Best ankle boots for short legs

Poor Little It Girl™ partners with several affiliate programs, meaning that I can earn a commission from purchases/clicks by those who visit this site at no additional cost to you!

Sweater: Amazon

Headband: Target

Jeans: LOFT

Bag: Madewell

Boots: similar here

I have to say, I love being short. Even when people make comments about my height or rest their arms on my head. And yes, even when they pick me up. (Please stop doing any of these things to a short person. It’s rude, and offensive and we will hate you forever.) Despite all that, I fully embrace my 4’11 frame. I don’t feel obligated to constantly wear high heels, and never restrict myself on what fashion says I “should” wear. Safe to say I do what I want, just the way it should be.

Best ankle boots for short legs

I talk a lot about how to style certain pieces when you’re petite here on Poor Little It Girl. I did a blog post on Hunter Boots sizing, creating a spring capsule wardrobe, and even shared my new favorite place to shop for jeans – all with a focus on my short-in-stature ladies. But even if you’re not petite, I hope you can still find inspiration based on my looks and advice. Fashion is fun and I love that we can take inspiration from people all around us, not just ones that have the same body type.​​​​​​​

As the title of today’s blog post says, today it’s all about ankle boots. I’m breaking down everything from the best styles to how to wear them and everything in between when you’re petite. I love breaking them out from fall through the spring and there are so many ways to style this wardrobe staple. So let’s dive in, shall we?

Know Your Most Flattering Ankle Boot Styles

There are a million different styles of ankle boots out there. So before going into some tips on how to style them, let’s first go into all the options you have out there because there is a lot. Most of the time, you’ll hear ankle boots called booties. They will hit right below, at, or right above the ankle. Here are a few styles of ankle boots that we all know and love:

Best ankle boots for short legs


CHELSEA BOOT: The Chelsea Boot is your more traditional style boot that you see the most out there. I even wear them in this popular post on how to style an oversized sweater for fall. They’re an easy classic that I love paired with jeans. SHOP THEM HERE:


BLOCK HEEL: Block heel ankle boots are the best because even though they give you height, the thicker heel makes wearing them for long periods of time so much easier on your feet. Stability is king! Ha! SHOP THEM HERE:


Best ankle boots for short legs


WESTERN INSPIRED: When people think of western boots, they usually go straight to cowboy boots. But that’s not the case! Western-inspired have little hints of western-ish detailing (be it a tassel or perforation/seaming or the cut at the top) that make them so fun for spring. These are so cute with sundresses or even shorts! SHOP THEM HERE:


TRADITIONAL BOOTIE: I love a traditional/classic ankle bootie. These are the ones that sit right below, just at or right above the ankle. They’re so versatile and can be worn with just about any outfit. The heel is usually minimal as well. SHOP THEM HERE:


Ankle Boots & Dresses

I love love LOVE the look of ankle boots with dresses. Almost as much as I do sneakers and dresses. It’s such a fun and fresh look and feels unexpected, don’t you think? For me, I prefer the look of heeled ankle boots with dresses, as opposed to flat ones. But really, it’s whatever you like. If it’s chilly out, I’m obsessed with black booties and black tights together, which makes those shorter legs appear longer. Here’s a little inspiration on ways to style ankle boots and dresses no matter the season.

Ankle Boots & Jeans

Probably the most worn pairing is ankle boots and jeans. We wear them together in fall, winter, and spring and it’s always a classic go-to. Wearing them with dark denim or skinny jeans can help elongate your legs (a major petite tip!). If you’re not into jeans, you can totally also pair these ankle boots with faux leather leggings. That look is so fun too! Here’s a little inspiration on ways to style ankle boots and jeans together no matter the season.

The Don’ts For Petites Wearing Ankle Boots

The biggest advice I can give you for the don’ts when it comes to wearing ankle boots is to really take into consideration your proportions. For example, don’t wear chunky ankle boots with a shorter hemline. It can make your petite legs appear shorter than they are. Here’s a terrible example of an old Poor Little It Girl look where I didn’t realize that well, this looked awful.

Also, if you want to do an ankle boot with jeans, either keep them to skinny jeans or cropped denim. I won’t say to not wear them with wide-leg jeans, but I haven’t found a way to make that trend look good on my short frame. Again, if you love the look – go for it!

Best ankle boots for short legs

Brands That Make The Best Ankle Boots For Petites

There are literally a million brands that make awesome ankle boots. Some of my favorite brands are Marc Fisher and Madewell. But if you want to explore even more options for ankle boots for petites​​​​​​​, I’d recommend starting at Nordstrom. I mean, we all LOVE Nordstrom, but their shoe selection is my favorite part of their website. There are a ton of brands that make options at everyone’s price point.



  • Poor Little It Girl™ partners with affiliate programs, meaning that I can earn a commission from purchases/clicks by those who visit this site at no additional cost to you!

  • Sweater: Amazon

    Headband: Target

    Jeans: LOFT

    Bag: Madewell

    Boots: similar here

    Are ankle boots good for short legs?

    4. Ankle Boots. Ankle boots always work best for petite women as you don't need to worry about shaft heights or calf circumferences. Rather, the trick is to wear ankle boots in the same colour as your bottom half clothing which helps to form a continuous line all the way down.

    What length of boots is best for short legs?

    Petite frames don't need to shy away from tall boots! The key to this style? Look for a pair that hits 1 to 2 inches below your kneecap. If you're looking for some added height, go for a stacked heel or even a wedge to add lift.

    What type of boots make legs look longer?

    Thigh-high boots will most likely make your legs look longer than boots that finish at the ankle or below the knee. Get a pair of above-the-knee boots with heels and point toes and your legs will definitely be the centre of the show!

    What boots to wear for short fat legs?

    Ankle booties with a notched shaft or one that dips in the front are the BEST Booties for curvy women or women with thick legs or those with short legs. The most important principle for dressing slim is to visually create long lines! So when choosing short booties, the same rule applies.