The Secret of the Ankle: show it or cover it according to your height?

To show or not to show the ankle? Although it may seem like a minor detail, this decision can have a big impact on how our height and body proportion is perceived. Here is a guide to help you decide whether to show your ankle when wearing pants, depending on your height and the color of the pants.

Define your height: petite, medium or tall?

Before deciding whether to show your ankle, let's clarify the height categories. If you're under 5'5" (165 cm), you're petite; between 5'5" (165 cm) and 5'9" (175 cm), you're considered average height; and if you're over 5'9" (175 cm), you fall into the tall person category. Each category has its own recommendations, so be sure to identify which one is yours.

Pants in colors similar to your skin tone

Pants that resemble our skin tone help to visually lengthen the legs, creating a continuity that especially benefits those who are looking to look a little taller or slimmer.

• If you are petite (less than 1.65 m or 5'5"): Pants that are similar in color to your skin can be an excellent choice, as they create a continuous line that visually lengthens your legs. Whether you choose to show your ankle or not, these types of pants will be flattering and give the illusion of more height.

• If you are of medium height (between 1.65 m 5'5" and over): Showing the ankle is ideal for you, as it adds a modern touch without excessively lengthening your legs. Showing the ankle breaks the visual continuity and gives a harmonious look to the leg, perfect to achieve a balance in your height without creating an image of excessively long legs.

If you are just starting out with your style you can find my style guide for beginners in my store, or my style tests here.

Pants in colors different from your skin tone

When wearing pants in colors that contrast with your skin tone, the choice of whether or not to show your ankle will influence how the proportions of your legs are perceived. Here's what to do depending on your height:

• If you are petite (less than 1.65 m or 5'5"): In this case, it is recommended to avoid showing the ankle when wearing pants of contrasting colors. Covering the ankle with darker or vibrant pants creates a continuous visual line that elongates your figure, helping you project an image of greater height.

• If you are of average height (between 1.65 m 5'5" and 1.75 m 5'9): Showing the ankle with contrasting colored pants is ideal to highlight your figure in a balanced way. This option is especially flattering for medium heights, as showing the ankle allows for a slimming effect without excessively lengthening the leg, giving you a modern and well-proportioned look.
• If you are tall (more than 1,75 m): If you belong to the tall category, showing the ankle with contrasting colored pants creates a horizontal line that helps balance your proportions. This prevents your legs from appearing too long, projecting a harmonious and flattering image.

Remember that if you are of medium or tall height, you can wear pants that do not show your ankle in case you want to have a more dramatic look. This will make your leg look even longer. This will exaggerate the leg more dramatically, so you won't dress according to your body but in a more artistic way.

On the contrary, for petite bodies it is not recommended to dress showing the ankle even in an artistic look.

The key to harmonious and flattering styling

The decision of whether or not to show the ankle when wearing pants can make a big difference in how we perceive our height and proportions.

If you are petite, Pants in colors similar to your skin or that cover the ankle will help slim your figure. People of average height can benefit from showing the ankle, achieving a balanced and modern style without excessively lengthening the legs. On the other hand, those who are tall can balance their proportions by showing the ankle with contrasting colors. Explore these recommendations and choose the style that best reflects your personality and preferences!