Baggy and ill-fitting clothes will only make you look frumpy, and will do nothing to lengthen your legs. Avoid buying clothes that don’t fit you perfectly. If this is unavoidable, either have your clothes tailored or tailor them yourself so that they fit well. Make sure that your pants are hemmed correctly, so that they just graze the top of your foot. Don’t let them bunch up and wrinkle at the top of your foot or shoe, as this will make your legs look shorter.
Low-rise bottoms will generally lengthen your torso and make your legs look shorter, so avoid these.
This is particularly effective when the pants are worn with heels in the same shade — for example, black jeans with black pointy-toed ankle boots.
Wide-legged pants have much the same effect as skirts and dresses, as they can help hide exactly where your legs start. Aim for high-waisted, wide-legged pants for maximum leg-lengthening effects! Pair a wide-legged pant with a wedge for a comfortable, retro look.
Short skirts with high waistlines are great for making your legs look longer. [3] X Research source
In addition, be careful about wearing hemlines that cut straight across your legs, as these can interrupt the line of your legs and make them look shorter. Asymmetrical hemlines make the transition from fabric to leg more smooth and clean, giving the illusion of longer legs.
Bottoms to avoid include pants, skirts, and dresses with cuffs, pleats, or big pockets. Also avoid bottoms with low back pockets, which can make your bum look lower and your legs look shorter. Jeans with horizontal tears and distressing on them may also cut up the line of your legs and make them look shorter.
Pants with vertical stripes on them will work well. [4] X Research source Stripes create a stylish optical illusion as long as the fit isn’t too tight and the stripes can hang straight up and down. [5] X Expert Source Jordan StolchImage Consultant & Style Advisor Expert Interview. 27 May 2021.
Aim for the highest heels you can wear while still being comfortable. Having longer-looking legs will do nothing to boost your confidence or make you look sexier if you can’t walk in your heels!
If you’re wearing nude nylons or bare legs, wear a shoe that matches the natural (nude) color of your legs. If you’re wearing blue jeans, go with a bare/nude-colored foot and a nude heel. [7] X Research source If you’re wearing black skinny jeans or black tights, wear black high heels or ankle boots.
For example, you could wear a pair of dark brown or navy ankle boots (don’t forget the pointy toe!) with black skinny jeans. If you’re doing this, however, be sure that your shoes still go with the rest of your outfit!
You can also wear ankle-strap-shoes with skinny jeans as long as the straps are high up on your ankle and thus right at the hemline of the jeans, so that there is no gap between the jeans and the strap.
Pointy-toed shoes make your legs look longer by making your feet look longer, so pay attention to the length of the point to ensure that it still looks good with your feet. You don’t want to look like you have clown feet!
Avoid flats and heels with high vamps, as these can break the line of your leg and make it look shorter. The exception to this is ankle boots in the same color as your pants/tights. Just make sure that there is no skin- or other-colored gap between your pants/tights and your shoes.
If you’re wearing a skirt or dress, aim for a hemline that extends past the top of the boot so that there is no gap between your hemline and boot, which would interrupt the line of your body. [12] X Research source
Examples of moderate aerobic exercise include brisk walking, swimming, or household chores such as mowing the lawn. Vigorous activities include running or dancing (e. g. Zumba). [14] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Examples of strength-training exercises include lifting weights or using weight machines, or rock climbing. [15] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Note that you can combine moderate and vigorous activities as well, for example by going for a walk with intervals of running.
Dancers are famous for their long, lean, and toned legs. To get legs like a dancer, consider incorporating some dance classes into your weekly exercise routine.
If you’re on your hands and knees, your hands should be stacked below your shoulders, and your knees should be below your hips. When you look down, the creases between your hands and wrists should be horizontal and parallel with the front of your exercise mat. In addition, your stomach should be strong (pulled in), your shoulders should be pulled down and away from your ears, and your neck should be long, with your chin slightly tucked.
Stand with your feet together and your hands on your hips. Your knees should have a gentle bend to them — make sure they’re not locked. Soften your left knee slightly and tighten your abs as you lift your right leg sideways as high as it will go, then glide your leg back down the same way you lifted it, until your foot is just above the ground. Pulse your right leg back up twice before returning to stand with both feet beside each other. Transfer your weight to your right leg and repeat the two-pulse leg lift with your left leg. Continue to alternate legs until you’ve completed 20 reps on each side.
Stand with your feet hip width apart and your arms extended out in front of you at shoulder height. Take a big step forward with your left leg and then bend both of your knees to 90-degree angles to lower into a forward lunge. Be sure that your knees are directly over your ankles and not extended past them. Your knees should not be hanging over your toes. Use your left heel (front leg) to push back up into a standing position, then rotate your body and toes so that you come to a wide-legged squat. At the same time, pull your right arm back across your chest, as if you’re pull the string back on a bow and arrow. Push through both of your heels to return to your left-leg lunge with your arms straight out in front of you. Repeat 20 times on one side, then switch to the other side.
Get down on to your hands and knees, with your knees beneath your hips and your wrists beneath your shoulders. To protect your wrists, make sure that your wrist creases are in line with your exercise mat (i. e. horizontal). Use a mat to protect your knees. Pull your left leg backwards to cross your left knee and foot over your right calf. Maintaining that angle, push your left knee out to the side — it should go slightly back and up — and then lower it back to its position over your right calf, being sure not to let it touch your calf or the ground. Do 20 reps on before switching to your right side.
The idea with warming up is to lightly work the muscles you intend to use in your main workout. Aim to do at least a few minutes of light cardio (e. g. walking) before weight-training or going for a run, for example. Give yourself at least 10 to 15 minutes to do some light cardio and stretching after a workout session. As an example, after a run you might walk for a few minutes and then transition to a stretching session.
