I’ve Spent My Life Looking for the Best Wide-Calf Boots—These Are My Favorites

One of my earliest style memories is playing around in one of my grandmother’s closets. (Yes, “one of”—she was a very chic woman, and that required multiple closets worth of clothes.) I loved piling on her costume jewelry or running my hands along her silky blouses. But my absolute favorite thing in her collection was a pair of pointed-toe, knee-high black boots in the most delicious, worn leather. Of course, I was swimming in them as a kid, but I loved zipping them on and tottering around her house in those sophisticated heels.

It’s a high I’ve been chasing ever since. The only problem? As I grew, so too did my calves, which ultimately surpassed the standard 14-inch shaft opening on most knee-high boots, severely limiting my options. If I could find a pair of wide-calf boots, they were often utilitarian or cheap-looking: sure, they’d fit my calves, but they didn’t fit my style.

Thankfully, this has slowly been changing over the last few years, and I’ve been able to build a wardrobe of wide-calf boots that I can wear all winter long. These are a few of my favorites.

The Workhorse

I bought these boots from Vince Camuto last winter in both black leather and brown suede, and they immediately became a staple in my wardrobe. They tick the stylish box, but they’re also so comfortable that I packed them for a trip to Italy and wore them for 15,000 steps across Rome. These low-heeled, simple styles remind me most of my grandmother’s boots.

The Statement-Maker

My biggest issue with the wide-calf boots of yore is that they had no personality or style whatsoever. I don’t always want to wear a basic black leather or a riding boot! Thankfully, brands are investing in making trend-forward boots that fit wider calves. Sam Edelman’s Sylvia style is a go-to for me at the moment.

The Stretchy Fit

This sounds counterintuitive, but I will always give a skintight boot a try. Oftentimes, when styles are meant to be pulled on, they’re built with a level of stretch that means they can sometimes accommodate different calf sizes. My absolute favorite in this category is Nomasei’s Twist boot and its thigh-high sister, the Whisper, which I have in multiple colors. Not only do they zip over my calves like a dream, they’re also a sexy pick under skirts and dresses alike. I’ve also had good luck with Stuart Weitzman styles.