Compensating for Thick Legs

When I was growing up I played with Barbie and all of her friends. I was puzzled at how she could be so tall and have such long legs. None of those dolls looked like me. I was short, brunette and had thick legs. I never equated thick legs with beauty; they were just something I had to account for when I went shopping. I learned early on, that fashion could be my best friend when trying to disguise flaws in my figure.

Genetics are partially responsible for our body type. My genes come from healthy German and Swedish families who are known for having heavier lower bodies. Genetics are not the only factor that influences figure types; diet and exercise also play a part. Eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help control fat forming and increasing the area we most want to decrease. Practicing Yoga or other exercises that stretch and elongate the muscles can help reduce bulk in the hip and thigh areas.

Sometimes, exercise and diet just aren't enough to change the way we want to look, so we have to resort to illusions that can be created through fashion. Here are some do's and don'ts for creating balance for women with heavier lower torsos:

Avoid:

• Cropped pants that cut off near the ankle. Cutting off the trouser above the ankle will draw attention to the area you are trying to decentuate.
• Calf length straight skirts. Just like cropped pants it draws the eye to the least flattering feature.
• Ankle straps on shoes will only accent a thick calf or ankle. Kitten heels should also be avoided.
• Leggings will only draw attention to heavy legs and ankles.
• Black or brown shoes should never be worn with paler colors, as it will draw weight to the calves and ankles.

Do:

• Wear a flare-legged pant. Flared fabrics coupled with a higher heel will hide thicker legs and create the illusion of a longer leg due to the heel.
• A-line skirts will be the most flattering as they have a wider line as they come down over the knees and will make calves and ankles appear thinner while disguising a heavier hips and thighs.
• Open toed chunky heeled sandals will elongate the ankle and give the appearance of a thinner leg.
• Boots with a longer skirt will hide thick ankles and calves and give the appearance that the chunkiness is created from the boot, which will provide balance from the fuller skirt.

Our society puts too much value on thin defining beauty. I dare to say that beauty come from within and is wrapped in many different types of packages. If we all looked the same, we would be like a society of robots. Embrace your differences by learning how to dress to flatter your body type.