So how do you know if she’s giving you the go-ahead? Spot these five signals from her lower half.
Her stance: Feet facing you
What it tells you: We point our feet and legs toward what we like and move away from what we don’t, Loisel says, which means you can tell almost everything from the direction her feet are pointing. So pay attention to whether her toes are toward you, the guy in the next group, or the exit.
Her stance: Legs apart with weight on one foot
What it tells you: This is perhaps the most promising indicator of her overall personality: “This stance is adopted by high achievers worldwide and indicates confidence and openness to new encounters,” Loisel explains. Plus, it’s more likely to be adopted by extroverts. Studies have also shown that because this stance highlights a woman’s hips and waist, it makes her more attractive—a fact she probably knows and is using on purpose: “Women have learned to consciously adopt poses that attract attention and accentuate their assets, which is why you’ll see models adopting this pose of confidence and attractiveness in magazines,” Loisel adds.
Related: The Psychological Trick to Tell If Someone Finds You Attractive
Her stance: Legs crossed toward you
What it tells you: “The leg twine is the most common leg position women use to indicate their interest in a guy,” Loisel says. When a woman crosses one knee over the other, it shows off her muscle tone and allows her to get closer to you. “Slow, purposeful crossing and uncrossing of the legs is a game of peek-a-boo and classic courtship technique used to draw attention to her legs and signal interest.”
Her stance: Pigeon-toed
What it tells you: If her knees and feet are turned in, it’s often a sign she’s introverted, insecure, or closed off both physically and emotionally, Loisel says. But some people are just naturally pigeon-toed, so be sure to look for other clues before jumping to conclusions: If she has limited eye contact and closed body language, like arms crossed and hunched shoulders, it’s pretty safe to assume her turned-in toes are a red flag.
What it tells you: Your stance not only shows who you’re keen on, but also whether you want to invite other people into the conversation. “Standing with both feet directly facing the person they are speaking to suggests that they are fully focused on the conversation,” says Loisel. On the other hand, standing with one foot facing the person and the other pointing outward indicates that while she likes what you’re saying, she’s also looking for others to join in. And while this sounds like she doesn’t want alone time with you, it is also a great indicator that she is open, approachable, and excited to interact with you among her or your friends, Loisel says.
