Dear Glam Gals,
I am 5’4″ and I weigh 125 pounds. I wear about a size 6. I am pretty satisfied with my body except that I have very, very unattractive legs. They have a few scars from childhood, I am slightly knock-kneed, they are not shapely at all and they are pale. I’ve accepted this flawed part of my body, tried self tanners and done the best I can to focus on the good parts. However, I do like to wear dresses and skirts when I am brave enough. I struggle trying to wear dresses that do not accentuate my legs and finding hose that are not hot in the summer.
Hanes silk reflections ultra sheer thigh highs
Do you have any suggestions on dress styles, hose, and even shoe combinations with the dresses and hose? I’m sick of wearing pants all the time. Thank you, Cleo
Hi Cleo,
You are probably much harder on yourself than anyone else would ever be, but we understand you feel self-conscious.
In summer, when you want to cover pale or scarred legs, you are right – stockings can be hot. However, it usually around the stomach and hips where stockings make you feel sweaty, so why not try some thigh highs? This way you can still feel cool under your dress. Just make sure you match them as closely as possible to your skin color, so they look most natural and not like you have a fake suntan!
Other things you can do to take the focus off your legs:
- Make sure your skirt covers your kneecaps if your knees are unattractive
- If you have knock knees wear a skirt that is soft and floaty.
- Wear ultra sheer nude hose combined with nude (flesh toned) shoes to create a long lean line to your leg. In winter try opaque black tights and black shoes.
A flowy pleated skirt can hide knock knees
- Avoid skirts with a lot of pattern and detail, especially skirts with detail at the hemline. Put the color, pattern, any detail or embellishment near your face to draw the eye up.
- Wear medium to high heels to elongate your legs. A lower vamp also elongates your leg, as do pointy vs round or square toed shoes.
- Avoid ankle straps which cut you off at the ankle and make you look shorter.
- Mid-calf skirts would work to cover your legs but we find most of them look dowdy after 40. Why not try a maxi dress?
Best of luck trying these things and remember- no one is looking at your legs if you put all the emphasis up top. Make sure your hair and make-up is always fresh and touched up and SMILE. Everyone will be looking at your pretty face and not your legs.
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
Hi Im a Filipina, 5 feet in height. i have a nice butt but i dont have a good legs. especially on my popliteal area. I want to be fashionable eventhough not wearing a dress above the knee. Help please. i don’t like showing your legs at all.
im 31 years old and yes same problem , i have a lots scars, and they are colors brown im trying to get surgery but its kinda scarry but guess its fine hopely soon i try to save some money just for this. im so embarrass every time i wear dress ,i cant even wear dress on a day light because im so a shame about my legs. people look especially on a summer but since i read all this comment got me idea what to do. thanks guys
What about dressing for thick legs? Lots of women have legs that are pretty much the same size all the way down to the ankle.
Hi Wanda, We say you should either stick to pants or try a maxi dress. We were recently out in Los Angeles and they were all the rave! Maxi dresses are pretty, keep you cool and look lovely with a flat sandal. They are oh, so comfy and stylish!
I, too, use and LOVE the Sally Hansen leg spray in the light to medium shade for my pale legs (I’m allergic to the ingredient in self-tanners).
I have terrible legs. I am 5’4″ and thin. Except for my legs, which are heavy and not shapely. On top of that, I now have many small veins and purple bruises that never went away. Horrid. I used to be a runner and my legs got better, but I had to stop a few years ago due to health issues. Dermablend works for me, but, even if you use the setting powder, it still comes off on your clothes, like capris. And now my knees wrinkle also. Thanks all to my mother! It’s hard to find things now that cover my knees. There’s really not a whole lot I can do anymore. I wear longer skirts and dresses because I love wearing them, and just hope for the best. Leg make up works with good coverage, but it takes awhile to do and you have to be careful with what you are wearing. My husband thinks I am sexy and beautiful, so I guess that’s all that matters. Right? :-)
Hi Alene,
We think you might be too hard on yourself, but we do know that it can be tough to feel good about your legs when they have lots of veins. Sounds like you are doing your best to hide them. That your husband is your biggest fan and so supportive of you says so much! You are one lucky lady!
Thanks everyone for your comments. Yesterday I tried your advice. I used some tanning spray and wore a soft and floaty skirt that hit just below by knee with some cute flats – without hose. The skirt was a pretty pink, beige and white with touches of black. Wow! I got compliment after compliment from men and women. Folks were focusing on how pretty the skirt was and how it fit me and not on my flaws. I felt so confident. Thank you!
I have many wonderful traits from my mother, so I’m patient about the fact that I also have her legs :-). The only time where dresses are more comfortable than pants is when it’s very hot. For me, that always means no hose at all. Really, that’d be totally self-defeating otehrwise. As to camouflage, self-tanner if you must, although that would not go with my own face :-), but don’t fret. Slightly longer dresses than would be exactly fashionable, and focus on your comfort, that’s all. Personally, I distract them with very loud prints, nobody gets the details lost in that.
I add Kudos to Sally Hanson Airbrush legs. I use the light to medium and it is very natural looking. I used it for a wedding early Autumn where I wore a silk dress and it does not rub off!
I have featured an Interview on my site with Tina from The Enchanted Home…
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I LOVE Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs spray! I have a cupboard full, can’t live wthout it in the summer. This product does exactly what it promises – gives flawless, airbrushed legs! I have several different shades. The finish is smooth is not at ALL orange,very attractive. The key to getting a natural effect is BLENDING with a MOISTURIZER. I find it is a bit dry looking without adding my regular mosturizer, Nivea Co Q 10 Skin Firming Lotion.I spray a small amount onto a portion of my leg- spray LIGHTLY to avoid sprinkling the floor or wall- and quickly rub some lotion onto it. You have to blend blend blend! It dries very fast so you have to work quickly and continuously until it’s almost dry. I don’t have spider veins, but my skin is very pale and this product makes my legs look absolutely FLAWLESS. Amazing stuff, I’m hooked!
Self tanners don’t give me enough coverage so I use leg makeup under sheer nylons. I currently use Dermablend Leg and Body Cover. First I make sure my legs are shaved and exfoliated, then I apply the Dermablend with a makeup sponge. After I’ve completed my hair and face makeup I dust my legs with a Dermablend powder which sets the makeup. If I am wearing pants I might not have to do this process but it’s required for a dress. Unfortunately I have the dummy whammy of spider veins and skin which bruises easily. In the beginning I had my spider veins erased with laser but the veins just came back and more of them. I still make an effort to look my best so the leg makeup is part of it.
Great Tip Leslie, We’ll test out this one too. Thanks for sharing. That’s what makes our community strong.
Thanks for the helpful article. Copied it for further reference. I agree with Felicia G as those thigh highs really don’t stay up well. I just still with the old panty hose. I remember garter belts so anything is an improvement including panty hose.
I too have used the Sally Hansen spray leg cover. It works very well. I am very fair and nylons with open toe shoes drive me crazy so I have found mixing lotion(I use curel) and a body bronzer( i use Lorac) evens out the tone and gives some shimmer. My legs looked slimmer!
Hi Kristen, That’s great, We’re going to test it out and write a post. Thanks for your input!
Instead of stockings give leg makeup a try. The Sally Hansen spray brand in the light to medium tone gives beautiful coverage, does not smudge off on clothing or furniture and lasts all day. I have no connection or agreement with this company. Just enjoy using . There is also a medium to tan tone but it seems too dark and artificial.
Good idea, self-tanners don’t always provide enough coverage, however we have never tried leg make-up. Has anyone else out there? Does it work?
Regarding the thigh hi suggestion: I’ve yet to find any that don’t fall down. I’ve had some embarrassing situations trying to wear them.