8 Cool Ways To Make Your Legs Look Slimmer Without Surgery Or Exercise

Summer is here and some of us are fretting about how to get our bodies beach-ready in an impossibly short window of time. While nothing save good old exercise can sculpt and tone that body, there are a few tricks that we can still resort to, to look slimmer fully-clothed and away from the beach.

A-line skirts

The hem of a-line skirts helps to disguise where the leg starts, and its flared bottom helps to balance out chunky thighs, giving them a slimmer appearance. These versatile skirts also help to slim down a chubby rear end, as well as the dreaded thunder thighs. The flare in a-line skirts makes them extremely comfortable to walk in – there is no need to mince your steps or avoid big strides. Match your a-line skirts with tunic tops or shirts and a belt to emphasize the waist and lengthen the legs.

A high waist is key

Wearing clothes with a high waist makes your legs look longer by increasing the torso:leg ratio as the human eye naturally assumes that the legs start where the waist ends. Try tucking your shirt in at your waistband, or wearing high-waisted jeans. Opt for a retro look by choosing clothes with a cinched waist, or wear a thick belt to accent the waist. Dresses are particularly good for this purpose.

Dark coloured tights

Dark colors are slimming in general. Wearing dark colored tights such as black or brown automatically slims the calves and thighs, creating a well-defined silhouette . Pair them with shoes of a similar color to create the illusion of endless legs. If the summer heat is too much for you, a pair of dark colored sheer stockings will do the trick as well. These are a perfect combination with high heels, and will lengthen your legs by miles. They also have the added effect of contouring your legs, giving them a more sculpted appearance.

High heels

High heels are an instant calf slimmer. They add oodles of length to the legs, and keep you on your toes such that your calves are stretched, which then creates a more toned appearance. Stay away from thick chunky heels though, these make your legs look thick and heavy. If you have thick ankles, avoid heels with an ankle strap.

Nude shoes

Choose shoes in a shade that matches your skin color. Nude shoes make it hard to see exactly where the leg ends and the shoe begins, giving the illusion that the leg continues even beyond the ankle. Open toed shoes go well with this look, and complete the illusion of legs that go on till infinity.

Vertical striped pants

Vertical stripes have a lengthening effect. Choose pants with pinstripes to make your legs look longer and therefore slimmer. If you have a heavy-set bottom, make sure to get pants with thinner stripes, as thicker stripes tend to stretch the wearer horizontally. It is important that these pants are in a material that is not stretchy, like lycra or spandex as the stretch can warp the stripes and therefore negate the slimming effect.

Short skirts/shorts

This one is a no-brainer; the more leg you show, the longer your legs look and therefore slimmer. While this may not be possible on formal occasions, it is nevertheless a cooling way to beat the summer heat. If you are bottom heavy, go easy on the accessories and pockets; bell bottoms and cargo shorts tend to make an already heavy bum look even bigger.

Moisturise and exfoliate your legs

When all else fails, nothing works like a good scrub and oiling. Exfoliating rids your legs of dead skin cells that can cause the skin to appear dull, and moisturizing gives skin that plump, shiny glow. All these help to make your legs look more toned as the dewy skin reflects light, contouring your legs and giving an illusion of shapelier pins. If you are particularly set on baring your legs, using a mixture of skin highlighter and self-tanner to contour your legs works exceptionally well too.

Jodie is a university student who loves to read up on fashion. She enjoys shopping at online stores and she knows she can always find a nice pair of leg-slimming socks at Foottraffic!