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Original poster

Knee high boots

69 replies

Bugsy · 17/12/2002 15:03

Help, I'm looking for a pair of black leather knee high boots that will do up over my calves. I'm not a great big porker and I've never thought that I had particularly chubby calves, but can I fit into any boots? No, I don't think so.
Have any other average sized mumsnetters out there found a pair that fit their legs recently? Please tell me where.

OP posts:
bells2 · 17/12/2002 15:12

Bugsy I found the same problem (much to my embarassment). I found a pair at LK Bennett which I got 20% off through the Times offer.

bossykate · 17/12/2002 15:15

found a pair at hobbs last year - think they are still doing the same style. i'm not a skinny btw, very average!

SoupDragon · 17/12/2002 15:48

I remember a whole TV piece about this problem. They took a variety of boots to (I think) the chorus line of Chicago and virtually none of them could fit the boots over their calves.

Sorry, that's not much help is it?

Tinker · 17/12/2002 16:06

Ah, snap. Tried on great pair at Office and couldn't get them over my calves and I've always thought my legs were on the skinny side! The 'helpful' assistant said they'd stretch!!!???

jessi · 17/12/2002 17:17

Bugsy, try Jones the Bootmakers. I got a fab pair which have a very discreet elastic panel running along the inside leg by the zip.. meaning anyone could get them on. Much admired by many but cost £100.

honeybunny · 17/12/2002 18:05

Aquanautica in Russell and Bromley. Black knee high leather boots, not high and spikey I'm afraid, more casual but they're the first I've ever been able to do up over my calves. I'm a size 8/10 and size 37/4feet. Still needed a 37.5 to be comfortable. I blame my past rugby playing for my enormous calves. Long riding boots were always a dream for me as a teen/20 something. I could never find a pair to fit.

CP · 17/12/2002 19:26

I had the same problem and finally managed to get a pair at Faith, although this was about 3 years ago perhaps you will be lucky. I think basically you have to be patient and try everywhere though!

aloha · 17/12/2002 19:51

Got some fab Joseph rip-offs from M&S with kitten heel and contrast stiching and (most importantly!) an elasic 'gussety' bit at the top. Also a pair of 'suede-effect' fabric boots from Boden with a LOT of stretch. This is SUCH a common problem but apparently boots are all made in Italy & France where women are smaller with v skinny legs from knees down. You'd think UK retailers would realise the problem though - I don't know anyone except my size 8, 5'1" friend who doesn't have a problem with boots.

karenanne · 17/12/2002 20:18

i have an odd problem when it comes to knee high boots.im a machinist and use my right leg to operate my machine....the point being ...my left boot always does up perfectly whereas as my right calf is more muscly because of the machining it doesnt do up so much .
my own solution is to buy the elasticy types

prufrock · 17/12/2002 21:46

I always have this problem. If the fit is just a bit tight, push the boots as far down your leg as they will go before doing them up. Then do them up, and pull them up. It shouldn't work, but for some reason it does.

willow2 · 17/12/2002 22:03

Bugsy - same problem here. One of the reasons is that mass market shoe designers base their sizings on grossly out of date statistics -If I remember correctly the last time a mass survey of the British female figure was done was back in the early 70's. And we've grown quite a bit since then.

Soupdragon - can't believe you remembered that film..... I made it. And yes, the chorus line couldn't get the boots on either.

prufrock · 17/12/2002 22:12

I remember that film as well willow2. You deserve an award for reassuring thousands of normal women that they didn't really have outrageously fat legs.

SoupDragon · 17/12/2002 22:17

Why oh why can I remember things like that and not anything remotely useful??

I also remember getting out my tape measure and measuring my calf muscles! I can't remember what the measurement was meant to be so the boots would fit but I think I just about squeezed in.

PamT · 17/12/2002 22:23

I always had a problem with riding boots being too narrow and ended up having to buy men's which were always far too long in the leg!

willow2 · 17/12/2002 22:32

Soupdragon - are you saying my film wasn't useful?!
Cheers prufrock.

SoupDragon · 17/12/2002 22:34

Well, that depends how you look at it. It's useful in that I now know my legs are probably abnormal as boots fit me but it won't help me remember where I left my doorkeys or enable me to call DS1 and 2 by the correct names first time

willow2 · 17/12/2002 22:41

Ah, but you now know that you have seriously slim calves... so make the most of that extra leg room and slip a note with your sons' names on down the inside of each boot.

WideWebWitch · 17/12/2002 23:41

willow

SoupDragon · 18/12/2002 08:58

My problem is not remembering the names but remembering which is which. Shouldn't really difficult as they're 2 years apart.

tigermoth · 18/12/2002 09:02

Try Camper shoes - their boots are cut on the generous side - I couldn't believe my luck when all three styles I selected fitted me. Only could affort to buy the one pair though!

Original poster
Bugsy · 18/12/2002 09:40

Thank you all for your top tips. I've tried & failed at Jones so I'm heading off to Hobbs and LK Bennet for a try today. If those don't work, then I'll know I must be a fat bird in denial!!!

OP posts:
megg · 18/12/2002 10:08

Have you tried Evans the big girls' shop? I have wide feet and have a hell of a job getting into shoes my size and I can't find boots to go over my calf either. Went in Evans on the advice of a friend and it was great all the shoes fit, the boots went over my calf and all in my size 6 so I didn't have to be a 7. Its also a bit cheaper than the others that have been mentioned.

bundle · 18/12/2002 10:51

I've got a flat pair, v ordinary from Next a few years back and my calves ain't exactly slim they have a bit of elastic at one side and now my calves are even bigger I do up the zip when they're slightly rolled down and then ease them up. they were only about £50 or so.

bundle · 18/12/2002 10:52

tigermoth - I lurve Camper

Bozza · 18/12/2002 10:59

My SIL couldn't find any boots that weren't too wide. GRRR.... I'm like others on here and struggle to get them to do up - a size 8/10 clothes and a size 5 shoe. But I'm after some in the sales so will watch this thread.