Cole Haan for the Big Calf Girl
Manolo says, one of the most common questions the Manolo receives from his internet friends has to do with the boots for the super fantastic girls with the muscular calves, who lament that they cannot find the tall boots to fit their physique.
To which the Manolo now says, et voila! Behold the Nydia from the Cole Haan, the very handsome and classical boot with the stretchy material in the calves.
Last night the Manolo was dining at the home of friends of long standing when the talk turned, as it invariably does with the Manolo, to the shoes. The charming and beautiful young woman of the household, who had been the Olympian athlete, mentioned her love of the Cole Haan, thus reminding the Manolo of these simple and attractive boots.
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Comments
Talmida 17 years ago
I’m not sure how super-fantastic they are, but I did notice that Eddie Bauer’s online store carries wide-calf boots (for those who might not be able to invest a superfantastic $460 for the Cole Haan).
Ann in Nashville 17 years ago
Manolo! I have the opposite problem: the profound lack of calves leaves me looking like Puss in Boots in most tall boots. You know, a lot of boot, not filled up particularly well. Do you have a suggestion for the calfless?
ljg208 17 years ago
Very pretty yes, but a “generous” circumference is still not going to do it for most ladies with wide calves, which is what most places don’t get. Start them at at least 17 inches around and then we’ll talk.
g-dog 17 years ago
13-odd inches does not strike me as large calves. Perhaps the Manolo would graciously clarify a “standard” calf circumference for slim, normal, and wide calves (though this standard unfortunately does not seem to exist in the industry). Also, how much give/stretch should one expect from a stretchy upper? One-half inch, one inch, ??? I realize it will depend on the material – but Zappos puts all “stretch” materials in the wide/stretch boot class, and I love to have hope, but realize I can’t expect a miracle.
MissV 17 years ago
Once again, we must remind the ladies with the voluptuously proportioned calves of the fabulous Duo Boots (http://duoboots.com/boots.php), which one may custom order by shoe size and *exact* calf circumference. And there is none of this sketchy “stretch” material. Instead, they are crafted from beautiful Italian leather and suede, in a variety of colors, styles, and heel heights.
All for roughly half the price of the Cole Haan.
ginny 17 years ago
Manolo, dear Manolo, 13 1/2 inch circumference isn’t what I’d call a wide calf, let alone an x-wide or xx-wide. And believe me, caro mio, I’ve been looking all my adult life. Every now and then, the slouchy style boot comes back into style, and I get to have dress boots. The last time was about 20 years ago.
Duo Boots, eh? I’ll cankle over there with my big 18-inchers and see what they can do for me. I was about to order some less than superfantastic boots from Vermont Country Store – circumference 17″-20″ but a little too much like the grandma’s dress boots for going to the church, and to the woodpile in the charming New England holiday card winter.
furlagirl 17 years ago
13 1/2 inch calves are 34 cm. Mine are 40 cm. I have six pairs of boots from Duo.
Shamhat 17 years ago
I have a problem with calf size in boots because of my height. I’m 5′ tall and not a large person (American size 4), but somehow the spot where the boot starts to expand is much higher than where my leg actually starts expanding! I’ve destroyed many fine pairs of tights trying to get the zipper past that point.
My riding boots are “short” rather than “wide,” so I’m pretty sure that height rather than girth is the issue.
Has anyone ever seen “Michel Perry Petites” or the equivalent?
shortlegs 17 years ago
Splurge and get the italian made leather boots and you’ll be glad you did. My two lucky finds were for the first time EVER and I ended up with two pairs in one year. They were Fiorentini and Baker, and Twenty Two Shoes. My Fiorentini and Bakers molded to my leg in like a week. I’m super psyched on both and I have a good laugh at the ladies with the hefty calves who try to also fit their “skinny” jeans to top it off.
roz 17 years ago
I have the opposite problem from shamhat – I’m too tall for most boots (5’10”, most of it in the legs) so they hit me at this funny upper mid-calf place rather than jsut below the knee where they’d look graceful. Until now, dark tights have been my friends, but I’d love to know of sources for taller boots.
Bean 17 years ago
Larger-calfed ladies! Don’t let the 13 1/2″ circumference scare you away as the stretchy material allows for a lot more leg than that. Check out this review of the Cole Haan boots: “My calves are 17 inches around and they fit like a glove. I am able to slide them all the way up and they ruche a bit around the ankle. They look VERY sexy and feel fabulous. No pinching or rubbing in any places.”
g-dog 17 years ago
MissV – thank you for the tip on Duo boots!! (thank you, thank you, ….) I like that they call larger calves “shapely” calves. Also a good site for those with slim calves. Also look to be pretty reasonable pricing.
MissV 17 years ago
Ah bean, here is the rub…
The reviewer of the Cole Haan wears a size 10.5 and usually the calf circumference of boots increases along with the shoe size. Zappos mentions that their 13.5″ measurement was made on the size 7 boot. So the 10.5 that the reviewer ordered probably has at least an extra two inches in girth for that 17″ lady to work with.
But fitting my size 6 foot and my 16″ calves into any off the rack boot (stretchy or not) would be a miracle indeed. I’ve tried countless pairs over the years, but have never once found a pair that fit.
Katie 17 years ago
It is possible to get the leather stretched in boots that are too tight around the calves (of course, there are limits to how much the leather can be stretched). It costs ~$US10-15, can be done at any reputable shoe repair store, and takes about a week (in my experience).
MissAmyDesignsGemstoneJewelry 17 years ago
I have the same problem. I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when I find a pair of tall boots to acommodate my “muscular” calves. I recently stumbled upon a great pair of Franco Sartos on clearance at Marshalls – yay! Quite the find since they were dark, dark brown – which I needed.
alw8yz 17 years ago
Thank you! Thank you! MissV for mentioning Duo. These Cole Haan are truely too expensive AND surely NOT for big calf girls. I’m a size 6 and calves of 16″.
13.5″ does not fall under big calves. Cole Haan need to rethink their measurements.
im right 16 years ago
I have never found knee length boots that fit my gynormous calfs but upon trying on these Cole Haan boots i think im in LOVE. they fit perfectly and have a never ending stretch i have never seen in a boot. do not pay attention to the measurements. these boots are a wide calfs dream.
Shoes Repair Store 16 years ago
Hello and well met!, I agree and would further point out that when shoes repair store Monday is factored in, it\’s a slam dunk!!!
sweetypie 13 years ago
Hi, I am also in the wide calves department! I am below 5ft, I am 4’11 and boots are crazy as far as wide calves goes! My boots measures about 40cm and my calves are 39 cm! Yea wide calves seems to be something when you are short and 13 inches aint big at all lol!