We are not all born with perfect features.

We are not all born with perfect features. Legs and bottoms are two of our features that most of us dread. In this months tips we cover the different types of leg shapes and give you some helpful hints on how you can overcome any of your challenges.

Thin legs

These legs are usually found on the women who are underweight and long legged. They are not short to tell you how terrible they look in leggings and short skirts.

• Wear eye catching accessories at the neckline
• High boots for winter
• Skirts with enough length to end at the thickest part of the leg
• Classic pants in medium weight fabric
• Coloured, textured, shiny or patterned stockings
• Tailored, slim line shorts hemmed to the widest part of the thigh

Saddle bag thighs

A most unfortunate and unkind name for thighs that are very large, contain a dent at the upper thigh and protrude much like the shape of jodhpurs riding pants. Wearing straight skirts and tapered pants is almost impossible due to the outside silhouette of the thigh.

• Hems on skirts and dresses must be no shorter than 2.5cms (1") above the top of the knee
• Shorts need to be long enough and wide enough to cover the widest part of the thigh
• Classic cut and moderately wide pants are best
• Eye catching accessories near the face
• Sweaters that have no bands or ribbing
• Dark coloured pants and skirts
• Shoes that have a medium to high heel and are not strappy or fragile looking
• Stockings that blend in colour with the hem and shoe
• Medium to heavy weight fabrics for pants
• Vertical designs and lines below the waist or from top to bottom
• Tunic tops that are open fall straight and cover the fullest part of the thigh

Heavy calves/thick ankles/marked lower legs

This category also includes legs that are severely marked, such as in the case of varicose veins or any leg where the lower leg is best camouflaged or covered eg legs needing callipers. Heavy calves are calves that
Are very thick and visible make the leg appear shorter and heavier. It tends to be an inherited problem. Thick ankles have no definition to their shape and give the legs a log-like appearance.

• Classic cut and moderately wide pants are best
• Eye catching accessories near the face
• Dark coloured pants or skirts
• Shoes that have a medium to high heel and are not strappy or fragile looking
• Stockings that blend in colour with the hem and shoe
• Vertical designs and lines below the waist or from top to bottom
• Medium to heavy weight fabrics for pants
• Skirts and dresses that are moderately wide at the hemline
• Hems on skirts and dresses are best when they are long enough to cover the largest part of the calf.
• Shorts need to be boxers or jamaica styles and incorporates a wide leg.

Large outer thighs

Thick thighs are those that protrude further than the hips and interrupt the silhouette of the body. The most important notes for this woman will be in skirt, dress and short length

• Hems on skirts and dresses must be no shorter than 5cms (2") above the top of the knee
• Shorts need to be long enough and wide enough to cover the widest part of the thigh
• Classic cut pants
• Eye catching accessories near the face
• Sweaters that have loose band or are band-less
• Dark coloured skirts and pants
• Medium high cut legs in bathers
• Stockings that blend in colour with the hem and shoes
• Vertical designs and lines below the waist or from tom to bottom
• Shoes that have a medium to high heel and are not strappy and fragile looking

Large bottom

This bottom is very round and full. A straight tailored skirt is almost impossible to wear and if they did it would have wrinkles running horizontally across the sway of the back and the hem would rise in the back and fall low in the front.

• Overblouses at least to the knuckles line
• Boxy jacket styles
• Long line, straight cut vests worn open
• Vertical line and design especially in dresses
• Bras that keep the bust high to add length to the midriff
• Simple classic shoes
• Eye catching accessories worn high on the body
• Gathered and pleated skirts with elastic waistbands
• The base of the skirt will need to be rehemmed so it falls straight
• Classic cut and baggy leg pant styles worn with overblouses, tops and jackets

Flat bottom

This feature is easy to see or rather not to see. Because there is no bottom there is usually excess fabric at the back of skirts and pants, leaving the back looking baggy. The skirts may hang lower in the back than the front and this may cause the side seams of a garment to swing forward. Rehemming is often necessary.

• Jackets, overblouses, and tops that cover the bottom
• Straight line vests worn open
• Gathered skirts
• Dresses that fall straight from the shoulder
• Classic cut pants
• Yoked skirts that are gathered or pleated
• When not wearing a vest, jacket, cardigan or overblouse a skirt will look better than pants