Men's Fashion Week Shifts Focus from Foot to Ankle

Men's fashion week in Milan and Paris has introduced a new trend: the ankle. Designers are drawing attention to this often-overlooked body part with accessories like ribbon-wrapped espadrilles, leather ballet flats, and anklets. Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana showed espadrilles with ribbon ties at the ankle. Dries Van Noten's Julian Klausner presented leather ballet flats. Auralee featured beaded banana anklets. Fashion expert Marcus Allen predicted a rise in 'little treats' like keychains or brooches. The trend moves away from the foot, which has prurient associations, toward the more wholesome ankle. The shift is seen as a playful evolution of men's accessories, with anklets adding a jingle-jangle element.