Apparently, ‘Croissant Feet’ Is the Body Language Hack That'll Get Men to Approach You at Bars

You’re out downtown at a bar with your friends. The scene is bustling, the vodka sodas are flowing and somewhere in the room, there’s a guy who has been circling—maybe not literally, but metaphorically. You make eye contact. Once, maybe twice. And yet, he doesn’t make a move.
It’s easy to assume he’s just not interested, but behavioral expert Vanessa Van Edwards would argue otherwise. The real issue? Your body language—specifically, your feet.

According to Van Edwards, small physical cues dictate how approachable we seem. And one of the simplest yet most effective tweaks is what she calls “croissant feet”—a subtle positioning trick that signals openness without saying a word. The concept is simple: Instead of standing with your feet parallel (which creates a closed-off stance), angle your toes outward toward the largest part of the room—like the curved shape of a croissant. 

She explains, “It tells people you’re physically open to someone breaking into your space.”​ The psychology behind why this hack works is straightforward. When someone is debating whether to approach you, they’re reading nonverbal cues, often without realizing it. Feet pointed inward? You’re signaling that you’re locked into your group. Feet angled outward? That’s an open door, subtly inviting someone in.

But foot placement is just one part of the equation. According to Van Edwards, your torso position is equally critical: “I never want anything in front of your torso… I don’t want arms crossed. I don’t want a cup in front of you. I don’t want you clutching your computer or your iPad or your phone.”​ In fact, her research has found that people who were approached the most weren’t necessarily the most conventionally attractive—they were simply the ones whose body language signaled availability. Even the most striking person in the room could go unnoticed if their stance suggested disinterest.

This is why, she argues, physical openness trumps perceived attractiveness when it comes to approachability. “If you want someone to approach you, the key is making it obvious. Researcher Monica Moore found it takes an average of eight glances before someone works up the nerve to make a move.”

Croissant feet is a low-effort social hack, but context matters. This isn’t about forcing interactions—it’s about making sure you’re not unknowingly discouraging them. It works best in high-energy atmospheres like bars and parties, where people are already in a social mindset. If you’re standing in a tight circle, no one will try to break in, so keeping a bit of space open makes a difference. (The same principle applies at networking events, where open body language signals approachability.) Even in casual environments like coffee shops, the most effortlessly magnetic people tend to sit angled slightly outward, not hunched over their phones. Whether they realize it or not, they’re signaling approachability—and people pick up on it.

To that end, what this isn’t about is trying to force chemistry where there isn’t any. As Van Edwards puts it, “If they are attracted to you at all, they will come over. If they don’t, they’re probably not attracted to you. Try someone else.” It’s a blunt reality check, but also a freeing one—because at the end of the day, small adjustments can open doors, but the right people will always walk through them on their own.

So in short, the next time you’re out and wondering why no one is making a move, don’t overanalyze your outfit or whether you should have gone with the smokier eyeliner. Instead, take a second to check your stance—feet open, arms relaxed and maybe a well-placed glance or two. Because if science (and Vanessa Van Edwards) is right, the difference between being overlooked and being approached might just be a matter of croissant feet. And if all else fails? At least you’ll leave the night knowing one thing for sure: You looked effortlessly approachable while sipping on that $19 cocktail.