Boots for petite women are as much of a fashion accessory as belts, hats or scarves. Many petite women choose heeled boots, but others opt for flat styles. There are many variations in fabric, design, and heel height to meet a petite woman's needs for style, flair, and functionality.
Where to Buy
Though boot shopping is a much more successful endeavor during fall and winter, it's not impossible to find chic, stylish boots at other times of the year, and you could even score tremendous cost savings on them. Keep your options open, but remember to search specifically for styles to suit your petite frame.
- Cinderella of Boston: This company specializes in petite shoes for women who wear sizes two to five and a half. Their selection of boots ranges from low-heeled booties in neutral colors to sexy tall boots with high heels.
- Nordstrom: The company's online Boot Shop is a fantastic source for all types of boots, ranging from trendy booties to functional cold weather styles.
- Shoebuy: Shoebuy makes it simple to shop for petite shoes. No matter what size you are, there's a strong chance you'll find boots here that fit.
- Alonai: Alonai offers a nice selection of petite women's boots that range from booties to ankle boots to platforms in a wide variety of hard-to-find shades to coordinate with most of your ensembles.
- Pretty Small Shoes: Petite women who crave runway-inspired boots for their wardrobes will come across stylish, quality boots that are modern and on trend. Pretty Small Shoes is a boot heaven for any fashionista on the prowl for the perfect addition to her shoe closet.
- Ariat: This collection of equestrian-inspired boots are perfect for the petite who has classic style. Ariat's luxury lineup of boots includes leather ankle and slim calf boot options.
- Poppy Barley: Boot challenges are endless for petite women, but Poppy Barley offers customized solutions. The accessory brand develops personalized designs for a range of calf and foot widths, as well as boot heights.
Boot Shopping Tips
The key to boot shopping is to know your size and find a boot that fits you well and feels comfortable all day. Boots are not like dress shoes that are worn for a few short hours, and many women wear them from the office to after-hours events without a break in between, so the right fit is as essential as the right style.
Petite women may find it helpful to adhere to a few additional points when shopping for a pair of boots:
- Extra tall boots, such as those that hit above the knee, can make the legs appear even shorter and ruin a woman's overall proportion, so opt for a slouchy style for best appearance.
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When shopping for slim calf boots, consider a pair that are designed with materials that stretch a little to complement any adjusting you may need. However, make certain that the boots hit right at the bottom of your knee to avoid the appearance of boots that look too big for your legs.
- Ankle boots can show off trim legs and calves and elongate a woman's silhouette if you choose styles with slender heels or match dark colored hosiery or tights to dark shades or black boots.
Measuring for Fit
Solving styling problems is as easy as measuring your leg to determine the boot shaft size that will best flatter you. A shaft any taller than 14 inches is generally considered too tall for a petite frame, but it's always wise to determine this for yourself before dropping any amount of money on a pair of boots. Simply run the measurement from the inside of your leg to the area right below your knee.
Boot Styling Tips for Petites
Most petite women look best in a boot that has some sort of heel rather than a flat heel, as the extra inches the heel provides elongates the silhouette. Here are some styling suggestions:
Slouchy Style
If you must have a flat heel, select a suede, slouchy pair and coordinate them with skinny jeans and a military-inspired jacket. The Concord Ruched boot by Bussola is a relaxed style that is available at Nordstrom. This boot runs in small and is available in black and dark gray and costs about $100.
Ankle Boots
Ankle boots are best paired with pencil skirts, fitted leg slacks, leggings or jeggings. The Via Spiga Aurora ankle boots are available at Dillards.com for about $250, in black, and come in sizes as small as 4.
Riding Boots
Riding boots and boots with tall shafts go best with slacks with fuller legs and longer skirts and dresses. The Two24 Palencia by Ariat.com is a knee length-style that laces up and is available in black and brown for about $590.
Peep-Toe and Pointy Styles
Boots with peep toes or pointed toes make the foot look longer and slimmer. A style such as the BCBGeneration Corrina boot pump would work well with a dress or pants that hit right above the ankle. These boots cost about $70, come in black or brown, and are available at DSW.com.
Boots With Attitude
Too many laces, straps, and buckles can add girth to the calves and make the leg look short and stumpy. If you want to wear a boot with a little attitude that can add personality to a simple pair of pants or skinny jeans, a tee and moto-inspired jacket, these DASH knee boots from Pretty Small Shoes for about $350 are a great find and add a glam touch to your look.
Get the Right Style and Fit
While it can seem overwhelming at times to find boots to fit your smaller feet, you do not have to settle for childish-looking styles with no fashion flair. Today's manufacturers understand the challenges that petite woman face in finding items to fit, and their products lines are tailored to your unique needs. By shopping in the right places and choosing the right style and fit, you can find boots that look fabulous for your smaller frame.
