When a daredevil spirit collides with the exhilarating ‘90s, expect something high and mighty. Oh boy, chill out, no choker game happening this time around! There is a new jewelry obsession among fashion-forward characters – anklets or ankle bracelets, a.k.a. a clarion call to risk your neck and put your best foot forward.
In this article, we go deeper into the ankle bracelet meanings, their origins, and explain how to wear anklets right, as well as give you a great list of the best anklets to get right now!
What are anklets?
Also known as ankle bracelets or ankle chains, anklets are jewelry pieces worn around the ankle that are made of precious metals, like gold or silver, or of fun beads and charms. Utterly provocative and seductive, anklets or ankle bracelets are making a huge comeback at the moment.
Nostalgic feelings of the late ‘90s and early 2000s are all upon us. Remember those plastic second-skin anklets in poppy colors or the tinkling ankle charms hitting the streets once summer came around to beg for barefoot and crazy? I am pretty sure your millennial heart sinks the way mine does now.
Yes, we are done and dusted with rebellious chokers, got enough kick out of outlandish hoop earrings, and even rocked Prada-approved puka shell necklaces like shelling peas. No idea what other fragments would slip in from the good old ‘90s (let’s keep our fingers crossed that those kid stuff stick-on earrings or butterfly clips wouldn’t reappear any time in the future), but one thing is certain: your feet need to undergo some radical shakeup and there is no better way to achieve it than with back-in-style anklets.
The Rise of the Anklet Trend
To set the record straight, the shimmer glimmer ankle bracelets started to sneak to us some time around 2011, when the Row designer Ashley Olsen had a sudden crush on this foot candy and thereafter led the way as the anklet queen. Her dainty choices have never failed to work like a charm whether worn with heels, flats or comfy sneakers.
The obsession reached its apogee when the Row’s collaboration with the jewelry designer Ileana Makri gave birth to covetable ankle chains retailing at $4000 at Net-a-Porter.
Over the time other high-profile characters confessed their love for anklets, among them being French photographer and fashion blogger Garance Doré. She wrote on her blog: “So there you go. I confess. I. love. anklets. Well, I know what you’re about to say: I suppose with a pair of shiny red stilettos, it could send the wrong message. BUT I think that with summer here, with some flats, it’s sensual and incredibly beautiful”.
Sensual and incredibly beautiful with some flats? The archived photo of brown flat sandals with a golden dainty chain on her blog is nothing but an eloquent proof that sparkling tootsies can be a challenge, and a good one.
If taken conventionally, anklets look better in summer when worn with sandals, given the bohemian and free-spirited zeitgeist to them. Let’s take the annual Coachella festival that would not feel that much bohemian sans flirty anklets flaunted by celebrities.
BUT would anklets ever return without foundational changes to them? The anklet trend of the 21st century is no more summer-committed. The contemporary ankle chains have pushed their boundaries beyond season and style. Summer is over, but fret not! The solution is all around.
Jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher dreamt up a brilliant anklet idea in her spring/ summer 2015 design lineup, a seriously modern interpretation of this outdated jewelry, which she unexpectedly called “chocklet” as a celebration of the choker-anklet hybrid. The design is nothing but an obvious encouragement to rock Fisher’s signature brass anklets in cold seasons as well, with a pair of comfy sneakers maybe.
But the credit for the cheeky anklet-sneakers combination fairly goes to the famous trendsetter Hailey Baldwin, who recently arrived at a business meeting in New York City wearing an oversized “P” tee with sneakers and an ankle bracelet. She then officially announced ‘bringin anklets back!!’ on Twitter, thereby taking the anklet game to a completely new level.
Are you still skeptic about the official comeback of anklets? Let there be no doubt! This foot jewelry was bursting at the seams at Christian Dior’s SS 2016 haute couture runway styled with black mules. Who could imagine multilayered golden ankle bracelets to ever appear on any haute couture show? Yup, the fashion is unpredictable at times!
Ankle Wearing Etiquette
It’s not about common jewelry pieces like earrings or necklaces, which require not much thinking and can be easily mixed and matched on any occasion and in any season; ankle bracelet is just another tune. If worn the wrong way, odds are you are going to look tacky and dowdy. So if you are raring to ace it with ankle bracelets, follow some etiquette rules of wearing this foot bling.
Ask Yourself, “Do Anklets Belong to My Personal Style?”
Before going hell for leather to acquire trendy anklets, consider if your wardrobe is on the same wavelength. Anklets are rather bohemian, free-spirited accents to add to your outfit, so if you mostly stick to the black-tie scheme, your anklet game may seem a little bit incompatible unless you opt for a killer dainty diamond-laden ankle bracelet.
Where should you wear ankle bracelets?
When adopting the anklet bracelet trend, it’s significant to take into account where you are heading to. It will be out-and-out inappropriate to wear ankle bracelets to the workplace with all that jingle-jangle of charms unless you work in the fashion industry. Here are the best places to flaunt your ankle chains:
• At the beach (the barefoot anklet will be the best fit)
• At the poolside (a case in point – Coachella pool parties)
• At a summer cocktail party (your flirty cute dress calls for a matching bohemian anklet)
• While running everyday errands (the anklet + sneakers combination has recently become a thing and is worth your try)
Anklet on the right or left leg? The Million-Dollar Question
There seems to be much debate around this question – whether to wear your anklet on the right or left ankle. While most people don’t bother about the right or left thing associated with ankle bracelets, others attach much importance to that issue.
Some claim that wearing the ankle bracelet on the left ankle speaks about the woman’s marital status, much as it is with the wedding ring, but this perception is rather inherent to Eastern cultures.
There is an alternate assumption that the left anklet is a sign the woman is married but in an open relationship, while the right anklet speaks of its wearer’s homosexuality.
There is also another reference to ankle bracelets: the left side is connected with evil forces in general, and by wearing the anklet on the left side you just protect yourself from Devil.
Whether all these are old wives’ tales or the absolute truth for some groups of people, at the end of the day you are the one who is responsible for the meaning of your own anklet. A tip to confuse the masses – wear anklets on both ankles!
Styling Is Everything
Though the modern anklet designs are above and beyond hot seasons, they shine their best when skirts are shorter, and open-toed shoes are all around. Wear your ankle bracelets with some flirty dresses and skirts, denim shorts, capris, cropped pants and jeans, or flaring culottes or go the extra mile and try them with a pair of raw-hem high-rise vintage jeans.
The most important thing to consider when wearing anklets is what shoe style you are matching them with. Ankle-strap shoes are definitely not the best choice given that the ankle bracelet will clash with the strap and get lost.
Summer shoes like backless loafers, flip-flops, festive sandals or statement slides will best go with anklets. Sneakers are yet another obsession among anklet buffers. Match them with a chunky chain anklet and go all-around cool.
Want to take your anklet game to a much chicer level? A pair of classic pumps with a diamond or white sapphire anklet is some pumpkins!
Whatever you decide to wear your anklets with, make sure to always wear them on your bare legs, as anklets over or under tights not only look horrible, but also tend to spoil your tights!
Measure Your Ankle for The Perfect Fitting Anklet
After you have selected the anklet design for your personal style, it’s high time to acquire it. But before that, make sure you know your ankle size so as to pick up the perfect fitting ankle bracelet.
While attending your favorite jewelry boutique, things are much easier – you can try as many anklets as possible to find the perfect one. But online shopping is no picnic when it comes to choosing anklets, much as it is with any kind of footwear.
Here are some anklet sizing tips to come in handy when you are going to shop for an anklet chain online:
• First, decide for yourself whether you want to rock the anklet loosely and snugly below the ankle or tightly above the ankle. A quick tip: go below the ankle when wearing sandals, loafers or flip-flops, while above-the-ankle anklets will look better with ankle-strap footwear.
• In case you prefer the ankle bracelet falling below the ankle, wrap a measuring tape around your ankle, record your ankle sizing and add ½ – ¼ to it depending on how loose you are going to wear it. For example, if your ankle measures 10 inches, the ankle size should be 10.5 – 12.5.
• In case of below-the-ankle samples, measure above your ankle, and add ¼ – ¾ inches just to leave room for some adjustments.
• Women’s standard anklet sizes are: 21.5cm / 8.5 inches (petite); 23cm / 9 inches / (small), which is the most popular; 24.15cm / 9.5 inches / (medium), which is again one of the most popular; 25.5cm / 10 inches/ (large).
• Just in case you have gone wrong with the size, there is always a chance to make amends with necklace extenders.
Don’t Forget About Your Legs and Nails
With a bracelet on your ankle you are likely to draw attention to your legs especially as the anklet is eye-catching and showy. So make sure your leg skin is free of any scratches and blemishes. Moisturize your legs with body cream or lotion before wearing the anklet for a smooth and shiny look: the effect is doubled up with tanned skin.
Don’t forget about toenails as well. They should be in a spick-and-span state, clean and neat with perfectly done pedicure.
Consider Your Age
While teenagers or 20 somethings are free to rock any bohemian anklets with colorful beads, tassels or itty-bitty charms, mature women should raise the bar in the anklet zone giving their preference to silver, golden, or pearly anklets.
