I have one pair of knee-high boots: a simple black leather Celine pair with a three-inch stacked wood heel. I bought them on sale at Barneys about five years ago and wear them all winter long. Every single year come November, I dutifully take them to the shoe-repair shop on my corner and beg the owner, Maria, to try stretching the leather at the top a little more. “The leather shrunk back over the summer!” I insist. She looks at me sadly and tells me she’ll see what she can do. You see, I have wide calves, and every time I try to shove my foot into a tall boot I feel like one of the ugly stepsisters in Cinderella doing my darndest to make the glass slipper fit—spoiler alert, it never does.
The average calf width (according to most boot-width measurements) is about 14 inches in diameter. Mine measure 16.25 inches, which means I can barely squeeze into most boots. The Celine pair works with tights, but barely: They are very snug, and depending on the day I can barely get them past the bump of my calf muscle. The problem is worse when I am running more, as my calf muscles are bigger—good for my training, bad for my boots. This year I brought them in to Maria, and she sighed and said, “Honey, I think it’s time to get a new pair of boots.”
So, I decided to look around for wide-calf boots—and the findings were grim. Even the luxury brands that promised to accommodate wide calves were about as wide as my ankle, and the options I did find online were cheap-looking and ugly. Discouraged, I enlisted the help of the Vogue accessories department. We searched high and low and discovered this is a definite hole in the market. Below, the best wide-calf boots Vogue editors consider a worthy investment. If the shoe fits, wear it!
Margaux
15.5-inch circumference: This knee-grazing Edie Boot comes in a variety of colors—chocolate, black, and taupe suede, to be exact—for all your cold-weather ensembles.
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15.4-inch circumference: No footwear rotation is complete without a riding boot, and these leather options are as timeless as they are comfortable, with its walkable, low heel.
Sam Edelman
Sylvia wide calf knee high boots
15.7-inch circumference: Sam Edelman needs no introduction and is known to be one of the most comfortable shoemakers on the market. Just add a trench coat for a polished look.
Toteme
square-toe leather knee-high boots
16.5-inch circumference: Toteme’s riding boots are a modern interpretation, with a sleek squared-off toe and glossy leather that pulls over the calf easily.
Tory Burch
15.5-inch circumference: Tory Burch’s Banana boots have “Wide” in their title, so you can rest assured that they’re meant for a wider calf. A mid-sized heel and pointed toe adds to their appeal as a go-to for every winter occasion.
Larroudé
16-inch circumference: Made in Brazil, Larroudé’s Ricky boots are set on a comfortable block heel, ideal for walking from cocktails to dinner.
Labucq
15-inch circumference and up: We’re ga-ga for these go-go-inspired boots. The calf circumference increases while sizing up.
Prada
15.7-inch circumference: If you’ve been on the hunt for a while, you may find it worthwhile to invest in Prada. Sleek, modern lines accentuate the shoe’s overall allure.
AllSaints
Maeve knee high Chelsea boots
16-inch circumference: AllSaint’s Maeve boots are perfect for a day spent walking—you know, through the city, in the park, and while getting your third latte of the day.
Madewell
15.4-inch circumference: With an inside zip for easy putting on and removing, these boots are versatile enough to wear with everything from a knitted dress to your favorite denim.
Banana Republic
15.5-inch circumference: We’re all for Banana Republic’s resurgence, and I can assure you these boots are incredibly comfortable. They’re a bestseller for a reason.
Toteme
16.5-inch circumference: We love the look of these boots. I mean, can you ever go wrong with crocodile-embossed leather and a chocolatey hue? These are also wider than average.
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