Guide To | Shopping for Wide-Calf Boots + DSW GIVEAWAY!!

Raise your iPhones if you're one of the many women who have a hard time buying boots because you can't zip them up past your calves. You can't see me but my shiny new gold iPhone is up in the air. I'm a normal sized girl, not super model skinny, just normal...but my calves seem to be abnormally large (actually, that's muscle thank you very much) which makes finding cute boots a hassle. I've come up with some advice for shopping for wide-calf boots and then the most exciting part: I'm partnering with DSW Shoe Warehouse to give away FIVE $50 gift cards! Love it!  Read on for my tips and to enter the #dswshoehookup giveaway!

Before You Start The Search

You know if you have wide calves or not: boots don't fit. But actually, there's no universally standard definition of a wide calf. So I suggest taking the time to measure your calves.

How To Measure Your Calf

It's pretty simple really. If you don't have a measuring tape, you can use a piece of string and wrap it around your calf, then line that string up with a ruler. 

Now to figure out where on your calf to measure….this is dependent on your height.

If you're average or tall height (anyone over 5'3") measure at the point of your calf that is about 14 to 15 inches from the bottom of your foot. That's where the shaft of most boots hit on your leg.

If you're petite, you gotta use a different method to measure because the boots will hit at a different part of your leg. The easiest way to do this I think is to just measure the widest point of your calf and add 1"

So now you have your number. This will be super useful, especially if you're boot shopping online. Most wide calf boots range from 15.5" to 16"

Once You're Read To Shop

Don't skip over the non-wide calf boots

I know I just spent all this time telling you how to measure for wide-calves but the biggest piece of advice I have is try EVERYTHING on! I can wear boots designated as both wide-calf and just regular ol' boots too. Every brand is going to fit differently. So try them all on. Just don't get discouraged if the first 5 pairs don't work. It only takes one! :) 

Pick an online shop that offers free shipping on returns

This is especially important if you're unsure how certain brands will fit for you. DSW is fabulous about accepting returns. I totally took this for granted but I realized that some stores make you pay for return shipping. The first pair I ordered from them had a stretchy back so I figured for sure they would fit --- not so. I was able to send them back free of charge and ordered a pair in wide width. Yup, you guessed it the wide width didn't fit either. Third times  a charm though because I went into a store, tried on a couple more pairs and ended up with a pair of Tahari boots that were not wide calf but fit perfectly! 

Look for boots with a stretchy back

I love this style of boots. The front is usually a beautiful leather and the back of the boots is a stretchy material that makes the fit perfect!

Other Design Considerations

My guess is that if your calves are a little larger you don't want to draw attention to them. So I suggest, skipping designs with decorative buckles around the calves. Instead choose a pair of boots with buckles around the ankle. My favorite new trend this season is the gold accent around the heel. LOVE. 

Pay attention to proportions, try not to buy boots that hit exactly at mid-calf at the widest point. You want them to elongate and hit closer to your knees.

Also, don't forget the basics like color. Boots that are black, simple and streamlined are more likely to make your legs appear leaner. You know that already ;) 

My Favorite Wide-Calf Brands

Tahari boots are a new favorite for me. Also, Franco Sarto makes beautiful wide calf boots. I also love these boots from Crown Vintage …sleek and so affordable! DSW has a lot of gorgeous, wide-calf boots available!

The Last Resort

If you just simply can't find any boots that work for you, consider buying a boot in one size larger. Also, many quality leather boots can be stretched by either wearing them around in your house (this is a slow process!) or through a professional shoesmith. There are also extra panels you can zip into your existing boots to add extra fabric ---not my favorite option but if you like the look, go for it!

Now the best part! 
The GIVEAWAY!

I've partnered with DSW and 49 other bloggers to give away 5 pairs of shoes each (via $50 gift card) 

That's 250 pairs of shoes that DSW is giving away! 

Also, you'll win a fabulous coffee table book 'Do You Speak Shoe Lover'

You must be a DSW Rewards Member (it's free!) to be eligible.
All the details are available in the Rafflecopter below.
Giveaway ends 11:59PM Monday December 16, 2013

Good luck my dears!
xo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PS:

DSW was very generous in sending me a pair of boots for partnering with them for this giveaway.

Unfortunately, they didn't fit. So they sent me another pair. Those didn't fit either. But I got them right on the third try! A full review/style post will be up soon! I'm really grateful to DSW for being so patient with me! Don't worry, they will be with you too! ;)

Here are the rest of my blogger buddies participating in this amazing giveaway! 

Visit them and enter to increase your chances of winning!

12/02–12/05 MyBelonging; Shoe Smitten
12/03–12/06 My Fashion Juice; Belle de Couture; Gentri Lee
12/04–12/07 Alterations Needed; The Chic Street; Much Love, illy
12/05–12/08 Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Shoes; Pink Avenue; Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins 12/06–12/09 Jadore-Fashion; Fashion Snag; Melanee Shale
12/07–12/10 High Fashion 4 Less; Fashion Fling; Denim Debutante
12/08–12/11 Jimmy Choos and Tennis Shoes; Oh So Glam; Corals + Cognacs
12/09–12/12 Kimmy Erin; Crystalin Marie; Sandy A La Mode
12/10–12/13 My Own Blog Review; Around Lucia; Trend Hungry
12/11–12/14 Stiletto Beats; VintageorTacky; Girl Avant Garde
12/12–12/15 Behind the Seams; Fancy Things Blog; Dearest Lou
12/13–12/16 The Fashion Poet; Let it Be Beautiful; Mae Badiyan
12/14–12/17 Good, Bad, and Fab; Kel & Kate; The Frugalista
12/15–12/18 Fashionably Broke; Little Miss Fearless; Modly Chic
12/16–12/19 The Fashionista Next Door; Studs and Sapphires; Britt + Whit
12/17–12/20 Living in Color Print; Love Fashion, Live Life; A Mom in Red High Heels
12/18–12/21 Fashionable Hostesses; District Sparkle; Crowley Party

[ My Tahari boots pictured above ℅ DSW]

GUIDE TO | WEARING BOOTS

It's that time of year where we change over our closets, bring out cozy sweaters and scarves and prepare for the cold months. A major staple in any fall and winter wardrobe is boots! 

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from my clients and on social media is about finding the perfect fit and height of boots for different body types. Here's a look at the basic silhouettes of boots and tips on how to wear them.

The Bootie // Otherwise known as the ankle boot, this style is not the easiest to wear for the average woman. In order to elongate the leg, you want to prevent cutting the eye line at any point. But the problem is the bootie does just that--cuts the line of the leg at the ankle. However, this is such a hot style of boot this season you don't want to miss out. So in order to wear this boot silhouette and still create the illusion of long, lean legs make sure that you choose a bootie that has a wider ankle portion. You don't want the top of the boot that hits your ankle to be too tight. The bigger that part is, the smaller your ankle looks! Also, that adds to the ease of wear since there is a larger opening for you to slip your foot into. Stick with booties that have a small heel. That little bit of added height will also create the illusion of longer legs. The bootie is the best shoe to experiment with fun patterns and textures. You wouldn't want knee-high boots in a full floral pattern, but the bootie offers a smaller space to still show off those beautiful colors. 

The Calf Boot // This silhouette includes boots that come from above the ankle to the mid-calf. If you thought the bootie was going to be hard to pull off, then this type of boot is even harder. The boots hit at mid-calf or below, which for most women is not the most desirable place to draw attention to. But not to worry, the same rules apply with this silhouette. Make sure the boot is not too tight on your leg. Look for slouchy calf boots, they can create a lot of dimension and interest for an otherwise simple outfit. Buckles and studs are another fun embellishment for this type of boot. Because they're not as tall as the knee-high boots, most women can get away with more detail in this style. 

The Knee-High Boot // The most universally flattering style of boot is the knee-high. Everyone can wear this silhouette, it's just a matter of paying attention to proportions. The boots are going to be tight, so make sure your pants that are tucked into them are form-fitting as well. Then pair this combination with a looser blouse on top. This is the perfect fall outfit! Choose a brown and black pair with a low heel--the most common type is the riding boot, which is a major essential for winter dressing. It can be worn with nearly any bottom whether it's jeans, tights or a maxi skirt. It's comfortable enough because it has a low-heel and yet it adds a simple sophistication because of its hardware and equestrian feel. Also, I firmly believe that knee-high boots with a heel higher than about 2 inches should not be worn at all. It's nearly impossible to achieve a polished look with that silhouette. If you're going to wear knee-high boots, stick to a low wedge or kitten heel or better yet flats. For those of you with larger calves, don't despair! I have had many styling clients who wanted to give up because they could never pull knee-high boots fully above their calves. Stay away from pairs that have a zipper and look for styles that have a bit of elastic at the top that will stretch as fit to your calves. Fitzwell is a great, stylish brand of boots that makes several styles in wide calf. 

What's your favorite style of boots?

x

bootie{licious}