Frye Melissa Button Lug Equestrian-Inspired Tall Boots for Women

I purchased these boots after spending many weeks researching boots that were moderately priced, classically designed, and durable enough to last for many years. Hands down I kept returning to the Frye brand. I owned a pair back in the 70's that were resoled many times because they were so comfortable and form fitted to my feet. I only gave them up some 25 years later because my feet flattened and they became too small. Since then, I have purchased many different boots but none were as durable or comfortable as my Frye's.I ordered the antiqued black leather simply because they were about $100 less than the regular black. I simply applied some thick black leather polish and while there are still some crinkles in the shaft leather, they look every bit as good as the other. I ordered them in my regular shoe size 9 and while they are a bit roomy in the foot, a heavier pair of socks fills them in adequately. The leather is beautiful, thick, top quality and the stitching is done in a heavy thread. The sole is also made of leather so can be a bit slippery until roughed up. The lining and footbed are very soft and comfortable and the brass buttoned pull ons make it easy to pull them on. The shaft is adequate for an average woman's calf. The styling is traditional and while stylish will never go out of style. I wear them to walk the dog, shop, and evenings out. They are the perfect compliment to every outfit! There are many riding style boots on the market but I'm sure these will keep on "walking" long after other boots hit the landfill. I did waterproof them as we live in the northeast where it rains a great deal in the fall and spring and winters are wet and snowy. I had them on last night after several inches of snow and sleet fell and my feet stayed warm and dry. A must have for every quality conscious woman!

Purchased size 9.I first saw these boots in a high end department store and loved them from across the shoe department.The leather is so smooth and beautiful and look even better than the online pictures.My right calf is slightly larger and is a little tighter but should fit perfectly after some wear.Some boots are very hard to get on, but this boot slides on and has great bootstraps.Beware- at first the bottoms are slick like most boots.

I am a boot addict with very skinny calves and feet so finding the right boot size can be frustrating for me. I haven't had the best luck with FRYE boots in the past in regards to calf fit, but was delightfully surprised when these beauties showed up.My standard shoe size is 10, but boots sizing can range between 9-11 for me. I've found that most Frye boots fit me in size 9.5, as these did. The toe box is fairly snug but the leather quality is superb so they should stretch and mold to me feet after the first few wears perfectly. I have longs legs with a 34-35 inseam and these boots hit about 4 inches below my knee when measured down to the side loops. The largest part of my calves measures 14.5 inches, and these fit perfectly in that area. Any smaller, though, and I would have had to return them. These boots definitely would not work for anyone with calves larger than 15 inches.I love the worn/antiqued look of these slate brown boots. They look expensive and the color is rich and worn without looking old. The leather is soft and comfortable and smells amazing. The heel is hard so expect to be heard when you walk on hard surfaces and floors.The best thing about purchasing the Frye brand is the longevity of their products. I expect these boots to look great and last far longer than I actually intend to wear them. Now, if I can only find the extra room in my closet...

I was looking for a classic boot - not too "Western" and appropriate for wearing to an office that's a bit more "business" than casual. This is my first pair of Frye boots, in black suede, and they are right on target, style-wise! These will be very versatile with my staple layered look of dressier leggings/tapers with tunics, long tops and a jacket or cardigan.As for fit: I'm usually an 8, which allows a little room for a full-length cushioned insole (which goes in all my shoes). Since boots can mean sizing up, I ordered an 8.5. It provided a nice amount of wiggle room in the toes but was otherwise too loose and sloppy with too much heel slippage (even with the added insole). I could tell it would likely affect my gait and lead to problems.I ordered the 8(B) next and tried them with the same insole. The fit seemed perfect, except for being tight (particularly on the right foot) across the widest part of my foot, from the ball joint to the pinky toe. Enough length, but little wiggle room for the toes, leaving my right pinky toe feeling squished. That said, I know that suede can stretch. And I also noted that other reviewers said they stretched over time (and some mentioned having them stretched by a cobbler). So, I decided to wear them indoors for the day. They do seem to be stretching a bit. I tried the 8.5 again and, though the extra toe room was nice, they just feel much too loose and wider in the shaft than I'd like. So, I'll bring them to our (excellent) local shoe repair to get some professional advice on stretching. But, at this point, I think the 8 will work.Other points to note, which have been raised by other reviewers:- Yup, the leather bottoms are very slippery! To a scary degree on carpet and more than I'd like on my kitchen tile. Since my office will be carpet and slick floors, I've got two options: scuff them up or have the cobbler add a non-slip sole. I'll consult with the shoe repair shop on the latter, as covering the sole would also help to preserve the leather and stitching and extend it's like generally.- Shaft may not work for wider calves. I measured mine (for the first time, actually) and they're just under 13". The shaft on the 8 feels like the perfect fit; it lightly "hugs" but I can still slide my thumbs down each side with ample wiggle room. So, those who said the B width may not work for calves over 15" are probably spot-on in suggesting the wider width.- I had no trouble at all sliding my foot into the 8 or the 8.5 and didn't need to tug on the straps; I was able to pull them on by grabbing the top of the boot on either side. But, please do note that these have no zipper and that others had issues with the pull-on style.- Also, as others noted, it appears these are not pristine and untried. I got these for nearly HALF the stated retail price, so I expected these to be factory seconds OR floor/show models OR retail returns OR some combination of those factors. One pair arrived in the original box with half the original packing missing and barely scuffed soles. The other pair arrived with no original packing, loose in an Amazon shipping box, with more scuffing on the soles. Honestly, the condition didn't bother me on either pair - the condition was still better than I was expecting based on some of the reviews, and I was quite happy to enjoy the savings!I hope this review is helpful. I'll update it once I've made a final decision and have worn them a bit more.