What To Wear In The Summer If You Can’t Go Bare Legs?

When I wrote about How to Wear Dresses when you have unattractive legs, a reader responded by asking, “What if you don’t like showing your legs at all?

What if you have big calves, chunky ankles, thunder thighs, veiny legs, splotchy legs, scars, or skinny legs? How do you cover up your legs in summer?”  Read on…

culotte set | sandals |bag

1. Wear Palazzo Pants or Flowy Culottes

Loose, flowy Palazzo pants that skim the floor are a great solution.  They look chic and keep your legs cool in summer because they have a generous cut, flair from the waist, and are wide throughout the portion.

I love the new cropped ones that you might refer to as culottes. They often come now as part of a matched set.  My silky orange pants hit at the same point as a tea-length skirt and look very modern. If you don’t mind showing a bit of ankle, these are my first choice for covering your legs in summer!

Style Tip: Don’t let that cute crop top scare you. It’s cut so there is no space between the top and the pants, and it flares over your belly, giving the illusion of a smaller waist and flatter stomach.

white linen pants | striped shirt | tee | sandals | bag

2. Try Wide, Straight Leg Pants

If Palazzo pants feel too voluminous or dramatic for you, try a pair of regular, relaxed, Wide Leg Pants, which are straight cut from the thigh to the ankle. These come in various fabrics, with linen being one of the most popular since it breathes so well in summer.

striped linen pants | rust tee | snake print sandals | faux leather bag

Linen wide-leg pants are light, airy, and very comfy. It never hurts to have a white drawstring pair. I also have some cute taupe-striped ones I like to wear on vacation.

orange maxi | bag | sandals

3. Slip into a Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses reappear every summer because they are a causal, easy way to cover your legs and feel soft and comfy.  I like to play up the beachy vibe of summer maxis and wear mine with flat, metallic, or woven sandals.  Casual maxi never looks quite right with a towering stiletto.

maxi | bag |sandals | earrings

One of the newer styles I have been wearing lately are crochet maxis. They have a half slip underneath creating a peek a boo effect. They look light and airy and a hint of leg can be seen underneath but not really. It’s a great way to camouflage legs without totally covering up.

Style Tip: A cute white or colored denim jacket layered over a summer maxi is a great way to cover arms or create more of a complete outfit.

4. Experiment with Summer Leggings

If you love leggings, you can wear them in summer too, but you’ll probably want to switch to the cotton type, which is lighter and more breathable.  Wear them under flowy tunics, big shirts, and soft summer t-shirt dresses as an alternative to tights.

You can go with 7/8 ankle length, which is a tad shorter than regular ankle length and more summery, or capris style—experiment and see which works best for you.

Style Tip- If you do go with capris leggings, make sure to exfoliate your legs. A slight shimmer of tan helps to reflect away from the leg’s look. I use Jeurgens, which gives my skin a light golden sunkissed look compared to a tan.

5. Wear Capris or Cropped Ankle Pants

Ankle pants that land just above the ankle bone are also a popular way to cover up in summer. Jean-style capris are classic, but the more athletic jogger style is popular too. If it’s just your thighs that you prefer to cover up, you always opt for capris. Capris are slightly more casual and tricker, especially if you are bottom-heavy.

Style Tip: Avoid capris that hit the widest part of your calf. Slightly above or below the calf is more flattering.

striped top | white jeans | white sandals |earrings | denim jacket

6. Pull on Light, White Jeans

Crisp, white jeans are always a classy way to cover your legs in summer because they look fresh and fabulous.  White is a beautiful backdrop for all colors and will make any color of top, pop!  White jeans are also more lightweight than regular jeans, and white doesn’t absorb heat like blue or black, so you don’t get hot.

Style: Some regular blue jeans come in lightweight denim for summer, so check around for those too.

Caftan | sandals | bag

7. Throw on a Kaftan

Here’s one you may not have thought of. If you are entertaining, lounging or going to a pool or patio party a breezy Kaftan can be the perfect thing to look sophisticated and glamorous.

8. Divert Attention Away from Your Legs

This is the oldest trick in the book, but it works.  Move the focus upwards, away from your legs, by wearing a fabulous hat, bright lipstick, dramatic jewelry, or an interesting neckline. Your legs won’t even be noticed!

P.S. Don’t like showing your arms either? Here is a great solution – pretty maxi dresses with long sleeves.