11 Best Over-the-Knee Boots For Wide Calves

The annual fashion dilemma is upon us again: finding over-the-knee boots that  not only go with all of your fall and winter outfits, but also won’t require you to empty your bank account just to secure a pair. The task is even harder for boot lovers who need over-the-knee footwear that fit wider calves. 

One of the most frustrating feelings is shopping around for cute boots only to try them on and realize they don’t fit. And sure, wide calf boots do indeed exist, but only come in black, have a super low or nonexistent heel or don’t offer different textures (suede is great, but other fabrics exist!).

The demand for more variety in over-the-knee, wide-calf boots is present; a simple Twitter search proves that. But Marie Leggette, founder and editor-in-chief of The Curvy Fashionista, says there have been major changes in the past five to 10 years. 

“You have more plus-size retailers and brands adding boots to their collection or their offerings. You now also have mainstream retailers bringing in collections that are exclusive to their site,” Leggette said. “For example, Nordstrom and Macy’s have their in-house brands that also do wide-calf boot options. You’re starting to see change and inclusion, especially in colors outside of black.” 

Leggette went on to say the best way to approach boot shopping for wider calves is to first measure your calves to see how many inches the boot’s circumference needs to be. While many shoe brands’ wide-calf boot selections typically start at 16 inches, it’s important to note that boot shopping is definitely not “one size fits all.” 

“While we now have more wide calf options, we don’t have the range of calf width sizes. It’s like, is the circumference really 16 inches? Because that’s not technically a wide calf. My calf size is 17 [inches] and I’m what they would call a ‘small fat,’ so it’s really going to be important that there’s more clarifying info about the sizing and measurements,” she said.

To measure your calves for a smoother footwear buying experience, grab your nearest tape measurer and get the circumference of your calf at its widest part, and round it to the closest centimeter. For better accuracy, do this for both calves, as it’s common and totally normal for one to be slightly bigger than the other.

“Know your calf width size because when you know that, and as certain brands are starting to be more aware and list the circumferences, you will be prepared and you will know ahead of time if it’s going to work for you,” she said.

Whether you’re looking to stock up on your fall over-the-knee boots or already thinking about your winter wardrobe, check out our roundup of wide calf options below. 

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