So, the other day, I was rummaging through my old jewelry box – you know, one of those catch-all places for bits and bobs – and I found this really cute anklet I’d completely forgotten about. And it got me thinking, as I often do when these little things pop up, “Wait a minute, which ankle is this supposed to go on anyway?” It’s funny, isn’t it? Such a small piece of jewelry, but suddenly I was stumped.
I started paying more attention when I was out and about. You see one person with an anklet on their left, another on their right. I even casually asked a couple of friends. One said, “Oh, definitely the left, that’s what I’ve always done!” and another chimed in with, “Nah, I prefer the right, just feels better.” Well, that didn’t clear things up much, did it?
My Little Investigation Phase
Naturally, me being me, I couldn’t just leave it at that. I had to dig a little, not in a super serious way, but more out of curiosity. I vaguely remembered hearing some old wives’ tales or fashion “rules” from way back when. Stuff like:
- One ankle meant something about your relationship status.
- The other ankle meant something else entirely, sometimes a bit more… symbolic, if you catch my drift.
Honestly, most of that seemed pretty outdated, and frankly, a bit silly in this day and age. Who even keeps track of such things anymore? I certainly don’t base my sock choices on ancient symbolism, so why an anklet?
So, I decided to conduct my own little experiment. I put the anklet on my left ankle for a day. Walked around, did my usual stuff. It felt… fine. Then, the next day, I switched it to my right ankle. And you know what? It also felt fine! No big difference in comfort for me personally.
What I did notice, though, was more about practicality. For instance, I tend to cross my right leg over my left more often when I’m sitting. So, an anklet on the right sometimes got a bit more attention, or occasionally snagged on things if it was a dangly one. On the other hand, the clasp on one of my anklets was easier for me to do up when it was on my left ankle, just because of how I naturally reach. Little things like that.
What I Settled On (For Myself)
After all this pondering and trying things out, I came to a rather simple conclusion. It really just boils down to personal preference. Shocker, I know! All those “rules” people sometimes whisper about? I reckon they’re mostly just traditions that have faded or never really mattered to most folks anyway.
For me, it became less about “which ankle is correct?” and more about “which ankle feels right for this anklet, with this outfit, on this day?” Sometimes I wear one on my left. Sometimes on my right. Sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly bold or it’s a beachy vibe, I might even wear one on each if they’re delicate enough! Though that’s rare, mostly because I’d feel a bit lopsided.
I’ve got a friend who always wears hers on her left ankle because she has a tiny tattoo there that the anklet complements perfectly. Another friend just picks whichever ankle doesn’t currently have a mosquito bite she’s trying to avoid scratching! See? Practicality and personal choice win again.
So, if you’ve been wondering the same thing, my advice? Don’t overthink it. Try it on both. See which one you like the look of, which one feels more comfortable, or which one is just easier for you to manage. There’s no anklet police, thankfully. Just wear it in a way that makes you happy. That’s what I do now, and my ankles (and my forgotten anklets) are much happier for it.
