Saturday, November 7, 2009

Summer Legs Dos and Don'ts (how to make yours look long and lean!)

We’d all like to have Gisele’s mile-long, muscular legs but since most of us don’t, we asked a celebrity stylist, Katy Robbins, for a tell-it-like-it-is tutorial on which summer styles— short-shorts, gladiator sandals, micro minis— flatter your legs and which do the opposite.

Katy Robbins spends a good deal of time styling celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Tina Fey and Maria Bellow— not too hard to make those ladies look good. But she also knows a lot about how to dress real women who don’t have supermodel shapes. Downplaying imperfections and creating the illusion of long, lean legs are her specialties. Here are some of Katy’s tips for summer dressing:

• SHORTS: Shorts that hit at mid-thigh are the most universally flattering. Petite women look best in shorter shorts and should avoid Bermudas entirely. Taller girls can pull of longer shorts but make sure they’re not too tight or you’ll get the dreaded sausage effect.

• SANDALS: Avoid high ankle straps. They break up the line of the leg and make the leg appear shorter and thicker. Nude colors and metalics add length. If you have shorter legs, ballet flats should only be worn with hemlines that hit above the knee.

• SKIRTS: Again, just above the knee hemlines are the most flattering. A hemline that hits at mid-calf makes virtually everyone look stumpy. Avoid skirts that are too tight or too short. As Katy says, “If you have to ask if it’s too short, it probably is.” Save it for your music video.

• DRESSES: Billowy sack-like dresses are not flattering. Most everyone looks best in a dress that's fitted on the bodice but flowy on the bottom.



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WHAT CHRISTIE BRINKLEY CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT RECYCLING SUMMER STYLES TO SAVE YOU MONEY
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Comments 1-10 of 25
  • Jables's Avatar
    Posted by Jables Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:03am PDT

    eesh! Those are all ugly

    Report Abuse
  • LIZZ's Avatar
    Posted by LIZZ Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:28am PDT

    i like the comumn about skirts...SAVE IT FOR A MUSIC VIDEO SHOOT..

    Report Abuse
  • Susan's Avatar
    Posted by Susan Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:05am PDT

    I disagree about hemlines being most flattering above the knee. On people with chubby knees (btw you can have skinny legs but still have chubby knees!), hemlines look best if they fall just to the bottom of the knee (but not any lower than that) so the line of the hem is at the narrowest part, before you get to where the calf starts to flare out. Second-best is mid-knee.

    Report Abuse
  • Michelle @ Fierce Glamour Blog's Avatar
    Posted by Michelle @ Fierce Glamour Blog Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:26am PDT

    Sarah, I love your hair in this video! Great job!

    Report Abuse
  • Zeplin522's Avatar
    Posted by Zeplin522 Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:07am PDT

    Longs is not a problem I suffer from at 5'8". And I dont wear my

    skirts or dresses above the knee. I may be tall and thin but at

    56 above the knee dont think so. Right to the knee works best or

    a little below works best. Remember, just because you can, doesnt

    mean you should.

    Report Abuse
  • Brezzia's Avatar
    Posted by Brezzia Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:31am PDT

    I've been interested in "gladiator sandals", but I'm not sure where I could find some good ones? *that aren't an insane price*. I'm also looking for just plain brown/black ones, with no metallics, or sparkles. Anyone help me out as to where to find some? :)

    Report Abuse
  • Never Again's Avatar
    Posted by Never Again Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:59am PDT

    NEVER MENTIONED BIG CALVES? MANY SUFFER! I have big calves and I try to wear crop pants(NO MORE THAN 5 inches above the anckle bone) to give myself a little bit of summer look , which are really hard to find unless you go to the old ladies section and have a belly or a tooth pick for the skinny's.. I really dont like wearing short shorts (Cellulite)NOT FAT! but thats the only way to give myself a longer look. HELP!

    Report Abuse
  • always wondering's Avatar
    Posted by always wondering Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:51am PDT

    Sorry Sarah, hate the hair. Too much of it on your forehead. Very distracting.

    Report Abuse
  • Marcia's Avatar
    Posted by Marcia Wed Jul 1, 2009 4:25pm PDT

    "Your life is not a music video..."?

    Um, maybe they like their skirt that short, hello? Why do we have to let these people dictate what we should and shouldn't wear? Who are we to judge others' fashion taste? Every person is UNIQUE!

    Oh, the media...

    Report Abuse
  • N206's Avatar
    Posted by N206 Thu Jul 2, 2009 11:42pm PDT

    Bre- you can find gladiators everywhere. Not sure if you have a New Look (British Brand) where you live, but they've got ones that are pretty cheap. You can also check out Spring and Nine West. Aldo have gladiators too, but I find aldo shoes very uncomfortable. good luck! :)

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Comments 1-10 of 25

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