Simply Be Extra Curvy Plus Boots - Do You Get What You Pay For?

I have always had wide calves. I inherited my dad's thick rugby player legs and I have always had difficulty getting a decent fit in any kind of trousers or jeans. It doesn't help that I have a 19" difference between my waist and hips (currently at 32" and 51" respectively) but my thighs are also pretty chunky and don't like to be contained by fabrics, especially those of the non-stretch kind. My calves haven't usually caused an issue with leg wear garments, but they most certainly have with boots.

Every autumn I eagerly go to shoe shops and make online orders in a bid to find the perfect knee high boots...but every time I am sorely let down by how the boots fit me in the calf. They simply don't! I have tried all the usual suspects, including Evans, Yours Clothing, and even Duo Boots, but none have given me a perfect fit. They have either not been wide enough in the calf, or the width of the foot area has been insufficient. I know, I know...I have a very awkward body! But I strive to find a decent fit in footwear as well as in clothing, so my search for perfect boots has been a long-lasting one.

I was therefore super excited when Simply Be brought out a range of extra wide calf boots: the Extra Curvy Plus range.

Fashion World Legroom 'Wear Two Ways' Boots E Fit

Last month, I was approached by Fashion World to take part in a fabulous bloggers' challenge.  We were asked to pair their fantastic new Legroom 'Wear Two Ways' Boots with some jeans and to show how the boots work with different outfits.

The fab Legroom Wear Two Ways Boots are absolutely ingenious.  They look like regular knee high boots - and pretty fab ones at that as they feature an elasticated back panel to allow for wider calves (like mine!) - but with a quick unzip and unbuckle at the ankle they are converted to on-trend ankle boots!

Images courtesy of Fashion World

Barratts Wide Fit Wellington Boots

With the recent bad weather here in England, my thoughts have turned to appropriate waterproof footwear, and specifically Wellington boots.  I haven't owned a pair of Wellies since I was a child - I haven't really had the need to as I don't tend to go on lengthy walks in the wet.  I will either stay inside, travel by car or just put up with getting wet if it rains when I'm already out and about!!  But, the weather has been so bad lately, with snow, sleet, hail and rain, that I have been thinking about getting some Wellies to keep my feet dry.


A few weeks ago, I was offered the chance to try out some Wellies from Barratts.  I jumped at the chance and ordered a pair of Union Jack-embellished boots.  The boots I ordered from Barratts are no longer available but they are similar in shape to these:

Image courtesy of Barratts

Rocket Dog 'Lift Off' Patent Lace Up Wedge Shoe Boots from Barratts

You might have noticed that I've posted several footwear reviews lately, but they have all been for flat or low heel shoes.  I tend to wear this sort of thing most of the time; partly because my job requires me to wear shoes like this, but also because I often find higher heeled shoes uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and very difficult to walk in.

The exception to this rule are wedges.  I love wedges - they are the perfect way to get height without the discomfort.  Just before Christmas, I was given the opportunity to review some shoes for high street and online retailer Barratts so I gave them a few suggestions for shoes that I liked and they very kindly sent me these beauties:

Image courtesy of Barratts

Simply Be Viva La Diva Pewter Shoes EEE Fit

Shoes.  I love them.  I hate them.  They give me pleasure.  They give me pain.  My troublesome feet make it very difficult for me to find shoes that are comfortable but stylish so I'm always trying different options in the hope that I'll find something that works for me.

I recently placed a reasonably large footwear order with Simply Be.  Amongst the items I ordered were the Viva La Diva Pewter Shoes EEE Fit:

Image courtesy of Simply Be

Simply Be Mary Jane Block Heel Court Shoes EEE Fit

Several weeks ago, I was feeling particularly fed up with having hardly any shoes that fitted me properly and were comfortable so I went on a footwear binge and ordered a TON of shoes from Simply Be.

I have long relied on Simply Be for wide-fitting shoes - did you know they stock footwear in a range of widths all the way up to EEEEE?  I usually find that the EEE works best for me, but this varies depending on the style of the shoe/sandal/boot and sometimes I size up or down in shoe size and/or width.  It's great to have the luxury of options like this, which is not something easily found on the UK high street, so I am eternally thankful for brands like Simply Be who really understand the varying sizing needs for footwear.

When my huge order arrived, I had great fun trying on all the shoes.  I ended up keeping several pairs, with one of them being the Simply Be Mary Jane Block Heel Court Shoes EEE Fit:

Image courtesy of Simply Be

Earth Spirit Mary Jane Shoes from Barratts

I always get very excited when I find new shoes.  That's because my feet make it very difficult to get a good fit, as I discussed in this post.

On a recent trip to Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, I popped into the Barratts store.  Once upon a time, Barratts stores could be found on every high street, but in recent years the company has had to adapt to meet the needs of online shoppers, whilst experiencing a reduced presence in some towns.  However, there are still a number of stores around, and you can find your nearest one by using the Barratts store locator on their website.

Whilst instore, I had a good look around the women's footwear section.  The sale was on so I had plenty of bargain options to choose from.  I was served by a very helpful young lady called Anika and ended up purchasing these lovely Mary Janes by Earth Spirit:

Image courtesy of Barratts