I definitely wasn’t ready for anklets to be the breakout trend of summer 2025—especially not when Kylie Jenner quietly kicked it off back in January at Chanel’s Paris Couture Week. At the time, it felt way too early for beachy accessories, and honestly, I thought it was just another Y2K moment that would fade quickly (like henleys or flared jeans that never fully took off again).
But I was wrong. Since Jenner’s silver ankle bracelet debut, I’ve been seeing anklets absolutely everywhere. Not just on red carpets or curated paparazzi shots—real people are wearing them, too. Searches for “ankle bracelet” are spiking on Google Trends, and they’re being styled with everything from toe-ring sandals to retro sneakers.
There’s no single It-shoe dominating 2025 so far. Some celebs are rocking Nike V2Ks, others are still faithful to their $690 flip-flops. But zoom in on any of their looks and there it is: a delicate shell charm, a diamond sparkle, or a glimmer of gold hugging their ankle.
Hailey Bieber nailed the low-key version of the trend in late April. On a dinner run to Sushi Park, she wore a classic Mango trench over Magda Butrym capri leggings and Femme heeled flip-flops. But it was the barely-there gold anklet—so minimal it still hasn’t been —that really elevated the outfit.
Then Kim Kardashian turned the trend all the way up. For her court appearance in May, she styled a tennis bracelet as an anklet, paired with slingback heels and a vintage Gaultier suit. It was a bold choice, considering she was testifying against the very robbers who stole millions of dollars’ worth of her jewelry back in 2016. Not exactly relatable, but still: her anklet made a statement, and I can already picture one styled for a white-tie wedding.pearl
Gigi Hadid brought the trend back to earth at a casual party in late May, wearing rainbow-threaded pearl anklets with a vibrant Marc Jacobs dress and rubber Havaianas. It was raining, but she still looked like a beach day personified. And honestly, if flip-flops can look that elevated, count me in.
Even Sydney Sweeney kept it chill with the trend. Before heading out for her Echo Valley press tour in full glam, she filmed an ad in gray sneakers, a baseball cap, and a single, bead-strung cord anklet. Proof that it doesn’t take a ballgown to make it work.
Anklets have always had that nostalgic, almost carefree charm. They remind me of summer vacations, friendship bracelets, and gift shop treasures. But this time around, they’re sleeker, more luxe—and totally wearable. Fashion editor Lauren Tappan summed it up best when she told me she couldn’t resist a Y2K-inspired Jenny Bird chain. “Irresistible,” she said. I agree.
And now, I’m off to order one. Or three. Because if 2025 has taught me anything so far, it’s that anklets are officially back—and they go with literally every shoe in your closet.
