Fitness and Exercise for Women - How to Accent Your Legs

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How to Best Accent Your Legs

Every Day With Rachael Ray
A magazine for smart entertaining, delicious food, and spur of the moment travel.

So you have been working out and toning up and now you want to show a little leg. Since summer is upon us, the timing is perfect .We always want to try and be in shape by the time the summer rolls around because we can no longer cover up in multiple layers of clothing to hide our figure flaws.

The worst feeling as we become older is realizing that those cute little shorts you used to wear so proudly are no longer that flattering. It can be due to cellulite, varicose veins, no tone... In spite of these issues that we are resolving, what can we do in the meantime?

Wear Leggings
Leggings seem to make an appearance on the fashion scene every 10 years or so. I remember in the early 90’s when they were popular, in the 80’s of course (with a little help from Madonna), and now they are popular again. I like them because of their versatility. They can be worn with long shirts and dresses for a variety of different looks.

They can also be worn and look attractive on most people. Most leggings worn are black which also have a slimming effect on the leg. Leggings come in various lengths – shorter ones or bicycle shorts, below the knee and near or below the ankle. Leggings can be flattering to the leg if the right outfit is worn.

A major fashion faux pas is wearing leggings with a top that does not cover the butt. Regardless of a woman’s size, this just does not look right. I may be wrong (and it is my opinion of course) but I have yet to see anyone pull this off. We need to cover our butts when we wear leggings!

Stockings
When wearing stockings, the basic colors to choose from are various shades of nude, black, barely black and navy. Dark colors will always be more slimming in whatever you are wearing. Barely black (and this color can vary depending on the brand) is a great neutral color and flattering to the leg.

Skirt Lengths
What skirt length is currently “in,” above the knee, below the knee, at the knee…to the floor? I have always felt that what looks good on you, makes you feel confident and good about yourself is what you should go with. There are some tips that may help you with how long or how short your skirt should be to best accent your legs.

Wearing a skirt an inch or two above the knees will always bring attention and enhance what you feel is either good or bad about your legs. If you think that your thighs are too big or too skinny, wearing a skirt a couple of inches above the knee will only enhance it. However, a skirt that is mid-thigh (or shorter – not too short) can actually be quite flattering depending on the shape of your legs.

Wear Heels
Wearing heels always flatter the leg because it makes the calf muscles shapelier. We tend to walk differently when we have on a pair of heels which can make us feel sexier and more confident. Heels are flattering to most leg shapes and sizes. I think that when we as women are toned and feel great about our legs, we cannot wait to put on the heels because we know how much more it enhances a well shaped leg. Why not reward yourself with that great 4-inch pair of pumps as you adhere to your workout routine!

Watch for Varicose and Spider Veins
Unfortunately as we age, many changes occur and the appearance of spider and varicose veins can be one of those changes. Varicose veins are larger and can be flesh colored, dark purple or blue. Spider veins are similar but smaller.

There are a many factors that can contribute to veins including aging, heredity, obesity, standing or sitting for extended periods of time, hormonal issues and wearing tight clothing.

There are many less invasive outpatient treatments that can remove varicose and spider veins. Insurance may cover some of these procedures. I will cover the topic of veins in upcoming months.