SOLOW cropped foldover leggings
T by Alexander Wang long sleeve shirt
Inhabit NY cashmere sweater | several years old, gift from Inhabit (their sample sale is on for one more day, GREAT cashmere for under $100!!)
DUO Cazale boots | gift for review from DUO
Jerome Dreyfuss Florent Backpack | (30% off at Forzieri with code SFWEEK30 through today)
Way back in September (feels so long ago, doesn’t it??) I mentioned that DUO boots had offered to send me a pair of boots to fit my wide calves – and here they are. I have had them for a while, but yesterday was the first day it was cold enough here to wear them. This is obviously a completely new & different look for me, because I’ve never had a pair of boots before, but I have to say, I kinda like it.
Just to recap, my calves are about 43 cm around and my leg from the knee-down is about 36 cm tall, which meant I had to get a shorter boot, as most knee-high boots would have been too tall for me. I chatted with a consultant and she suggested that I try the Cazale style, which is what I went with.
When I first got them, I could barely zip them up; it took a LOT of effort. Once I got them zipped up, I didn’t take them off for a while so I could see if they’d stretch and how they would feel. The shoe part fits fine, and the calf fits, but it’s still quite snug, which leaves some gaping at the ankle and makes them awkward to walk in because they’re so tight up at the calf (they do NOT move) and loose around the ankle.
And while I thought I’d like the simple, minimal design of these, I did sort of wish they had a little more substantial heel and maybe a more equestrian look to them.
As I wore them yesterday, they got more and more comfortable, but I do think they could be stretched a bit more so they’re not SO tight around my calves. Just FYI, I didn’t take into account how much extra room I’d need for leggings/jeans when I ordered them. I probably should have. But then again, I thought they’d stretch, so I wasn’t sure how much more room to allow.
I’m beginning to see how ordering/wearing boots is a kind of science! So many things to consider.
I must say, though, now that I have a pair of boots, even though they’re not absolutely perfect (what is??), I’m interested in trying more – I kind of “get” what’s so great about boots that fit and that are comfortable; they really elongate the leg if you keep it all one color. Maybe boots are no longer something I can admire only on other women…we’ll see, let me live in these for a while! I’m not 100% sure they’re “me” – but perhaps they could be?
Overall I have been very impressed with DUO’s selection and service, and this is a great pair of mid-price boots (they’re not just for wide-calves, their boots come in 21 different calf sizes!). The consultant I emailed back and forth with was INCREDIBLY helpful, giving me lots of suggestions, details and ideas to consider before I selected my boots. The reviews on the site are also very good to skim through to get an idea of how they fit/look.
Oh, and happy day! DUO is offering 20% off your first order if you’re in the US with code US20 (see terms & conditions) and free shipping.
Do you wear boots? How many pairs do you have? How do you find the “right” pair for you?
It gave me pause last winter to realize that I had 39 pairs of boots. That seems . . . excessive. From early fall to early summer I wear nothing else, so I have all heights and colors, from dressy to rustic. I have two rules: no pull-on boots (I have trim ankles and they vanish in cowboy or slouchy styles) and no wide ankle boots (these make my feet look like caramel apples on skinny sticks). I used to have trouble with boots fitting my calves, but now that everyone tucks their jeans in, they fit me just fine.
My feet love boots because my narrow heels tend to slip out of most pumps and slipons, and boots stay on your feet! Plus I can wear my lovely wool/bamboo socks and protect my feet. My only regret is that I can’t find those sleek fitting shooties in a mid-heel, and I can’t wear more than two inches. That style looks so good with matching tights. Oh well.
With that sweater, the outfit seems very Grechen to me, and I wouldn’t have noticed that you never wear boots. That said, there’s a sort of “Pinterest Girl” boot look that makes me nuts, and I can imagine you would want to avoid.
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The boots look great! You could take them to a cobbler to have them stretched.
thanks jessica. yes, i think i’ll do that!
haha. yes, as if i could ever be a “pinterest girl” lol –
thanks!!
I grew up wearing the equestrian boots of the late 80s. Love that look. Throughout my 30s, I couldn’t wear boots because I was too overweight – not even wide calf boots fit. I finally found some wide calf that fit – and then I lost weight. First thing I bought that fall (2012) was new knee high boots! So now I have 6 pairs of knee high boots (brown heel, brown flat, brown cowboy, black wide calf – that I can’t wear now, black heeled/equestrian, and black pull-on that are SO GREAT for travel – Keen, flexible leather that packs well, nice thick sole for walking all over!)
I love that look, though I still cannot wear leggings in public, even with long sweaters. I have a pair of black sort of thicker than leggings things I’m going to try to wear with boots this winter, in public 😉 (got the pants at a thrift store, so I’m only out $3 if all I do is wear them at home…They’re Chicos and they have the tummy slimming, so I’m trying to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing to wear on Thanksgiving 🙂
I had no idea you could buy Duo boots over in the US! They’re from my home town in the UK so I’m probably a little biased, but I love Duo!! I bought a pair of over the knees from them a few years back, the shop assistant persuaded m to go for a calf size smaller than I wanted to as she said they’d stretch. I’m SO glad I did as they’ve stretched to the perfect fit. Bear with them, they will stretch 🙂
their customer service is wonderful…i was very impressed. if i decide i like boots, i’ll definitely buy more from them…
the funny thing is, that i think my calves are actually larger than they were when i was heavier. maybe it’s pure barre – they’re definitely mostly muscle. but still…it’s really annoying, not only for boots, but for jeans as well.
i still struggle with leggings unless i’m wearing along cardigan and something to cover my front as well, but these are heavy-weight, and have a longer foldover so it’s almost like wearing a skirt. or at least that’s what i tell myself 😉
They look superb though. Boots can be hard to fit even with smaller calves. You just never know… Some brands are really small, some are big. You have styled them perfectly.
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Oh, I love this look and you are KILLING me with that backpack….I just spent on a not-that-$$ coat from the Jil Sander reissue but I have loved that bag since you first showed it.
How does SoLow run? All of my leggings are from Target.
the backpack is 30% off at forzieri this weekend with code BAGPROMO 😉
i go back and forth using it, and realize every time i start again how much i love it. it’s so easy to carry. and i’ve gotten used to getting into it with the drawstring…
solow can run sort of small i think – i get a medium now in everything, and with most styles i feel like it fits well, but in some it may be slightly big (the eclon high-impact things). this particular pair is heavier weight, compressive, and very slimming. love them. i have a zillion solow pieces though – i’m a big fan.
but james perse makes THE BEST LEGGINGS EVER if you don’t want any compression at all.
Love love love this outfit with the boots on you! You look taller!!! I think they’ll give with wear, but have you ever tried shoe stretch spray? You spray it on the INSIDE of the tight part and then instantly wear it. It has worked great for me in the past with my wide feet, and I recently used it to loosen up the toe box in a pair of Sam Edelman “Petty” booties.
I have the same problem with wide calves/baggy ankles, but I still like my boots in the Fall/Winter with a pair of skinnies or cords tucked in. Or leggings under a dress with boots. I have to search to find them tall enough, tho, for my long legs. (And I’ve got a daughter with “chicken legs”! Not sure where that gene came from!)
There seem to be a lot of styles with trim, taller ankles this year, Roberta. Maybe you can find some that would work for you?
https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/boots/PRDOVR~A9753/A9753.jsp
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/cole-haan-womens-amee-short-waterproof-booties?ID=1612895&pla
http://www.lordandtaylor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/lord-and-taylor/bunty-suede-ankle-boots
Oh, i know what you mean, Lisa!