https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:36:39 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1660013 Fri, 13 May 2016 01:04:30 +0000 Suz 1660013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember that advice for petites. I also think they were assuming dark footwear and light leg (not always the case) and the shape of the ankle strap and whole shoe was quite different then -- rounded toes on most pumps (not an elongating point) and the ankle strap was often right on the ankle bone.&nbsp;</p> <p>I loved ankle straps because they stayed on me even then but also regretted that they cut me off a bit... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659993 Fri, 13 May 2016 00:54:27 +0000 Aziraphale 1659993@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, it's true that the crops that look better with low-vamp heels -- the wider ones -- are shorter than the crops I wear with ankle booties, and they are shorter than I'd roll my boyfriend jeans. They are roughly mid-calf, a length I think looks pretty cool -- but not the most elongating on my short self.</p> <p>And yes, I agree that matching the shoe to the pants, with only a small gap, works really well in most cases. For me, this usually means dark shoes and dark pants.</p> <p>El Cee, good to know it's not just me! And yes, we're all individual. I have small feet, and I'm a small person, so I never worry about my feet looking like boats -- but I do try to avoid stumpy leg syndrome! :-)</p> <p>Suz, you make some very good points. I'm starting to think that this whole proportions thing might be best handled on a case-by-case basis. I can normally tell what works on my own body, and I only get confused if it seems to contradict what others have found works for <i>them</i>. It seems like you have a good handle on what works for your body!</p> <p>RobinF, don't get me wrong, ankle straps do work with cropped pants. They actually work better with these than they do with knee-length skirts, because there's only a tiny gap between where the pants end and the strap starts. I can remember way back when, fashion advice for petites said NO ANKLE STRAPS, but I think they were assuming you'd be wearing them with skirts.<br />&nbsp;<br />Una, I hear you. But I've been wearing my slim boyfriends rolled for so long now I think I've got used to the look. I've always compensated by wearing a small heel, but to my eye it works. The only new thing for me is that now I'm just hacking off the jeans with scissors, to a similar length that I'd roll boyfriends. I'm loving the raw edge. :-)</p> <p>smittie, I wasn't talking low-vamp flat (i.e. ballet flats) because I never wear those. I meant pumps/court shoes. Those are leg elongating with most outfits, although I agree with Angie that they look better with shorter crops.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659878 Thu, 12 May 2016 23:01:43 +0000 Chris987 1659878@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yet another encyclopedic discussion of pant lengths and shoes...I'm loving all of it and I do think I'm learning a few things....so much to consider! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659688 Thu, 12 May 2016 19:37:30 +0000 Suz 1659688@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, here's what I think...</p> <p>On my short calf and relatively small foot....I do make it a priority to extend the leg line, but am also willing to forego this if the effect is Just Flattering Enough.&nbsp;</p> <p>What I have found is that straight, skinny, or tapered crops (i.e. boyfriend jeans) all work extremely well with:&nbsp;</p> <p>1. High vamp footwear toned to the trousers, or that bookends my fair hair; or that is a "near nude" for me. (E.g. taupe cage sandals, leopard print slip on sneakers, pewter or gold gladiators, taupe sandal booties.)&nbsp;</p> <p>And I can combine these. E.G. If I am wearing white jeans, I wear light footwear that both extends the leg line and bookends hair. With dark denim crops I might wear a light shoe or a darker one, depending.&nbsp;</p> <p>2. Booties close in tone to the pants that close the gap.</p> <p>3. Booties with a small sliver of skin in a similar tone to the pants.</p> <p>4. Ankle straps where the strap is either near my skin tone, OR is toned similar to the pants.&nbsp;</p> <p>I can wear skinny crops or even slim BFs with flats. All others look better with a heel for sure.&nbsp;</p> <p>Kick crops work best with a heel and to my eye are better with my booties or cage sandals. I wouldn't like them with low vamp pumps because it would look a bit awkward/ unbalanced on my shape.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659670 Thu, 12 May 2016 19:26:54 +0000 Angie 1659670@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My dear Una, you do realize that you wear cropped pants all year long by rolling the hems of your BF jeans!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659608 Thu, 12 May 2016 18:45:47 +0000 Anonymous 1659608@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agreeing with suz that low-vamp options are the " slip-off" variety.<br /> Agreeing with el cee that high vamp can look like boats on certain people (myself included). </p> <p>I think also there just aren't that many options for low-vamped flats. They all have a ballerina style to them.</p> <p>I just got a pair of white sneakers (Eccos--they're awesome btw). They are about .5" lower vamped than my converse, and they make my foot look a lot smaller. It's amazing that this small difference makes such a huge visual difference. It makes me not want to wear the cons.</p> <p>Angie, I think I might be Queen Pedantic About Shoe Vamp </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659594 Thu, 12 May 2016 18:35:19 +0000 catgirl 1659594@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I find this all confusing as well.&nbsp; If you're wearing ankle straps to visually lengthen the pants, doesn't that mean you're trying to fix a PPL issue?&nbsp; So why not just wear longer pants?&nbsp; Maybe this is the source of my struggle with cropped lengths is how much of the styling involves "fixing" the look somehow. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659549 Thu, 12 May 2016 17:14:56 +0000 El Cee 1659549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In thinking about this some more, I realized that this difference in how we see things could also be about an individual's own personal figure flattery priorities. For example -- I am a very tall, long legged woman with large feet (size 12). I am personally not as concerned with a look being stumpifying &nbsp;as I am with avoiding looking like I am wearing "boats" on my feet. High vamp shoes have a way of making my feet look gigantic. As I do not need any enhancement in that department, I have to be careful with the styling of these types of shoes. The combo of crops plus high vamp flats (oxfords, certain loafers) is a look that is out of my own comfort zone with respect to my own body. I adore the look on others, but on me all I see is "flood pants worn with clown shoes". Wearing more delicate, lower vamp shoes helps mitigate this a bit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659526 Thu, 12 May 2016 16:42:12 +0000 RobinF 1659526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I struggle with this too. I am short and have always thought ankle straps wouldn't work for me, but I am going to give it a try. I just need to re-read the suggestions about lengths that work best.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659490 Thu, 12 May 2016 15:51:13 +0000 Angie 1659490@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It also depends entirely on the contrast of the high vamped shoes - high or low against your crops and skin tone. Ankle strap footwear is by far the best to my eye. Match made in heaven.&nbsp; </p> <p>Personally, I have seen lots of low vamps look unattractive with crops that are too long. (I live up to my name: Queen Pedantic About Pant Lengths).&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659485 Thu, 12 May 2016 15:46:48 +0000 Suz 1659485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the type of ankle strap and colour of the strap (or higher vamp) are key. If the strap is low contrast to one's leg it won't interrupt the line.</p> <p>I honestly think some of this depends on leg shape as well as leg length. </p> <p>And of course other fit issues. I have always valued the leg-lengthening effects of low vamp shoes, but I can't keep them on! Ankle strap pumps (with low contrast to my skin straps) have been a revelation because I can actually wear them!&nbsp;</p> <p>So far, I have liked my kick flares best with high shaft, snug to the ankle booties where there was no gap. Which seems a contradiction in a way, but it worked to my eye better than any of the alternatives. Other crops &nbsp;(straight and skinny) I like with lots of footwear (as you say).&nbsp;<br />&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659431 Thu, 12 May 2016 14:19:56 +0000 El Cee 1659431@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a very interesting observation, Aziraphale. I also prefer the look of lower vamp shoes with my wider dark crops, When I try to follow Angie's suggestion to wear higher vamp shoes with these looks, I end up taking them off and changing out for heels or flats with a lower vamp. ElizabethP makes a really good point when she says that she finds the lower vamp shoes to be less stumpifying as, to her eye, they " visually extend the leg to your toes, rather than cutting them off at the instep." My eyes are obviously seeing the same thing. Would love to see if there are others who feel this way as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659425 Thu, 12 May 2016 14:15:39 +0000 Angie 1659425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If the crops are short enough, they look fine with low vamped heels.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659424 Thu, 12 May 2016 14:13:35 +0000 Aziraphale 1659424@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elizabeth -- glad I'm not the only person who's wondering about this. :-)</p> <p>Catseye, the funny thing is, I was always told that ankle strap footwear was leg-shortening (they were always on the "do not wear" list for petites!). However, this was back when we wore them with dresses and skirts. Now they are often worn with pants, and i can see how if the strap is close to the hem of the pant, it visually lengthens the pants.</p> <p>"On trend just not new" -- that makes a lot of sense. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659422 Thu, 12 May 2016 14:08:25 +0000 catseye 1659422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good question.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't see a big difference between a ankle strap pump versus a simple pump. Angie seems to think the ankle strap makes a big difference. I guess she thinks the straps lengthens the pants and therefore make them more traditionally flattering.&nbsp;</p> <p>Even though there is few talk of low vamp heels, a lot of the crop flares are shown with them. So they are on trend just not new.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659420 Thu, 12 May 2016 14:05:56 +0000 Elizabeth P 1659420@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with you... I find that low vamp are often less "stumpifying" than high vamp, as they visually extend the leg to your toes, rather than cutting them off at the instep.&nbsp; I frequently find myself taking off high vamped shoes for low vamped when wearing cropped pants. So, will follow this with interest! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-about-leg-lengthening-and-low-vamp-shoes#post-1659416 Thu, 12 May 2016 14:01:02 +0000 Aziraphale 1659416@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As much as I fiddle around with the right length for cropped pants, I really like them. There are a lot of things I think I understand. For example, I can see that with flat oxfords, leaving only a tiny sliver of skin showing at the ankle bone works really well (i.e. the hems are pretty much right on the ankle bone), whereas with shorter crops, "filling in" that space with an ankle strap or the shaft of a bootie works equally well. I can also see that the colour of the pants relative to the shoes, or relative to my bare legs, can matter.</p> <p>I have a quick question, though. I made myself a few pairs of cropped "flares" (well, more like cropped straight legs). The narrower ones are very, very light blue, so low contrast with my white legs, and I find they work with lots of my shoes -- even with flats. But the wider, darker ones really do look best with low-vamp heels. And honestly, low-vamp heels often do a better job of leg-lengthening than anything else with most pairs of pants (skirts and dresses, too). Why do they never get mentioned these days? Are they just way out of fashion? </p>