How to Wear Boots with Skinny Calves

I have skinny legs! I don't say this to try to brag or get attention — I actually hate being the center of attention. It gives me anxiety. So, yeah. Most times I'm OK with my legs. I've come to terms with the fact that that's just the way it is for me. It means less surface area when I have to shave, and what could be bad about that? Other times I really, really take issue with the whole thing. For example, when I have to listen to someone saying, "Your legs are toothpicks!" C'mon. How am I supposed to respond to that? "Uhm... thanks?" Also, when I'm trying to find a good pair of jeans. A lot of times, jeans just are baggy in my calf area. Finding jeans that fit just-right has been a lifelong struggle for me. Darn my toothpick legs. AND also, when I'm trying to find a good pair of boots.

I love boots. And from reading the responses on some of our recent fall posts, most people love boots the most about fall! Most times when I try to wear boots, my ankles or my calves just slosh around inside, like putting a single rose inside large vase. Or like a straw in a 32 oz cup without a lid to hold it in place. It's not cute, I tell you.

But! I have solutions. And I want to share them with my fellow skinny-legged friends out there who also struggle with the dilemma of loving boots.



Uggs — Here's the thing. I know a lot of people who have very strong feelings about Uggs. And a lot of those feelings aren't great. I get it... they're not the most beautiful of boots. But they are comfortable and warm and very practical in snowy weather, I have found. Which I guess is kind of the point of boots, isn't it? So, since I love my Uggs and because they are as practical and comfortable and warm as a man should be, I am going to include them on my list. When I first started shopping around for a pair of boots like Uggs, I was looking in places like Target and Costco. Because, budget. I didn't want to spend the ridiculous amount that Uggs cost on a pair of boots that aren't all that cute anyway and that was more than likely going to get ruined in the snow.

But what I found was, as a skinny-calved shopper, that the Target and Costco brands really aren't made as well. And by that, I mean, the fur lining isn't as thick and the boots are much wider as actual Uggs. That is a no-go for a skinny-calver like me. So, I splurged and got me some real-life Uggs and I have been so happy!

So, solution #1 = splurge on the brand name.

Now, I understand sometimes you may not want or may not be able to splurge on the brand name, and that is just fine! Brand names, shmrand names, is what I say. Why pay more for what you can get just as good of for less, right? And for that, I have a solution also. Socks! Get you a pair of knee-highs and roll them down around the opening of the boot. It adds thickness around your calf and it hides the fact that maybe your skinny calves look a bit ridiculous right now.

Solution #2 = Socks! Of the thick and knee-high variety.



Ankle boots/booties — Super trendy right now. And I love the way they look! I bought myself a pair of ankle boots last season (when I found them on super sale at Forever 21, shhh with my secrets!) and it was really love at first sight. But when I got home and tried them on, the opening was just too big for my ankles and I couldn't make them look good. The best way I have found to make my ankles look not so ridiculous in the wide opening is to avoid skinny jeans when I wear them, and wear something like boyfriend jeans instead. And cuff the jeans so the bottom of your jeans just barely hits the top of the shoe. It sort of works to hide the fact that your ankles are hangin' out all willy nilly somewhere inside those jeans and wide boots.

Solution #3 = Boyfriend/baggier jeans, cuffed.

Side note, I may or may not still feel a little bit ridiculous in these when I wear them, but I get compliments on them every time. So definitely, invest in some ankle boots. Odds are people will love your trendy boots so much they won't even notice your tiny ankles.



Knee-high boots — Ah, my first love. I remember the first pair of boots I had. They were knee-highs. They were tie-up and had some fur on 'em. They were totally 2005, but I loved them! Thankfully, knee-high boot fashion has come a long way since then.

There are tons of styles of knee-high boots to choose from, but I have riding-style boots, so that's what I'm focusing on here. Shopping for knee-highs can be pretty intimidating if you have skinny calves, but don't give up! I found these amazing knee-high boots that have a slit in the back, so it's like the boot is saying, "Look at me, I am made to look wider at the top which gives you an excuse to wear them with your skinny calves!"

Solution #4 = Get boots that give a good excuse to have skinny legs, like a slit in the back. If all else fails, see Solution #2 and just add knee-high socks.



Rain boots — I think rain boots might be the worst boot for us skinny-calved folk. For years, I was afraid of buying and/or wearing a pair of rain boots because of how ridiculous I thought I looked in them. Then, I found a pair of slim-fit Hunters. And my life has never been the same. They literally hug my calves! They are perfect. They're so good I can't even think of anything else to say about them.

Solution #5 = Find boots that have "slim" in the name. Solution #1 also applies here (I had to get brand name Hunter Wellies to get the exact fit I wanted).

I forgot to take a picture of them for the post, so you get just a random picture of me wearing them.



Combat boots — I have several ways of wearing combat boots. 1) Laced only halfway up, with socks. 2) Laced halfway up, with cuffed jeans. 3) Laced all the way up, with cuffed jeans. 4) Laced all the way up, with jeans tucked in. 5) (Not pictured) Laced all the way up, with socks.

The beauty of the combat boots is that you can wear them sooo many ways and no one will ever be able to tell you have the skinny calf. It's brilliant. I have combats in black and brown because I love them so much.

So, solution #6 is just = Combat Boots! Mixed with all the other solutions already written :)