the molehill guide to fall boots

my tried and trusted boots. boots i didn't love (but you might). wide calf boots. wishlist boots.

Hi! How was your weekend?

Mine was full of sweet little critters, car errands and using a big silver ring as a germaphobe hack to press gas station kiosk buttons.

To the new readers this week found this newsletter through my TSITP fashion commentary piece, welcome!! You bet I’ll be writing a Part 2 before the finale airs :)

By the way, our chat isn’t just a fashion forum, it’s a space to nerd out about any shows/books/media you’re into. Highbrow and lowbrow and everything in between (I’m getting my snacks ready for the Love Island reunion tonight).

I recently asked you to share your current wishlists, and the #1 mentioned item was BOOTS.

Buffy boots. Burgundy boots. Wide calf boots. Square toe boots. Knee high boots.

I think the high level of interest checks out because (1) we’re heading into the seasonal sweet spot where you can wear knee high boots with skirts but WITHOUT tights; (2) several boot brands are based outside of the US and with De Minimis ending on 8/29…it’s the last chance to lock in a pre-tariff price.

So here’s my fall boot cheat sheet. It’s broken up into 4 sections:

• tried and trusted boots—the three pairs I wear on rotation

• boots I didn’t love (but you might)—great boots that didn’t work for my proportions/leg shape

• wide calf boots—options that come in expanded calf sizes, based on hours of reading + compiling recs on reddit (the most trustworthy source imo)

• on my radar boots—brands and styles I haven’t tried, but I’m interested in

Boots *can* be one of the most expensive wardrobe pieces. Ideally, they’re made with quality materials, comfortable, stylish, and make you feel like the baddest bitch in Berkeley Bowl. And while I’m willing to spend for a really great pair, most of my boots were purchased secondhand or on sale.

So I include some secondhand options in bullet points below, and encourage that you set up listing alerts if you’re actively looking for a certain brand/style.

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my tried and trusted boots

Ok, so there are a few things I look for in boots.

• First of all, I have short calves, so the biggest consideration for me is a shorter shaft height. This means a lot of knee boots are too long/high and dig into my kneecaps (though I wonder if I could ask a cobbler to hack an inch off the shaft…this thought never crossed my mind until now).

• I like good quality leather that’s soft, but with enough structure that it doesn’t sag when I walk.

• My aesthetic preferences include a square-ish toe box, a slight platform or lug sole, and generally no extra embellishments like studs/buckles/harnesses.

These are the three pairs that I can always count on.

Larroude Ricky Boots: my most comfortable and well-fitting knee boots. The shaft (15” inches on a size 6.5) hits underneath my kneecap, which is SO RARE. These are the best to wear with skirts and shorts. My calves are about 13.5” wide and the boots fit snug but not suffocating. The heel is low and walkable.

• Brown version—size 7, $200

MNZ Belmont Boots: this is an older style. I have them in both black and banana yellow, which give extremely different vibes. Black is more edgy biker, yellow is more 70s bohemian. These hit at the mid-calf and are the best to wear with relaxed jeans. I’ve never paid full price for these, got mine on SSENSE sale and Depop.

• New but on sale—size 38.5, $397

A.P.C. Knee High Boots: I don’t know what this style is called because they’re old and I got them for $70 from Japanese eBay. But I can attest to the quality of older A.P.C. leather boots. These are my only chocolate brown pair, and they’re perfect when I want to build a warmer tone outfit with sepias and caramels.

• Exact same style—size 6, $33.33 (WILD price but remember there’s international shipping + you will pay an extra 15% if you buy after De Minimis ends)

• Exact same style—size 5, $162, take same precautions as above

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boots i didn’t love (but you might)

LoQ Donna boot: I’ve had several shoes from LoQ, all excellent quality. Tried these boots on at the store in Glassell Park (get a sandwich and donut at Bub’s around the corner!). They felt comfortable to walk in. The “cons” are purely aesthetic. Toe just felt a little too almond-shaped for my taste. I think the toe area just needs more heft and structure, like a thin platform sole or something.

• Chocolate brown pair on Depop—size 9, $72

Frye Campus 14L boot (wide calf version here): These are a vintage pair. My friend sourced a pair for his eBay store last year, so I got to try them on for about a week. They’re durable, for sure, but they felt so heavy to walk with and the leather cut into the backs of my knees. Idk, I think the comfort of these really just depends on what year/where they were made, and how they fit your legs/feet.

• These are super jacked up on the secondhand market right now, your best bet is getting lucky at IRL thrift stores or waiting until demand cools down

Also, wrote this last year :)

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Wide Calf Boots

While I can’t offer personal reviews of these options, I read dozens of reviews and recs from Reddit to come up with this list. Also, I’ve included linked videos to other creators’ try-on videos because I know that’s helpful for visualizing fit!

Vince Camuto Sangeti: this recently restocked style comes up often in wide calf boot discussions online. I like the angled block heel and square toe, and am partial to the seasonal burgundy colorway. It comes in four calf sizes, from narrow to extra wide. Here’s a TikTok creator with a try-on video of the wide calf styles in all the colors.

• Soooo many great secondhand options in the $100-$150 range!

Naturalizer Candela Boot: another brand that kept coming up in wide calf bot recs was Naturalizer. I browsed their products and this new style is my pick. The square toe and blade heel come together for a sleek look. Office-appropriate too.

Duo Dalia Boot: these were recommended several times in a petite fashion reddit thread about boots for wide calves. They come in petite/standard/tall heights *and* 9 different calf sizes, which is probably as close as you can get to a custom fit from a retailer. Here’s an IG creator who does a try-on video of this exact style.

• Dalia boot—size 10, $350

• Dalia boot—size 6.5, $199

Vince Camuto Amree: just a very classic knee boot with clean lines that will be easy to style with everything.

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On My Radar Boots 👀

Maguire Lorca Boot: I have a few friends who have Maguire shoes and they like the comfort and quality. I’m a fan of the square toe shape and simple angular lines.

• Brown leather size 6, $263

• Black leather size 9.5, $260

2004 Yoshitomo Nara x Scoop Boots: a vintage holy grail…it’s probably never going to happen, but a girl can dream. I have this fantasy that one day I’ll be wandering aimlessly in a thrift store and there will be a pair in my size but one of the heels is fully snapped off so it’s $50. I buy them on the spot and then pay idk, $100?? to get the heel replaced by a cobbler. Also ummm let me know if my memory is wrong but I’m pretty sure one of you own these and posted them in the chat once?????!!!

Loeffler Randall Gia Boot: Simple shape and an almond toe that isn’t too almond. The heel is a walkable height and I generally like their shoes. The Cognac color is on sale. These come up on resale every so often.

• Animal print—size 6, $188

• Tan suede—size 7, $350

• Cognac leather—size 7.5, $350

Alohas Sajan Boot: I’ve never personally tried Alohas but again, have some friends who vouch for the comfort and quality. These are a new style, and I like the chunkier biker shape, and the pull-on tabs are cute. None on secondhand market yet because they’re new collection.

Chime in below if you have a pair of boots you swear by.

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Coming soon for paid readers: why Faye Wong is the ultimate 90s style muse.

xo viv

Thanks for being here. You can find me on IG and TT. My wardrobe pieces and recs are saved here—unless it’s vintage, of course ;) I may earn a small commission on purchases made through affiliate links.