V206: Please Vote – What Is The Circumference of Your Calf?

Why am I asking this?  Well, I’d like to learn the average calf size of you lovely ladies interested in purchasing Tavistock button boots, and other future boot styles.  I want to achieve the best fit possible, and it’s no small feat (hehe, get it?) fitting button boots across the board.

So please participate in this nifty poll.  Stand flat on the floor, barefoot, and measure up 9 inches.  Then take the circumference of your calf at that point, and select the closest size in the poll.  If you come in somewhere between number, round up.  Here’s a diagram on how to measure:




Thank you SO much!

35 Comments

  • Stephanie Lynn

    July 25, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    I have big calves and can never buy boots (even modern ones!) that go up to or past the calves. Thank you marching band. I hope you end up with a larger size!

  • Robin

    July 25, 2012 at 2:16 AM

    I really hope you don't make them huge 🙁 I really really want a pair. Isn't it easier to have your cobbler insert a gusset? we used to do that in theater all the time but it's a lot harder to take out.

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 25, 2012 at 4:39 AM

      Robin, it looks like the only solution will be to put an elastic gusset at the top of the boot, on the inside of the leg, so these will fit the largest number of people. I have thin legs too, and I want a pair of my own boots to wear! We're also checking in to running two calf size variations, but that may be difficult the first time around, if our order is small…:-

  • Vienna La Rouge

    July 25, 2012 at 2:41 AM

    I'm tall, with slim (not super skinny) ankles and calves. I second what Robin posted above. There are a lot of us tall girls with a shoe size over an 8, that have average to slim calves. I've posted my dilemma with boot shopping here before, so I'll spare you 😉 Everyone's legs are shaped differently, so this is quite a hurdle. Thank you so much for presenting a poll for us to cast our vote, and I truly hope I can wear these when they are made.
    xoxo

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 25, 2012 at 4:40 AM

      I have this dilemma as well. I'm determined to find a way to make everyone happy, although maybe that is impossible :- . So far an elastic gusset will help, but there may be other solutions to combine with that too

    • Vienna La Rouge

      July 25, 2012 at 3:23 PM

      Well my hat is off to you for trying at least!
      9 inches up, my calf only measures just under 12", so that's what I voted with. The widest part of my calf is around 14", but that's up higher than these boots will be.

      Hmmm, the buttons could be on elastic as well?
      I had a pair of button up shoes once that were snug, but the buttons were attached with an elastic 'shank' of sorts.

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 25, 2012 at 10:45 AM

      I'm really surprised! All the boots I looked at today had 12-14 inch circumferences at the tops, with around 9 inch height, which comes in below the widest measurement of your calf, so it is a little smaller. From what I was reading, the shoe industry considers a thin calf under 12 inches around. Sounds like you're smack in the average, but maybe manufacturers are making the calves of boots larger than they used to? Curious indeed!

    • PirateHatter

      July 26, 2012 at 12:02 AM

      As it stands, when I measured my calf I was at work with out a tape measure so I ended it up using a piece of paper and using a ruler and it may or may not be extremely wrong. I only know that I cannot buy generic boots. My good boots are Native Earths which are custom.

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 25, 2012 at 10:41 AM

      No worries, Lil' Moth, it doesn't mess up the pool much. I'm looking for an average overall, and particularly to see if a larger calf circumference is needed.

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 25, 2012 at 10:42 AM

      The 9 inches is known as the "shank" of the boot. This is where it will hit on your calf, but it is 9 inches measured from the bottom of your heel, without the heel of shoe included.

  • Mel

    July 25, 2012 at 11:31 AM

    As someone with freaky large calves, I always find that buying boots with lacing is always the best option because it give that bit of extra room. If you do go down the laced boots option at all, can I suggest a wide tongue to accommodate extra width room.

    Good luck with the boots though. I look forward to seeing what is coming next.

  • Anonymous

    July 25, 2012 at 7:36 PM

    Girly with stick legs and fat feet here! I haven't owned a boot in many years that would fit my little 11.5" legs properly, especially since I have wide feet and everyone assumes wide feet = wide legs. I always end up with rubs, unless I wear thick woolen socks.

    It's going to be quite a challenge to make the max number of folks happy, but you're magic, so things will work out. 🙂

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 26, 2012 at 9:26 PM

      I hate disappointing people. I know I can't meet everyone's needs, but hopefully I can meet a large number of ladies this time. I don't want this boot to be so exclusive.

  • catspaw

    July 26, 2012 at 1:34 AM

    While I measured 11 and 1/4 " I ticked for 12 as you said to vote 'up'. But Actually that leaves a smidgen of space if I want to wear lacy socks instead of tights/stockings!

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 26, 2012 at 9:27 PM

      That's true. the specifications I gave the factory for the "average" calf size starts at 11 inches, with a 3 inch elastic gusset to allow stretch to 13 or 14 inches, so we ladies of thin calves can have boots that fit all the way up too. 🙂

  • Aylwen

    July 26, 2012 at 1:48 AM

    I have thick ankles and calves, narrow heels and short wide feet – when I do find a shoe that fits, the biggest problem is the tongue is too narrow – if it was wider then it could allow for wider lacing.

    • Lauren Stowell

      July 26, 2012 at 9:29 PM

      There is no tongue on these – the scalloped button flap overlaps the underpiece by about an inch. The buttons are all set on elastics, and there's the 3 inch elastic inset at the top, on the inside. It may be tricky, but we're planning to have as many measurements as possible available on the website, so you ladies can have the easiest time determining if these will fit or not.

  • stretchfinnell

    December 23, 2020 at 5:41 AM

    My wife's calves are 24 in after thickest in their circumference but her ankles 12.5 in…. And at her knee they are 14 in…. She has some of the biggest prettiest most shapely legs on the planet….

  • stretchfinnell

    December 23, 2020 at 5:41 AM

    My wife's calves are 24 in after thickest in their circumference but her ankles 12.5 in…. And at her knee they are 14 in…. She has some of the biggest prettiest most shapely legs on the planet….

  • stretchfinnell

    December 23, 2020 at 5:41 AM

    My wife's calves are 24 in after thickest in their circumference but her ankles 12.5 in…. And at her knee they are 14 in…. She has some of the biggest prettiest most shapely legs on the planet….

  • stretchfinnell

    December 23, 2020 at 5:41 AM

    My wife's calves are 24 in after thickest in their circumference but her ankles 12.5 in…. And at her knee they are 14 in…. She has some of the biggest prettiest most shapely legs on the planet….

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