First of all I should tell you that I am not a petite lady - I'm 42 years old, 5'8" and 178lbs - I do not have narrow nor young calves. Yet I love these boots! Oh and I also bought my true size. Please read ahead though before you order. Ok I hesitated before purchasing these boots. I read so many reviews about these stating that the boots ran small, they were preferably for narrow calves, extremely painful to walk in, etc, etc. Then immediately following that, most people said that they were so beautiful they just ordered a size (or two) larger, unzipped the back zipper, or just simply dealt with the pain. There was a part of me that knew purchasing them would be a waste of my time and money. I already wear a 9.5 (They only run as large as a 10 from what I can see here on Amazon). I do NOT have narrow calves (mine measure 15") AND to top it all off I have a painful bunion on my right foot. But being that these boots ARE beautiful (and just happened to drop in price by $100) I bought them. I do not regret it one bit!!! Here's my take on all those reviews that will tell you that these boots run small - as far as length goes, in my opinion these boots are actually true to size - it's the width of them that is smaller than what most people are probably used to. They are rather narrow at the front part of my foot, the part just behind the toes or the area of the ball of my foot. I have a narrower foot than most ladies so this isn't that bad for me but they are snug. And because of the way the boots are made this part isn't going to stretch out as quickly as some other areas-but they will stretch. Interestingly, the way they are made doesn't seem to bother my bunion - which is odd to me because usually shoes that are too snug width-wise are impossible for me to wear due to pain. So if you have a medium-wide foot they are probably going to seem tiny to you. If you do decide to buy these, just remember that the leather used to make these boots is so exceptional that it immediately begins loosening the moment you start walking around in the boots. It is easy to understand why, over time, these boots become many ladies' fave - they will obviously form to your feet through time. Now, as far as the reviewers who had issues zipping them up. Simply put, I just forced the zippers up!. Once I realized that the leather was immediately stretching to accommodate for my foot I knew that it would as well for my calves so I forced the zipper up over my calves (without loosening the back zipper). The zipper is heavy duty and strong. Though this was incredibly tight at first around my 15" calves (and even a bit painful), as I walked around I could feel them loosening/conforming to my legs. Now, it's the next day and not only did I have no problem zipping them this morning but I'm even wearing them over jeans comfortably! Now they are snug. But it's not like I can't put my hand in the top of the boot or anything (see pic). Honestly, it's the snugness in the calves that finally prompted me to buy these boots. I didn't want the boots I'm wearing to make my legs look bigger or wider. I wanted them to be slim and fit snug to my leg. These quite frankly are perfect! I do have one complaint though, I feel like they are a little loose in the ankles. Maybe I just have small ankles or something but I did tighten the buckle around the ankle one notch. I just didn't like the baggy feel the way it was. Now about comfortability while walking - well this morning started great - but now at lunch time they have loosened enough that they are actually slipping a bit on my heel (I am wearing very thin socks). In fact, a blister is now forming on my heel from the slipping. The inside shoe bed is not soft and cushiony (no memory foam here!), and there is NO nice molded arch support in the foot bed either. In fact, no part of the interior is padded, cushioned or protected with anything other than the leather lining. The thing is that anyone who has ever owned a pair of boots like this knows that you have to break them in and that it may get a little painful in the process. BUT stick it through and then 3,4, 5+ years from now, these boots will be the best pair of boots in our closets. I even believe that the oh-so-slightly-cushioned insole will become more comfortable as I break them in. Final verdict: Though these boots aren't for everyone. But, I believe that more ladies can wear them than what is probably believed. You don't have to have narrow calves to own/wear these boots, you just have to have the patience and diligence it takes to break in a new pair of shoes. But it might help to have feet that are more narrow to medium rather than medium-wide.
