An
anklet, also called
ankle chain,
ankle bracelet or
ankle string, is an
ornament worn around the
ankle. Barefoot anklets and
toe rings historically have been worn for centuries by girls and women in
India, where it is commonly known as
payal. They have also been worn by
Egyptian women since
predynastic times. In the
United States both casual and more formal anklets became fashionable from the 1930s to the late twentieth century. While in western popular culture both younger men and women may wear casual
leather anklets, they are popular among
barefoot women. Formal anklets (of
silver,
gold, or beads) are used by some women as fashion jewellery. Anklets are an important piece of jewellery in Indian
marriages worn along with
saris.