I wanted a comfortable boot to wear with long skirts or to tuck pants into. These are perfect for that purpose. Because they are pretty wide at the top, pants tuck in great. They might not look quite as nice with a shorter skirt because of the looseness. I have a 10" ankle and 15 1/2" calf and a very high instep. I ordered a 9 1/2 wide, and they fit very well, with room for a warm sock. As other reviewers said, they do run slightly long, but every shoe I own is a 9 1/2 wide, so that's what I ordered, and I like the fit. If your foot is kind of between sizes, the smaller size might be a better fit. The chocolate brown looks great with darker colored garments, but I think to tuck in a blue jean, the nut brown would look better. I may treat myself and buy that color, too. All in all, great boot, good "price performer" and they give the kind of safari skirt/boot look I was trying for. Thank you, LL Bean, for another quality item.
I got the black pair for my birthday, and fell in love with them, and ended up purchasing the brown pair! I agree 100% with dropping down half a size...I normally wear an 8, and found the 7.5 to be fine. That is even a tad big, but I had tried the 7 on and it was definitely too small in the toes. The boot is a bit wide around the ankle, but I've never had a pair of boots fit my ankle perfectly. As a runner, my calves are muscular, but I still found these boots comfortable. They are worth the price--the quality guarantee behind them makes me comfortable with the cost!
I think these boots look pretty sharp; I bought them in nut brown. The leather is very structured, but it should break in over time. With the help of thick socks, I made it through a first wearing without any blisters----a good sign!
I typically wear a 7.5 women's shoe, but I had to return the 7.5 for a 7. Having worn them a few times, I actually think a 6.5 might have been best. So I'd recommend opting for at least a half size smaller than you'd typically wear.
I was surprised that these boots (in the medium size) had as much room in the calf and ankle as they do. I'm 5'5" and about 125 pounds, so I'm not unusually small. Still, the boots are too roomy to look really good with a short skirt. That's why I'm sticking to wearing them over my jeans, primarily.
I think these boots are stylish without being flashy. If you're looking for something overtly trendy, these aren't the boots for you. If you're looking for boots to wear for many seasons, these are a good value.
I've had these boots for almost a year now, and love them as much today as I did when I first got them. I'm a tall girl, with somewhat beefy calves - they fit perfectly! They look great dressed up or down - I wear them with tights and a skirt or over skinny jeans, and I get tons of compliments all the time. They're comfortable AND stylish - I don't mind spending money on shoes that I know will last. These have held up really well (in all kinds of weather) and their classic style means they'll be a part of my wardrobe for years to come. I'm thinking of ordering them in black leather for this fall.
