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Original poster

perfect boots but just too small round the calf - what can i do?

21 replies

Mercedes · 17/02/2011 11:24

I have just been given a pair of boots that are 1 inch in diameter smaller than my calf. I've tried one on this morning with a pop sock and I could ease it over my calf but it was tight. To the point were I could feel the band and even now it's off I can feel where they were on one leg.

What shall I do? Shall I persevere and hope they stretch? they are so beautiful - Russell & Bromley low heeled long straight black boots. The boots of my dreams in fact.

Tips please or shall I find someone else with slightly smaller calves (I don't even have fat legs!)

OP posts:
TheLemur · 17/02/2011 12:09

try something like this?

Gillybobs · 17/02/2011 12:42

I bought a pair of boots once which fitted me in shop (I was obv trying on the display model) and when I got my fresh pair home I couldnt zip them up!

I loved them so tried the stretching spray, squeezing plastic Coke bottles into them...you name it!

waste of time.

Sell them on ebay and buy something that fits!

snowbobby · 17/02/2011 12:49

I would perservere but only becuae I know I wouldn't give up on thinking they might fit!

Original poster
Mercedes · 17/02/2011 20:19

I am loath to give up on something so beautiful and free.

Has anyone any experience of stretching cream? Do they work?

OP posts:
Gillybobs · 17/02/2011 22:06

I tried the cream and the spray. Neither worked. Think they are good if the foot of the boot/shoe is a bit tight. But they dont make enough of a difference to make up a gap between the zip. Sorry : (

schoolsecretary · 17/02/2011 22:08

take them to your local cobblers they might be able to stretch them. I had it done to a pair many many years ago and he kept them about a week and they fitted when they came back.

donnie · 17/02/2011 22:09

I would just wear them and wear them until they have stretched sufficiently. But I am a bit of a boot whore....

Original poster
Mercedes · 18/02/2011 00:39

There's no zip I just have to wriggle and pull the leather over my calf. The very top is looser and fits better than the calf.

If I wear them until they stretch I keep having thoughts my legs will fall off or I'll get an embolism

OP posts:
LadyWellian · 18/02/2011 01:05

Can't you get things that look a bit like torture instruments that you can ratchet open and stretch them a bit? Suppose it depends on the lining.

LittlePushka · 18/02/2011 01:16

If there is a seam up the back or side a good cobbler can put an short tapered elasticated gusset for you. or they can stretch them on a machine.

KristinaM · 18/02/2011 04:50

They will give you some 'orrible illness. Better give then to me

madwomanintheattic · 18/02/2011 05:17

russell and bromley. figures.

are you 11 feet tall and eat like a bird? no?

that's why they don't fit. never mind the boots, get yourself on a rack and stop eating, then they will fit, and you will look like you are supposed to look wearing russell and bromley boots.

mine have zips. zips! and if i wear them, my legs are so sturdy fat that the zips unzip due to the pressure. and i end up with boots flapping like great big bats when i attempt to move other than if i have a handful of 20ps stuck in between my butt cheeks that i don't want to drop.

am i oversharing?

um. sorry. as you were.

no, nothing you can do i'm afraid. free or not, they will torment you. forever. for not being 11 feet tall with toothpick limbs.

FreeButtonBee · 18/02/2011 10:25

Lol Madwoman. I share your pain. Had to send back a luscious pair of bargainous Belstaff boots from the NAP sale as my calves are too fat.

I blame being short. The fat bit of my calves are closer to the ground than other people. My calves are not fat, oh no, no siree.

madwomanintheattic · 18/02/2011 14:25

usually i don't mind short. in terms of bootage, it sucks. Grin

wildstrawberryplace · 18/02/2011 15:25

You can get them fixed by a professional bootmaker as someone mentioned - they can stretch them up 1.5cm I think, beyond that they put in small unobtrusive elastic gusset. However, it's £££. If I remember correctly I was quoted over £100.

Original poster
Mercedes · 18/02/2011 17:04

Madwoman I think you must be right about eating like a bird. The worst bit is I don't have fat legs. The rest of me could do with losing weight but not my legs.

I shall do a hunt around for a good cobbler to see what they can do. Anyone know a good cobbler in South/SE?central London?

As I will travel to make these boots work I will even go to North london.

OP posts:
FreeButtonBee · 20/02/2011 09:23

Best cobblers is on Whitecross street called CityClean - EC1Y, it's in a little arcade with a Waitrose and a cheapy market.

www.citycleanbarbican.co.uk/index.htm

They painstakingly restitched a pair of boots back together for me, using the original stitch hols so as not to damage the suede. Rumour has it that Harrods use them for their shoe repairs.

Rannaldini · 20/02/2011 09:32

diet fatty

brimfull · 20/02/2011 11:20

if it's any compensation my size 8 friend had trouble in R&B , couldn't get a pair done up..madness

vanillamum · 20/02/2011 20:11

Last year I had the same trouble with a pair of Doc Marten boots, I posted on here and it was suggested place a bag of water inside them and put them upright in the freezer, wee on them (softens the leather apparently) or fill a bag with porridge oats and stuff inside the foot then add water causing the oats to swell/ I did the third option and it helped a bit so could be worth trying. Good luck, it is a conspiracy to torture women-they sound so perfect and FREE ffs it seems just mean that they don't fit.

olderandwider · 21/02/2011 09:28

A cobbler may be able to stretch them. They can put metal frames in that heat up to stretch the leather. Takes a couple of days normally.

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