which will help them dry after snow and slush and keep them from creasing at the ankle. Never put near a heating element to dry, just let it happen as naturally as possible, even stuff the shoes with newspaper to keep their shape. 🙂