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Boots for Skinny Calves

3-minute read

Narrow feet, skinny calves. For as long as I can remember, finding well-fitting footwear has been problematic. Sigh.

I have (distant) memories of the twice yearly trek to a children's shoe store in west Edmonton, getting fitted for the only shoes seemingly available for narrow feet. They were sensible black velvet mary-janes, with a sweet gold clasp. Always the same, season after season, year after year. I'm sure they were cute, but because they were my ONLY choice, I wasn't a fan. My mom and the shop owner tried their best, but I always wound up walking out of the store with those cursed velvet mary-janes. Again and again. Truthfully, I'm not ungrateful, because I now have a penchant for properly fitting footwear, developed from years of proper fittings and a deep understanding that not every shoe fits every kid (or woman!). But just once, I would have liked the cool-kid shoes growing up. I wanted a variety of shoe styles for narrow feet. Poppy Barley Boots for Skinny Calves Fast forward twenty years (or 30, but who’s counting!?) and you have the same little girl-turned-woman struggling to find boots for skinny calves. Accommodating these scrawny legs may have perhaps been possible had I been petite all over, but I'm almost 5'10 with size 9.5 feet. Shoe manufacturers assume I'll have bigger-than-average sized calves to go with the rest of my bigger-than-average-sized measurements. I've just gotten used to my boots looking a little like galoshes (see "before" photo below), or spending extraordinary amounts of money on boots and trips to the cobbler. Flats would gape and splay out around my arches and my heels slipped out of shoes. In my heart, I knew this wasn't the way shoes were meant to fit, but I felt there was precious little choice in the matter. And frankly, it's not for lack of trying to get bigger legs and calves - I'm an avid mid-distance runner, I've taken up cycling in the hopes I'll get fabulously strong (bigger!) legs; I have a very active lifestyle… but thus far, it's all been for naught. My wee legs just stay lean, and I'm learning to be okay with that.

Poppy Barley Boots for Skinny Calves

Enter Poppy Barley. Finally, tall boots for skinny calves. My Poppy Barley boots (pictured above in discontinued style, The Classic Riding Boot) fit snugly on both the calf and the foot, and my PB flats don't slip, they don't gape. My heels stay ensconced in the shoes, step after gorgeous step. After measuring myself, I spent weeks (im!)patiently waiting for my first pair of boots to arrive and when I zipped them up and they fit perfectly, I nearly wept with joy. I think I emailed Breanne within the hour gushing over my Best Purchase Ever. I was measured for flats at the spring flats launch party, and was similarly amazed with the results. For the first time ever, I have footwear that fits - skinny calves and heels, long legs and narrow feet. The mismatched equation still adds up perfectly when each shoe and boot is custom-made.

Ballet Flats for Narrow Feet

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The Harley Heeled Sandal Ankle Size Guide

How To Measure:
The Harley Heeled Sandal: Take a tape measure and wrap it around your foot, right below your ankle bone as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 26 cm
5.5 26.5 cm
6 27 cm
6.5 27 cm
7 27.5 cm
7.5 27.5 cm
8 28 cm
8.5 28 cm
9 28 cm
9.5 28.5 cm
10 28.5 cm
10.5 29 cm
11 29 cm
11.5 30 cm
12 30 cm

The Esther Heeled Sandal Ankle Size Guide

How to Measure:
The Esther Heeled Sandal: take a tape measure and wrap it around your ankle, above the ankle bone, as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 23 cm
5.5 23 cm
6 23 cm
6.5 23 cm
7 24 cm
7.5 24 cm
8 24.5 cm
8.5 24.5 cm
9 24.5 cm
9.5 25 cm
10 25 cm
10.5 25.5 cm
11 26 cm
11.5 26 cm
12 26 cm

Belt Sizes

Natural Waist Measurement Typical Jean Size Belt Size for High‑rise Pant Belt Size for Mid‑rise Pant Infinite Belt Size
23-25" 23/24 26" 28" 1
25-26" 25 28" 30" 1
26-27" 26 30" 32" 1
27-28" 27 30" 32" 1
28-29" 28 32" 34" 2
29-30" 29 32" 34" 2
30-31" 30 34" 36" 2
31-32" 31 34" 36" 2
32-33" 32 36" 38" 3
33-34" 33 36" 38" 3
34-35" 34 38” 40" 3
36-37" 36 38" 40" 3
38-39" 38 40" 42" 4
40-41" 40 40" 42" 4
42-43" 42 44" 46" 4
43-44" 43 44" 46" 5
44-45" 44 46" - 5

Sizing Note: For the most accurate fit, measure around your body where you plan to wear the belt. Choose the closest belt size to that measurement.

Belt Diagram Accent Belt and Complement BeltThe Accent Belt, The Polished Belt and The Complement Belt size measurements start from the beginning of the leather to the middle hole.

Belt Diagram Infinite BeltThe Infinite Belt size measurements cover the entire length of the leather.



Belt Measuring Guide

Belt Measuring Guide

A - High-rise style:

If you plan to wear your belt around your natural waistline, wrap a measuring tape around the narrowest part of your midsection. Then, add 3” to determine your high-rise belt size.

B - Mid-rise style:

If you plan to wear your belt lower than your natural waistline, you will require a dierent size. If you have a particular pair of bottoms you intend to wear your belt with, wrap a measuring tape through the belt loops while in a relaxed position.

When wearing your belt in your preferred style, it should fasten in the middle hole. The belt will relax with wear allowing you to cinch it tighter, as needed.

If you plan to wear the belt in both the high and mid-rise styles, you have two options:

  1. Select your high-rise style and fasten it more loosely when worn in the mid-rise style.
  2. Select your mid-rise style and fasten it more tightly when worn in the high-rise style.