When the sun’s out, so are your legs! You’ve got your tan game on, legs waxed and you’re ready to show off your stems. But how can you show them off to their full potential? The calf muscles in particular can be difficult to slim down through conventional exercises. Often the harder you work at the gym, the more muscle you’ll build there. Lucky for you, you don’t need to be a gym bunny to have insta worthy legs. It’s much easier than you’d think to trick the eye into having longer looking stems. From the clothes you wear to the color of your skin and what’s underneath, your options are endless!
Building The Foundations
Your body is a temple and a temple always starts with the foundations. Tanned legs always look slimmer and more toned. If you’re not blessed with tanned or dark skin, fake the healthy way with some developing tan. There are many great options on the market these days from gradual building tans to three hour deep tans. Whichever option you choose it’s always best to fake it rather than bake in the sun. Speaking of foundations, your fake tan will last much longer if you exfoliate first. Use a DIY mixture of salt, coffee and virgin coconut oil. The salt will remove any dead skin cells, the oil will soften your skin and coffee grounds have been known to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Winning all round!
If it’s cool enough, you could opt for the magic of shapewear tights. Available in every shade imaginable, these tights sculpt and smooth the legs for a streamlined look. Firming up any lumps or bumps, they are perfect for wearing under skirts and dresses. Unless you’re working opaque black tights, always choose a shade close to your natural skin tone. Getting the perfect size is also important, so try before you buy. You don’t want to end up with wrinkles at the knees or ankles at the end of a long day.
Picking The Best Hem Lines
For long skirts, dresses and culottes you want them to finish below the thickest part of your calf. This will emphasize the thinnest part of your calves. If you’re looking to go shorter, your mini skirts should finish around the thinnest part of your thigh. Often this is closer to the knee. When it comes to pants, long length, wide leg pants with a tailored fit will look flawless. Disguising chunky legs they will also make you look taller! For other pant styles including jeans and chinos, just above the ankle is a very flattering and slimming style. The easiest way to achieve this is to buy the correct length in store. This can be difficult however if you’re on the tall or petite side. In these cases, simple roll the bottoms into a cuff or take them to the tailors for alterations. The extra money will be well spent!
Clever Shoes
Choosing the right shoes plays a large part in elongating your legs. Most women know that the taller the heel, the more slender your leg tends to look. However, this is not always appropriate. Great for date night or girl’s night out, sky scrapers aren’t the most comfortable or practical for every day wear. You’ll be surprised at how much even a small heel can help lengthen your leg. Particularly if you’re used to wearing super flat styles, just add a small block heel to see the difference. Shoes that show off more foot than less will also help, as will pointed toes versus round. One style to avoid is the ankle strap. The ankle strap cuts your leg, making them look thicker and having the reverse effect. Finally, for extra lengthening, choose shoes that match your skin tone. These will create a seamless line from your leg to toes, giving the appearance of longer legs.
