Crossed ankles
A narrow standing figure with the ankles crossed and the hands out of sight in pockets.
Crossing the ankles collapses the base to a single line. One foot stands flat and square while the other rests on the outside of that ankle, with the toe pointing outward. That narrow support forces the hips to tilt noticeably, and because the hands are tucked away, the emerging silhouette is essentially one long leg line rising into a soft S through the torso.
The pose reads as poised idleness and it is a classic for showing off trousers and long coats, since the narrow leg line is unobstructed. It is also a good study in balance that does not look like balancing: nothing here appears athletic, yet most of the weight is on one foot.
When drawing, decide which foot is flat and which is resting, then keep the resting foot turned visibly outward, or the crossing will not read at all. The standing knee stays straight while the resting lower leg angles across, and the torso counter-leans very slightly to the standing side. A frequent error is drawing both feet flat with a crossed shin, which makes the leg look broken at the ankle.
Drawing notes
- Keep one foot flat and turn the resting foot outward so the cross reads.
- Straighten the standing knee and let only the resting lower leg angle across.
- Lean the torso slightly toward the standing side to hold the narrow base.
Pose prompt
The description used to generate this study. Copy it into your own workflow, or hand it to the studio with your photo.
Adult woman standing with ankles crossed and hands in pockets, full body.
Working notes
- A narrow standing figure with the ankles crossed and the hands out of sight in pockets.
- The narrow base is the point: keep both feet close together.
Put this pose on your own reference
Take this study to the studio and generate a new image in the same pose, or browse the rest of the fashion studies first.
