At 5ft 3¼ (160.7 cm) with a petite frame and a US shoe size 5.5, Madelaine Petsch offers an interesting case study in red-carpet styling. Rather than disguising her height, she often embraces it by choosing shoes and silhouettes that visually elongate her legs.
Platform sandals, high stiletto heels, short hemlines, monochromatic color palettes, and strategically placed ankle straps appear throughout her wardrobe, helping create the impression of additional height while keeping her proportions balanced.
👠 Explore Madelaine Petsch’s Best Shoe & Fashion Moments:
- 📏 Standing at 5ft 3¼ (160.7 cm), Madelaine Petsch built her red-carpet identity around towering platforms, strappy sandals, and dramatic heels that complemented Cheryl Blossom’s bold fashion persona.
- 👡 At the 2017 Teen Choice Awards, she paired metallic Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” sandals with an embroidered Genny ensemble, creating one of her earliest standout footwear moments.
- ✨ Her 2018 Teen Choice Awards appearance showcased black satin Giuseppe Zanotti “Betty” platform sandals styled with a romantic Giambattista Valli look that leaned fully into high-fashion glamour.
- 🖤 At the 2017 American Music Awards, she balanced a sheer-paneled Fabiana Milazzo dress with black velvet Loriblu sandals, demonstrating a darker and more sophisticated side of her style.
- 🌹 A look back at Madelaine’s evolution as a red-carpet fashion favorite, from playful metallic heels to statement platforms and designer evening sandals.
Those appearances reveal a consistent approach to dressing that has remained largely unchanged throughout her career.
From barely-there sandals and metallic heels to towering platforms, Petsch repeatedly gravitates toward footwear that lengthens the leg line while complementing her petite frame.
Barely-There Sandals Lengthen the Leg at TAO Los Angeles
One of the earliest examples appeared shortly after Riverdale premiered, when Petsch attended the grand opening of TAO, Beauty & Essex, Avenue, and Luchini in Los Angeles on March 16, 2017.
Shortly after Riverdale premiered, Madelaine Petsch showcased her minimalist style in a silver slip dress paired with delicate ankle-strap sandals and rose-gold accessories at the TAO Los Angeles grand opening on March 16, 2017
For the occasion, she embraced a pared-back aesthetic in a metallic silver slip dress styled with delicate rose-gold accessories.
The warm-toned jewelry complemented her signature copper-red hair and fair complexion, adding subtle contrast without overwhelming the sleek silhouette.
The sleek satin mini dress highlighted Madelaine Petsch’s long legs, while barely-there metallic sandals kept the focus on her streamlined silhouette
Layered rose-gold chokers framed her neckline, while slim band rings—including a rose-gold Cartier ring—provided a polished finishing touch that reflected the understated glamour of her early red-carpet style.
Madelaine Petsch completed the look with glossy waves, soft neutral makeup, and layered rose-gold chokers that complemented her copper-red hair
A pair of slim rose-gold chokers added a modern touch to the actress’s understated evening ensemble
Madelaine Petsch accessorized her look with delicate rose-gold stackable rings, including a geometric openwork design that echoed the modern elegance of her shimmering silver ensemble
Madelaine Petsch toted a glittering metallic clutch
Gold Bow Sandals Highlight Madelaine Petsch’s Petite Frame
By late 2018, the same styling principles were still evident. At the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse premiere, gold ankle-strap sandals and a shorter cocktail silhouette helped create a longer, more balanced silhouette.
Madelaine Petsch styled a dramatic floral Paule Ka cocktail dress with metallic gold ankle-strap sandals while attending the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse premiere alongside then-boyfriend Travis Mills in Westwood, California, on December 1, 2018
A glossy white pedicure added a crisp finishing touch to Madelaine Petsch’s metallic gold ankle-strap sandals, whose oversized bow details echoed the playful femininity of her Paule Ka premiere look
Crystal Platforms Add Height at the GQ Men of the Year Party
Just days later, Petsch leaned even further into height-enhancing footwear at the GQ Men of the Year Party in Beverly Hills on December 6, 2018.
She paired a strapless black Miu Miu mini dress with crystal-embellished platform sandals that added both elevation and visual impact.
Madelaine Petsch paired a strapless Miu Miu mini dress featuring a crystal bow with sparkling ankle-strap platform sandals and a metallic quilted clutch at the GQ Men of the Year Party in Beverly Hills on December 6, 2018 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Sheri Determan / FayesVision / Nicky Nelson)
The GQ Men of the Year Party look demonstrates several of the styling techniques that Petsch repeatedly returns to.
The strapless mini dress exposed more of the leg line, while the substantial platform sole added height beyond what a traditional sandal could provide.
Crystal-encrusted ankle straps transformed Madelaine Petsch’s black satin platform sandals into the standout accessory of her monochrome red-carpet look
The black-on-black combination also created an uninterrupted visual line from dress to shoe, a common trick used by petite celebrities to appear taller in photographs.
Metallic Christian Louboutin Sandals Create a Longer Silhouette
The following year, Petsch returned to one of her most reliable red-carpet formulas: a streamlined dress paired with leg-lengthening metallic sandals.
At the Women in Film Oscar Party, mirrored Christian Louboutin heels complemented a feather-trimmed Georges Hobeika Haute Couture gown, maintaining the elongated silhouette seen in many of her previous appearances.
Madelaine Petsch brought Old Hollywood glamour to the Women in Film Oscar Party in a feather-trimmed Georges Hobeika Haute Couture dress paired with sleek metallic Christian Louboutin sandals on February 22, 2019
A close-up of Madelaine Petsch’s mirrored Christian Louboutin sandals highlights the minimalist ankle-strap design and reflective metallic finish that balanced the drama of her feathered couture dress
Taken together, these appearances highlight how consistently Petsch uses footwear as part of her overall styling strategy. Rather than relying solely on towering heels, she frequently pairs metallic finishes, platform soles, shorter hemlines, and streamlined silhouettes to maximize visual length.
Standing 5ft 3¼ (160.7 cm), she joins actresses such as Katheryn Winnick, Linda Cardellini, and Gillian Jacobs, who similarly use heels, monochromatic dressing, and carefully chosen proportions to create a taller appearance on the red carpet.
Whether she’s stepping out in delicate metallic sandals, crystal-embellished platforms, or sleek Christian Louboutin heels, Petsch’s footwear choices remain remarkably consistent. The result is a recognizable style signature built around balance, proportion, and the subtle art of making every inch count.