Shopping
From over-the-knee to ankle booties.
As a wide calf, wide feet, and thick ankle girlie, boot season season comes with its limitations. While my leg press is unmatched, the consequence is 19” wide calves. Most boots have a shaft opening of 12”, so for me, this either means sneakers all winter or finding boots that are *actually* size-inclusive. I love my Air Force Ones, I also love a statement boot — and I should be able to have both, ok?!
Over the years I have tried various hacks to make boots work: Leaving the zipper half down, shopping primarily ankle boots, and using bandaids to prevent blisters from too-tight shafts. I just accepted that over-the-knee boots and mid-calf booties would never work for me — much less a heeled boot. Not only do I have wide calves, but I also have wide feet — which narrows down options even further.
However, with the help of some recommendations from my favorite plus-size influencers (like Curvily and Stylish Curves), as well as some sleuthing of my own, I have found several pairs that are not only plus-size friendly, but are stylish as hell.
Ahead, shop the holy grail of footwear — AKA: shoes that are wide calf, wide foot, and overall plus-size approved.
1
Sarah Chiwaya of Curvily recommends ASOS for wide-calf boot shopping. In her 2021 wide-calf boot roundup, she shared that the brand is “one of my top go-tos for wide-width shoes in general, ASOS also delivers when it comes to wide fit boots.” This pair has a sleek pointed toe and a pretty patent finish.
2
Eloquii absolutely nails plus-size trends of all kinds and their boots are no exception. This knee-high is a natural wide leg, with a circumference of over 19”, while the print and chunky heel ensure you don’t sacrifice style. This is one brand I am fiercely loyal to because of their inclusive sizes and mindful designs of plus-size footwear.
3
I love a mid-calf bootie, but can’t stand when they’re too tight to zip. Torrid’s patented extra-wide width gives extra room all over, including the footbed. Plus, they’re rated a rock-solid 4.8 stars.
4
A statement boot is a wardrobe must-have. No need to sacrifice style for size, though, since this pair comes in a wide calf option.
5
A tip for my fellow wide-calf friends: an elastic panel down the side will give you extra room for stretch. This pair measures in at 17.7" at mid calf.
6
I love a platform, and UGG’s signature boot is definitely plus-size approved. A personal favorite, the naturally-wide silhouette provides plenty of room for all feet widths and ankle sizes.
7
A thigh high boot that fits your thigh comfortably is every plus-size person’s dream. But often boots like this will slide down during wear — if you can find ones that fit in the first place. But Fashion To Figure thought ahead, with straps that you can attach to a matching belt. Bonus points for this pair, because the straps are removable.
8
I’ve been dying to try out the platform go-go boot trend and finally, that’s a real possibility. Latinx-owned, inclusive, sustainable brand Wray dropped these as their first shoe. Hopefully, the first of many.
9
Landies, don’t sleep on JustFab. Their stylish boots come in regular and extra-wide calf. This pair garnered 4.5-stars of reave reviews, like this one: “I really like these boots and got a bunch of compliments my first time wearing them! They are pretty comfortable and are exactly as pictured.”
10
Don’t let the 15.5" calf circumference fool you, the mid-calf height lets you cuff the boot, protecting your ankle from any abrasion. The 4.5-star rating speaks for itself, with one rating reading: “I have the hardest time with boots because of my ankles and large calf muscles. These boots for perfect and I love the color!”
