Have you given up wearing dresses, capri pants and shorts because you don’t want anyone to see your calves and ankles?
You may not be able to change what mother nature gave you, but you can make them a lot less noticeable.
Here are our tips on the do’s and don’ts. These opinions are just our own, of course you should wear whatever makes you comfortable.
So let’s start with what we believe you should avoid.
Avoid ankle straps – Skip shoes that have lacing or straps that go around the ankle and opt for looks with no emphasis on the ankle area.
Avoid booties & flats – You may love them, but they don’t love you. Booties & flats emphasize big calves and ankles. Instead, choose a mid-height heel to fool the eye and make your legs look long and lean. This is also a great tip for anyone who wants a longer, leaner look!
Tips to Slim Your Calves and Ankles
Choose the Right Shoe
- Get high heels – The most flattering shoes have a heel or wedge that elongate the foot and gives your leg a slimmer look. Look for substantial heels — as opposed to spike or stilettos.
- Go chunky – Chunky-heeled shoes are especially flattering because they balance out heavy cankles.
- Slip on some Nude Shoes – Opt for a monochromatic leg. Wear nude heels that match your skin tone to achieve the same effect.
- Booties – Ok I know we just told you to avoid them. If you are wanting to wear the trend we found that if you wear them with pants or a longer midi dress or skirt it will minimize / hide the problem area. See the below image on how this trend was styled on a couple of women with heavier calves, ankles. We like these looks!
Switch to Long Pants
Pants are perfect for hiding “cankles” ( thick calves fused at thick ankles). Your best bet is solid colored pants in a dark color but make sure they’re not too skinny. A tight pant will emphasize your problem. Bootcut or wide legs jeans help hide the problem. And no cropped pants and capris. They draw the eye to the widest part of your calves and ankles and make your legs look stubby.
Wear Full Skirts or Dresses
Choose a dress or skirt that flares out at the bottom. A fuller skirt will make legs look slimmer by comparison.
Make sure your dress hits at or above the knee. The shorter you are comfortable going, the slimmer your calves will look. Anything below the knee will draw attention to the widest part of your calves, creating a matronly look.
Other skirts or dresses for thick legs are maxi styles that fall to the floor, because they cover the problem area all together.
Direct Attention Up Top
If you don’t want people looking at your legs distract them. Wear dark colors below your waist and highlight your top half by wearing lighter colors near your face.
Restrict prints to your upper body, and use fun accessories like scarves or statement necklace to draw the eye up and away. This is a great tip for anyone looking to draw the eye and attention up.
So while you may not be able to change the legs you have, you can make them less noticeable.
Hi,
I have lymphoedema in both my legs and ankles. Do you have any suggestions of where to find shoes and boots that will fit my feet and ankles.
My legs and ankles are particularly swollen in summertime and it drives me insane that every shoe I look at is for an elderly person even though I am 60 this year , I do not dress like old person.
Many thanks
Anjee
Hi Anjee!
I did a quick search for shoes and boots for those with lymphedema. I understand your desire to still have cute, stylish footwear no matter your age or challenges! I can totally relate and that is exactly why we started Fashion Trends and Friends!
There are some cute shoes on this website although they seem somewhat pricey:https://www.healthyfeetstore.com/lymphedema.html
Here is another website although you’ll need to look through them because (in my opinion) they’re not all cute:
Shoes For Lymphedema | Healthy Feet Storehttps://www.healthyfeetstore.com › lymphedema
I’m wondering if there are any websites or support groups for people with lymphedema. You might be able to connect with others who have searched and found cute but comfortable shoes.
Best of luck! Let us know if you find shoes you could recommend for others!
Julie xo
Torrid online has what you are looking for! I have lipedema. I struggle with these issues as well. I was never able to find boots that would fit me properly, until I started shopping at torrid. For reference… I’m 5’3 and 149 pounds. I wear a size medium shirt, I would be in a size 6 jeans waist wise, but due to my legs, I have to go up to a size 8/10 in pants…sometimes even a 12. Torrid shoes Offer wide and extra wide calf… so you should have no problem finding the perfect shoes for you! Good luck! 😊
Hi Shawna!
Thanks so much for your recommendation! I’m hoping this will be helpful information for so many!
Julie xo
I feel your pain. I was a size 2/4 in my younger days and could not find any boots that would fit my ankle/calf. Back then everyone was MUCH thinner so there were few choices. At least now I can find something that fits. For socks, I learned to knit custom socks for myself. 🙂