Duo boots – choose your calf size!
1 Abel | $195
2 Walton | $300
3 Mandel | $180
4 Horton | $370
5 Ramona | $280
6 Arna | $270
7 Brindisi | $275
I’ve pretty much filed knee-high boots under “those things that look better on others,” and “not me,” but perhaps I was premature. For one thing, I’ve never actually found or tried a pair of knee-high boots on that fit my calves. And you can’t give up on something altogether before even trying it, can you? (the answer is absolutely no…even if you think it won’t work, you should always try first!)
I’m also not sure tall boots are “me” – but again, if I’ve never tried them, how will I know? I’ve often thought it would be nice to have a pair of boots for traveling, or wearing when it’s cold. They seem a very easy, chic option for minimal dressing.
So, after seeing Duo boots around quite a bit online and getting an email from them offering to send me a pair to review, I decided I better try now, before I give up for good. But the thing is, I really don’t think they’ll look good on me, and I’m VERY nervous about choosing a pair. Because, you see, my calves are REALLY wide, and my legs are REALLY short. In fact, my calves are wider than my leg is tall (from the knee down). Is that even possible? I guess it is…because I have the numbers to prove it, but it seems weird. My calves are about 43 cm around and my leg from the knee-down is about 36 cm tall.
And Duo’s website is so great that when you input your size and calf measurements it shows you also how tall the boot will be, so you’ll be able to accurately gauge where it will fall on your leg. So, the Arna chelsea boots I’m thinking about trying are 35 cm tall, and they’re MID-CALF boots!!!! But they’d be knee-high on me, which I wonder what that would look like – I mean, if the boots are meant to fall at the widest part of the calf, how will they look if they hit just below the knee on me? funny? I just feel like my legs are much too short and stocky for tall boots.
But it seems it’s either those, or ankle booties, and I have ankle booties that I like, but don’t wear, so why would I get another pair? I do desperately want to have a pair of knee-high boots; I love the way they look on others, and I relish the idea of wearing them with leggings and a big sweater. I have to try them, right? and if they don’t work, they don’t work…but at least I will have given them a go.
Does anyone have any experience with Duo boots? any other short, wide-calf ladies out there who have found tall boots to work for you??
*I haven’t been paid for this post, or even accepted boots for review yet, Duo has simply offered to send me a pair to try.
I haven’t tried Duo yet but that sounds like a great idea with the precise measurements! I also have short, thick calves so I feel your pain. I too have the problem of most knee-high boots being too tall and mid-calf boots being almost passable as knee-high. That, however, did not stop me from accumulating 20 pairs of boots a few years ago (I came to my senses and sold a lot of them). I would just say order several pairs according to measurements and try them on! You won’t know until you see them. Blondo is another brand that might have something that will work for you. And Frye has wide-calf but honestly their knee-high boots are often too tall and still a little narrow for me. The Frye Harness 12r is great though, and I had them stretched so I could wear them over jeans comfortably.
I have the opposite issue of toothpick calves, so I can’t comment on wide-calf boots, but I do know that Zappos lets you search by calf width (they have wide and extra-wide options) if you’re looking for more to try. Good luck!
My calf measurement is 16 inches at the widest part and I am only 4′ 11”. I find that knee high boots make my legs look slimmer and me taller overall, when I can fit into the boots that is!
I have no experience with Duo. My calf is almost 47 cm and I think my height is similar, although I’m not sure where you are measuring (mid knee to floor? bottom of knee to floor? top of boot to floor?). I have had great luck with both David Tate and Ros Hommerson knee high boots. I buy through widewidths.com – the superwide calf styles. They do suggest going up an inch in calf size if one is short to allow for the widest part of your calf to still fit the boot where it falls – they have an extensive section on how to measure and order if you are under 5’3″. on their website. I’d read through that and also let the folks at Duo give you advice. I love my boots – don’t let anyone tell you tall boots aren’t for you!
I am a short (5ft 1in) plus sized woman and have found boots to be flattering as long as I keep the colors similar. Black boots with black leggings or dark wash denim works well. Also, for me, I prefer the boots just below the knee rather than at mid calf. I’ve had good luck with wide calf boots, although not that brand. I would go for it!
thank you becca! i do normally only wear black or denim, with some gray/white mixed in…so i have no trouble keeping similar colors! I appreciate your input 🙂
thanks!! i’ll check out their measuring advice and also chat with duo.
i was measuring from my heel to about the bottom of my knee in the back – i’m 5’4″ total, but i have short legs …my inseam is about 26 inches!
thank you margaret! i will definitely give them a try…
thanks karen – i love the look of tall boots and have wanted a pair for so long, but just got so frustrated trying to find one. overall, i’m not sure if i’ll love the look on ME, but i have to try…who knows, I may just want to live in them 😉
thanks for your recommendations!
yes, my friend has that same issue. i HATE boot/bootie shopping with her 😉 no. just kidding, i love it…but it’s so frustrating when you feel like you just can’t find anything to fit….
My calves aren’t that wide, but I have a super long torso and relatively short legs. I have knee-high boots, but find I don’t wear them. Every time I put them on, I feel they stumpify me. I pretty much live in ankle boots throughout fall and winter. I recently got a cute pair of vintage knee-high boots for not too much though, so I’m going to try to give it another go–if it ever cools off in Texas!
i’m beginning to wonder about that actually…it ever cooling off in TX , that is!
i have a couple pairs of ankle boots that i don’t wear because i feel like they stumpify ME! and i’m afraid taller boots will do the same…but i’m going to try them anyway. we’ll see!
I know — shoe shopping can be the worst. On the flip side, I have pretty wide feet, so I think they look terrible in a lot of flats and pumps. My mom has really narrow feet and can hardly find shoes that don’t fall off of her. Where’s that perfect medium???
I am 5 foot 4 and have “athletic” calves. I have 4 pairs of J Crew extended calf boots and wear the heck out of them. I think plainer is better to not “stumpify” the legs, but a dark skirt with dark boots and tights is very slimming in my opinion. Give it a try!
Try them. What have you got to lose?
you are correct 🙂
It’s been years since I purchased a pair of boots from Duo, but my experience with them was terrific. My favourite thing about shopping at Duo was browsing the site, and knowing that each and every pair of boots I looked at would be able to fit my calves!!
Their customer service is very helpful and friendly, and I definitely recommend consulting them with your measurements before placing an order to see if the pair you’re interested in runs small/large; wide/narrow, etc. I am approximately the same height as you, and have similar sized calves; some of the Duo styles were too tall for me, while others were too short, and hit the wrong spot on my legs.
The quality of Duo is pretty decent – I would say on par with the price point. They aren’t forever boots, but mine lasted me a good 3 years or so with consistent seasonal use. I probably would buy boots there more often, but for me the problem was (1) unpredictable duty charges (not Duo’s fault), and (2) expensive postage in case of needing to return (again, not Duo’s fault, but return shipping from Canada to the UK was somewhere in the $80 range…!!) I don’t know if these two issues have changed now that Duo has a US website (which for some reason, I can’t access at the moment to check).
Last fall, I purchased a couple of pairs of Frye Veronica Slouch boots, and they’re great. I purchased the extended calf, and was worried they wouldn’t fit, but they do. I had to try on a few different pairs in the brown colour, as there was a lot of variation in colouring between pairs, but once I got it right, I was in love! I pretty much lived in them from October till March!
I have a good friend who is short and plus-sized and she swears by Duo. She also has a hard time finding boots to fit her calves and Duo made her happy indeed. She particularly likes that they come in colors other than brown and black. Hope it works out for you – tall boots are the best thing about winter!
thank you roberta! I’m going to try them…