The four summer shoes to bin if you want to avoid stumpy legs

Jun 03, 2023

SUNS out, sandals out - the two go hand in hand.

And while it might not be toe-exposing weather yet we are still hopeful it'll come. It's great to liberate your feet from the constraints of boots, trainers and heavy loafers and feel comfortable and cool in a sandal.

But also, when the warmer weather hits, us Brits love to get our kit off to stay cool and get a tan.

And finding a sandal that compliments the shape of your legs is no mean feet. Pun intended.

Whilst you may reach for your most comfortable and favourite, go-to pair they could be making your legs look shorter.

Here, Fabulous' fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend reveals what sandals you should avoid this summer to give you the best looking pins.

Ankle straps are all well and good for supporting your ankles and foot but they wider and shorten your leg - no matter their shape.

The line around the ankle chops your leg off before it goes down into the foot.

And despite the ankle being the narrowest part of your leg, by covering it up and having a strap across it you make it appear wider.

We all remember those pictures of Kim Kardashian when she was pregnant with her first child, North West, back in 2013.

She was battling being pregnant and sweltering Los Angeles temperatures.

Her poor feet were crying out to be released from her multi strap shoes that cut into her foot and leg because of their design.

Her feet just looked painful - and no one wants that.

Any shoe, be it a flat or heeled sandal or even a court, with laces up the ankle and leg will make your leg look wider.

The proportion of lower leg to thigh is lessened due to the fabric taking up most of the bottom half of your leg.

This makes your legs appear smaller and dumpier.

A flat sole, for example a flat platform sandal gives the illusion of a shorter looking leg.

Flat shoes mean your foot has no arch in it which doesn’t give your thighs or calves any definition, or support, in the muscle.

So you end up with one long, undefined shaped leg.