Wide Calf Boots 2008 Fashion Guide

Wide calf boots provide one of the most versatile footwear options you'll ever have in your closet. You can wear your wide calf boots with jeans, slacks, skirts, or dresses. You can even wear your boots with socks or athletic inserts and no one will know. Best of all, a good pair of tall wide calf boots can save you time and money by eliminating the need to change from commuter snow boots into dress shoes at work.

So where can you find the best wide calf boots this year? Here's a list of the top ten picks of the season:

1. Ros Hommerson's Walker Boot from WideWidths.com. Hands down, the sexiest pair of wide calf boots of the season are these red suede high heeled tall boots with buckle accents. The heel height stands at 2 inches which can be lowered by a cobbler if necessary for about $10. Those wishing to cave to convention can also purchase this boot in black or brown, but the rich red with its slimming pointed toe, makes a sassy statement as we enter the new year. If patent leather is more your style, check out the siren red David Tate Denver boot, also from WideWidths.com, because when it comes to online shoe proprietors, you can't do better. WideWidths.com has the largest selection of wide calf boots in the industry and they also fundamentally know their business. Armed with your measurements, they will not only help you find the best fitting boot for your body type but also provide information to guide you through any necessary alterations. And let's face it, when you're spending big bucks on a leather boot, it's worth going the extra mile to read carefully and make sure the boot fits.
2. Via Accenti's Nikki stretch patent plus-calf boot. Last year, Via Accenti made a splash with inexpensive but stylish wide calf boots that were expertly tailored to avoid sagging at the ankles. Best of all, Via Accenti bucked the trend of wobbly stilettos and offered a stable spool heel to provide extra balance on snow and ice. This year, Via Accenti has taken that same chic design and is now offering it in stretch patent. When it comes to footwear, leather is usually better. But with tall boots, leather can stretch and sag over time, giving a sloppy look that does not flatter anyone. Via Accenti solves this problem with a synthetic fabric that holds up well.Two quibbles, though. First, in the next incarnation of this boot, Via Accenti should lower the heel by about half an inch. Second, purple patent leather is harder to coordinate with an outfit than red. Still the black patent will be stylish for many seasons to come, and you can't beat the price.
3. Via Accenti's Mac Buckle Boot. While these wide calf boots have a shorter shaft than the other tall boots on our list, the moneyed look, elongated toe, and comfortably low one-inch heel earned them a spot on the list. The dark plum seems to be a cognac color which could easily coordinate with brown, black, and navy outfits to give you the most bang for your footwear buck. And the price is right.
4. Step Up Comfort's Niah tall riding boot. An absolute standout in sensibility, this wide calf boot has a 1.5 inch stacked heel, buckle details, and an elastic panel in the back to ensure a comfortable fit. A mixture of synthetic leather with elastic panelling is the genius of the design, helping to keep the boot snug without cutting off your circulation. And for those who prefer a rounded toe, this one is at least someone elongated. These wide calf boots will be good for work, for play, or even shoveling the driveway.
5. David Tate's Back-Laced Boots. Silhouettes has long been an industry leader in wide calf boots, but they have very few offerings this year for calves wider than 17 inches. This has been a continual disappointment the past few seasons, but if you're looking for a practical, durable, good-looking boot that will accomodate calves even up to 20 inches in circumference, these old David Tate standards will do the trick. The back lacing will ensure a perfect individualized fit while preventing sagging at the ankles, and the stacked heel will offer stability in any weather. The downside is the expense--though for a leather boot, it's not outrageous. This style has been copied by other wide calf boots that are worth mentioning here including Avenue's Gilly Boot (which has much nicer details but a higher heel) and Sudini (for calves under 16 inches in circumference).
6. Avenue's Rexy Boot. For those of you who don't mind a bit of height moderated by the stability of a wedge, Avenue's modern Rexy boot might be just what you're looking for. This boot will actually stretch to accomodate up to a 20 inch circumference around the calf and it has some fabulous grommet detailing at the top. Moreover, like all Avenue shoes, this wide calf boot is a cloudwalker, which means that there's extra cushioning and support in the footbed.
7. Jessica London's Extra-Wide Shaft Stretch Boots With Ruffle Detail. One of the sexiest wide calf boots of the season is this smartly tailored low-heeled gem from Jessica London. Last year, Jessica London prompted the return of many of their boots by being less than accurate about calf circumference. Provided that they've learned their lesson this year, this pair of boots might just win them some fashion awards. Check out the amazing winter white!
8. Torrid's Hannah Faux Suede Boot. One of the disadvantages of slouch boots is that they dress an outfit down rather than up. Slouch boots can also make some women look shorter and heavier. But these boots are entirely on trend, and if you're looking for a youthful and pragmatic wide calf slouch boot for the season, Torrid's accomodate the widest calves for under $60.
9. Ulla Popken's Buckle Trim Boots. If you're looking to add pure pizzaz to an outfit, these crocodile skin patterned boots with faux suede uppers are just the thing. Ulla Popken's wide calf sizing is fairly odd though. These boots come standard at 17 inches in circumference. The calf size graduates by width of your foot rather than shoe size. So if you're normally a size 8M the calf would be 17 inches, if you order a 8W, the calf would be 18 inches, and if you order an 8WW the calf would be 19 inches.
10. Blondo's Dublin Boots. This boot has been around for a while, but as far as standard working winter boots go, it's a champ and it accomodates calves up to 18 inches (perhaps larger if you go to WideWidths.com). The genuine, smooth leather upper is waterproof, so your feet stay warm and dry, plus it's lined with moisture-wicking, antimicrobial synthetic suede for a healthy foot environment.