I’ve struggled my entire life with thicker calves and ankles (thanks Dad). I remember hating my lower legs as a kid and noticing how different they were from other girls. My bones are just big, my ankles or rather cankles are wide and finding shoes that work has always been a struggle. Especially BOOTS. If you have the same issue you know how frustrating it is when Fall and Winter rolls around. Dreaded boot season where nothing will zip up or have enough room to be comfortable to wear.

Over the years and after many failed purchases I’ve found which styles work best for thick calves. I wanted to provide a breakdown and some really great finds for you guys, my fellow thick calf sisters!

SOCK BOOT – a super trendy style last year, the sock boot is probably my favorite of all the boots because it’s the MOST comfortable. Sock boots are made from stretchy fabric that have a lot of give. The downside to this style is that it’s not as popular this year.

COWBOY BOOT – obviously this is a very specific style but it’s worth trying! I think cowboy boots are super versatile and just so cool girl chic. The reason cowboy boots generally* work for thicker calves/ankles is because the circumference of the boot is always made wider to fit that slouchy lived in look.

LACE-UP BOOT – love me a good lace-up boot! The lace-up allows you to loosen the boot as much as you need. These are super trendy this year but avoid being a slave to the chunky lace-up boot trend! Go for sleeker silhouettes, the chunky styles will only leave you looking bottom heavy. You don’t want to add more weight to your legs!

SLOUCH BOOT – the slouch boot is a bit hard to spot, but think of a boot that slips right on and is…super slouchy. Brands like Free People and Urban Outfitters always have good slouchy boot options. They come in a wide range of styles but I really love a chunky heeled option!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Wide Fit – a ton of brands now cater to wide fit (yay!). ASOS, Zappos and DSW have an array of wide fit boots that will work for us thick calve girls no matter what style! So if you do want a tighter knee high boot those shops are your best bet. Just look under Wide Fit.

Invest – since we’re not blessed with being able to slip into any boot, finding the right one may come at a bit of a cost. BUT, good boots are an investment and I highly encourage you to spend a bit more on quality that will last you longer than fast-fashion.

WHAT TO AVOID:

Zip ups – a standard boot with a zip up is 9/10 times not going to work because the circumference of the boot is cut tighter to fit most other women. Zip up styles are my most hated boot, there is nothing worse than spilling over on the top…a la muffin top style.

Patent Leather – patent leather, and generally stiff leather DOES NOT GIVE. Avoid this at all costs unless is cut for a wide fit.

I hope this breakdown helps you guys find the right boot this season! We can most definitely wear boots…it’s just about finding the right one.