NotBlueAtAll

I'm just a fat gal with a blog and an opinion. Well, lots of opinions.

…Then The Other Boot Fell

October1

You may recall in my this post that I’ve been struggling for over two years to find some knee high boots for my fat calves. Thanks to a commenter kimstrauss I had ordered these boots from Lane Bryant: http://bit.ly/cY237m which I had shipped to my local store (free shipping this way) and what do you know? The measurements on the site? Not accurate. Well…okay, I ordered an 8W. I always wear 8W in shoes, unless it’s a generally wider shoe, like my beloved Keens. The boots were way too big in the foot and ankle while the calf, though the elastic would have you believe there’s give and then some, were too small. In fact I could only get them zipped half way up and even that was with some serious work!

So my search continues. Finding a boot with a 20″ calf and 8w shoe size? I’m thinking it’s nearly impossible at this point. I have scoured the interwebz and frankly, I’m sick of searching. I still long for lovely shit-kickers that I can pair with cute dresses (ahhh, my grunge days), but for now I think I will just wait and see what other fats post on Fatshionista (on Livejournal.com) or other blogs. I had such high hopes for those LB boots. I must admit though that they were very cheaply made as the part that connects the foot part to the upper leg part seemed glued together shoddily. Just sayin’! This was the same issue I had with Avenue’s boots last year, couldn’t zip ’em up and even if they had fit? They were so cheaply made they wouldn’t have lasted one night of dancing.

My friend Carmen still holds hope for my boot lust. She insists that there must be a way…and there is, but I cannot afford more than $100 right now. I can’t afford even that but I can make it work at least. No, my patience will be tested again and I will gaze greenly at the other ladies of the world happily sauntering around in their gorgeous boots of awesome.

What was interesting was chatting with the sales gal at LB about my boot ventures and Fat Acceptance. She seemed so confused about retailers not responding to what is an obvious demand by consumers. I laughed at this, hard! Luckily she’s in nursing school and won’t have to be stuck in retail for long. She was sweet. Part of me misses that naivete, but then again? That was before I found FA, so no thanks.

Have you found mad-rad boots? Let me know all about it!

15 Comments to

“…Then The Other Boot Fell”

  1. On October 1st, 2010 at 10:42 pm Rachel Says:

    Argh I feel your pain! I wear an 8 too…but not W or M. I have a width that’s somewhere in between and made worse by orthopedic problems from foot surgery I had 7 years ago; my left foot I had cut open is significantly wider than the right one. Fun eh? Like if I put on a pair of Torrid shoes I’m swimming in them but regular width ones are killing my feet. I’m the freakin Scheherezade of shoes!

    Shit kickers: I’m the expert there as a long-time matron of the punk and hardcore scenes. In terms of lace-ups Merc boots are bit more wide-calf suitable more than say, Doc Martens or Grinders but they are super rare and thus super pricey to find now. But worth it because they last forever. I have the same 10-eye Docs from high school! But Docs aren’t made in England anymore and definitely not structured like they once were, they’re not the investment they used to be.

    As for more fashionable boots (hehe)…in my experience I’ve found Torrid to be kinda hit or miss. I have the “Natasha” short boots which are great for a wider ankle and a wider foot. But the “Rianna” one is so freakin narrow! I’ve also had crappy experience with Woman Within (ha no shock considering the WW Fail post) boots– I got a pair of work-safe boots from them that were on clearance. Unfortunately it was too late for me to return them so I ended up having to sell them on ebay paying to get rid of them, literally. I had the same problem you described– feet were swimming in the feet area but could not get the zipper past my ankle!

    I’d recommend giving some stuff on Zappos a shot– big selection, they probably have some good knee-high boots in the $100 range that’d be wide calf suitable and if not, at least their return shipping is always free and they’ve always been great to deal with; very liberal return policy.

  2. On October 2nd, 2010 at 9:14 am Not Blue at All Says:

    Yes, well, I have scoured the web and that includes Zappos. I believe that the average circumference of the shaft of a tall boot is 14-15″ and unless I want to get them altered or buy a size I’d be drowning in, it ain’t happenin’. Thanks.

  3. On October 2nd, 2010 at 7:59 am Twistie Says:

    Whew! This post just saved me some money. I was seriously considering a couple pairs of boots on the LB site – including those. But if the fit is off in both the foot and the calf AND the construction is shoddy, then why waste my money?

    Also, seriously, why do no shoe stores (with the occasional exception of a single ‘comfort’ shoe store in the mall with absolutely no cute shoes whatsoever) carry wide width shoes? Even when I was a string bean in the waist I had wide feet. I can’t be the only person who needs wide shoes. And I need to try them on before I buy. I don’t have the money, the time, or the willingness to frustrate myself to buy all my shoes online in hopes that they’ll fit properly and make me smile when I put them on in person.

    Humph.

  4. On October 2nd, 2010 at 9:13 am Not Blue at All Says:

    Oh I am so glad you read my post, then! Ha-ha! Yes, I’ve had wide feet for a long time, before I was fat…I think most of my family does. In my experience it is best to get familiar with different brands that either tend to run wide (my beloved Keens) or carry wide, Like Naturalizer, Clarks, etc. It’s never going to be as easy as walking into a store and leaving with the cutest shoes ever, but even Nordstrom carries a lot of wide shoes, you just have to ask. I hate asking, I prefer self-serve environs, but for this? I ask. =0)

  5. On October 2nd, 2010 at 1:02 pm Veronica Says:

    Ah, the eternal boot question.;) I’m gonna list a few links, and hope at least one of them is new to you:
    http://www.duoboots.com/ – Awesome in the way that you can custom order according to your spesific measurements, sucky in the way that they are expensive, questionable in the way that I hear the quality isn’t all that considering the price.
    http://www.endless.com/Womens-Shoes-Boots/s/ref=topnav_sd_boot_d?ie=UTF8&node=242261011&pf_rd_r=0QP3W3SEA24XPG861F72&pf_rd_m=AF16NM0QF9TKW&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00266Q6TK&pf_rd_p=195471022&pf_rd_s=headernav#__size=40&node=242261011&nodes=242263011&sort=-product_site_launch_date&tag=sr_nr_hh_null
    http://www.evans.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?sort_field=Relevance&beginIndex=1&langId=-1&parent_categoryId=209435&storeId=12553&catalogId=33054&pageSize=20&categoryId=209459 – UK retailer. I am happy with my boots from them, but my calves are smaller than yours so I’d check the size guide.
    http://www.naturalizer.com/shopping/results.aspx?N=4294961750+6207&nodefault=1&Ns=pNewArrivals%7c1%7c%7cpArrivalDate%7c1
    http://www.womanwithin.com/department.aspx?DeptId=13257&12PerPage=1

  6. On October 3rd, 2010 at 12:02 pm Not Blue at All Says:

    Thank you for the comment & efforts, but sadly I have already searched through those many times. I did order these from Avenue yesterday. Fingers crossed they work out.

  7. On October 3rd, 2010 at 12:03 pm Rachel Says:

    I had good buying experiences with Zappos because whenever I got stuff that didn’t fit, I just noted it in the customer reviews; I have about a 17″ calf. I always promptly got my money back and the company pays for the return shipping even if you get like 10 pairs.

    Sorry you’ve had shitty luck with finding good boots! 🙁 It’s definitely harder to find good quality ones for a wide calf that are budget-friendly.

    Those ones I ordered from Woman Within were totally shitty, I could barely get the zipper past my ankle yet my feet were swimming in them. I’m fine with dress shoes being wider since I’m used to men’s boots and sneakers but I’m talking uncomfortably swimming in that makes it hard to walk.

  8. On October 3rd, 2010 at 12:08 pm Not Blue at All Says:

    well, if these avenue ones I just ordered don’t work, I may just try men’s.

  9. On October 4th, 2010 at 7:25 am maya Says:

    Try bootband.com – they’re inserts you just zip into knee high boots. I wear an 8w and have large calves and these things allowed me to actually wear my boots w skirts.

  10. On October 4th, 2010 at 7:59 am Not Blue at All Says:

    Wow! I have never seen these…they look fantastic! Thank you for sharing this. Glad to know there’s another option!

  11. On October 4th, 2010 at 8:01 am Rachel Says:

    Those look cool! Heh wonder when they’ll make ankle/bottine versions.

  12. On October 4th, 2010 at 8:02 am Not Blue at All Says:

    I know! I can’t believe no one’s posted them on Fatshionista! Believe me, I scoured the archives. Ha-ha!

  13. On October 15th, 2010 at 2:08 pm kimstrauss Says:

    that sucks. i feel so bad for making the suggestion… 🙁

    i bought some crappy slouch boots from Jessica London because the LB slouch boots ran out by the time i had $ to buy them. the JL boots SUCKED. i finally ordered the LB pair (which are waiting for me at home at my front door).

    i wish i had a good suggestion for you. i feel terrible!

  14. On October 15th, 2010 at 2:55 pm Not Blue at All Says:

    Oh my goodness! Unless you made the boots, don’t feel bad! It was a great suggestion. I blame LB for poor quality & misrepresenting the measurements online. I have some Avenue ones on order and will surely review them when they arrive. Until then? Our quest must go on! Ha-ha!

  15. On September 15th, 2011 at 4:03 am NotBlueAtAll » Blog Archive » One Stop Plus: What I Like About You Says:

    […] I want to see it in person: I love the hell out of this belt and MUST have it As for the now time honored tradition of lusting after some tall calf boots that would possibly fit my gargantuan calves of fury and doom: […]

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