How to Get Long Legs

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That's what my Mom told me when things didn't go quite the way I wanted. She was all of 5 feet tall, but you'd never know she wasn't an Amazon. Her attitude about life made her seem taller than she was. She was so petite she had to wear sample shoes because women's shoes didn't come in a size small enough for her tiny foot. She always had on a pair of heels and I never really noticed how short she was.

My Mom was always on the thin side, unlike me. Even though I am several inches taller than my Mom, my chubby thighs look shorter than her thin short legs. As a teen I realized if I wanted to appear taller than I was, toning down my hips and thighs could give the illusion of being several inches taller than I actually was. My friends thought I was 5'7", when in actuality I don't stand a bit more than 5'3" tall.

If hips and thighs are naturally thick, avoid exercise that may cause bulking up. Try stretches and Yoga to help elongate the muscles and provide tone and shapeliness. Aerobic exercise for 20-30 minutes each day will provide overall toning and weight loss; however, adding lunges to the mix will focus attention on the hips and thighs and help sculpt those large muscles. The lines created by toning and smoothing the thigh and hip line will add inches to your self confidence.

Choosing the right types of clothing also helps create a taller image. Wearing vertical stripes can give the illusion of having a longer leg. Choose a thin pinstripe, thick stripes can add weight to your shape and give the reverse effect.

Create long lines through the use of cut and color. Select skirts that go below the knee and add a heel. If weather permits an open toed shoe will cause the eye to connect all they way to the floor creating a longer visual.

High heels will also make legs appear longer. A thin heel will work better than a chunky heel. Again, it is about creating lines that will trick the brain into see a longer leg. Never wear a black or brown shoe with a lighter fabric outfit as the dark shoe will cut the leg off at the foot and cause the leg to look short and choppy.

Boots with a dress or skirt are another way to elongate the leg. If the boot is the same or similar color of the skirt it causes the eye to run with the line of the color and see a longer leg. Boots will also hide thick ankles which can make legs appear shorter than they actually are.

At the end of the day, if I had to choose between a long model-like leg or a shorter leg that is tone and has a nice shape, I'd choose the legs I was born with. By watching my diet and exercising moderately every woman can enjoy beautiful legs.