Traditionally, the length of the lower limbs is associated with height, but this is not entirely true, since tall people have all long limbs. When measuring the length of your legs, you need to focus on the ratio of height and length of the legs themselves. You need to measure the length of your legs using a measuring tape and a mirror.
To correctly measure the length of your legs without outside help, undress down to your underwear, take a measuring tape and measure the length of your leg from the side. Start measuring from the point where the femur joins the pelvis (approximately from the middle of the pelvis) to the heel.
Normally, this length should exceed half of the total height by 4–6 centimeters; if the difference is more than 6 centimeters, then the legs can be called really long, but if it’s only 2 to 4 centimeters, then it’s not very long.
A more accurate and correct result of measuring leg length can be obtained with the participation of an assistant. Take an upright position, distribute your body weight evenly on your legs and keep your back as straight as possible.
The position of the body will not have a special impact on the result, but a hunched back can steal a few centimeters from it. Changing body position during the process is also not recommended.
Body parameters: measuring correctly
- More details
Have an assistant measure the length of your legs with a measuring tape, placing the tape at the protruding tubercle of your femur, which is located opposite your hip joint. The end of the tape is applied to the heel (the leg is strictly vertical). To make the result more objective, measure the length of both legs.
Ideal ratio of height and leg length
With a height of 161 to 167 cm, the ideal leg length is 84–89 cm. With a height of 168 to 174 cm, the ideal length is 90–94 cm. With a height of 175 to 180 cm, the ideal length is 95–100 cm.
So, with the right physique, the length of a woman’s legs should be slightly more than half her height. In the case of an ideal ratio, a man should have a leg length that matches the length of his torso.
In early summer 2013, before the beach season, Venus & Braun surveyed 1,000 women aged 18 to 40, who had to answer two questions: “Which part of your body causes you the most anxiety?” and “What part of the body would you most like to receive a compliment?” As it turned out, the most difficult thing to maintain is the beauty of the abdomen, secondly the beauty of the legs, then in descending order there are such parts of the body as the buttocks, arms, thighs and others. However, what is interesting is that a compliment on the legs is the most pleasant for the majority of respondents.
The Kong sisters are twins from China, and the length of their legs is truly amazing. Even without shoes, they seem very long, and in high-heeled shoes they seem simply endless. Harsh critics may quibble with the shape of the knee, but the photo below of one of the Kong sisters shows off these truly graceful legs at their best.
But don't forget that photography works wonders. A favorable angle will make almost anyone look beautiful. In reality, only a few out of a huge number of women really have a good reason to say: “I don’t have the most beautiful legs.” Others are simply overly self-critical or lazy. If a woman maintains excellent physical shape, knows how to emphasize the advantages of her figure, and monitors the condition of her skin, she can be proud of the beauty of her legs.
Nowadays loyalty reigns in the world, which means that it seems to have become easier to put up with the imperfections of your body, in particular your legs. The more paradoxical the situation is that the disease called “I don’t like myself” overcomes even men who easily pick up all women’s diseases and fears. Here it is - the result of the unobtrusive (is it?) imposition of images and our stereotypical thinking.
Despite the fact that the world is no longer interested in everything ideal, the standards of beauty are blurred, there are parameters verified by scientists regarding the proportions of the legs.
What leg parameters are considered the standard?
Beautiful legs of girls are their powerful weapon in the fight to win men's hearts. Nevertheless, the issue of beauty is purely individual, and there is no objectively ideal shape of legs, since there is no arguing about tastes.
According to scientists, the length of the legs should be slightly more than half the height and be about 51-55% of the body length. A straight line can be drawn through the top of the thigh and the middle of the knee to the ankle, but at the same time, the legs should not be like sticks; some curvature must be present.
Let's look at a few features of the legs:
- Let's imagine that your legs are a four-story house. And there should be one “window” on each floor. The ideal leg shape for women includes four openings: at the top of the thighs, above the knees (the narrowest), below the knees and above the ankles.
- "Baby face" on your knees. Like this? Stand in front of a mirror, bend your leg. If ideal legs smile from the knees with a “baby face”: eyes, cheeks, hairs on the bangs will be visually identified, then your knees are responding. Did you smile back at her?
- A little more about knees - what could be more charming? Ideally, they are graceful, toned, no “bags” of skin under and above them, as well as “razor-sharp” endings. Stand in front of the mirror and evaluate yourself strictly.
- At the back under the knee there is a very delicate depression - a subject of special male admiration.
- The knees divide the ideal legs exactly in half.
- Is the circumference under the knee slightly larger than the circumference of the ankle or are they equal? Another point of ideal legs has been met.
- An important criterion for female beauty is the ankle. Ideally, it is not too sinewy, but the tendons should be visible.
- The Achilles tendon should look graceful, thin, sculpted, with small indentations on both sides!
- The beautiful legs of girls end with a charming heel, which should protrude slightly forward under the Achilles tendon, have a rounded shape, be clean, pink, well-groomed and not look flattened.
Beauty in numbers
The circumference of the thigh, shin and ankle should be proportional depending on your height. Measurements must be taken standing. If you are between 174 and 180 cm tall, your thigh, shin and ankle circumferences should be approximately 58 cm, 37 cm and 20 cm respectively. With a height of 168-173 cm, the hip circumference should be on average 53.5 cm, shin - 34 cm, ankle - 19.5 cm. If the height is from 160 to 167 cm, then the norm for the hips will be 50 cm, for the shin - 33 cm, for the ankle - 19 cm.
What not to do if you want to have beautiful legs
If you want to have slender legs, in pursuit of the ideal, take care not to harm yourself. It is forbidden:
- sitting on one side of the thigh with your legs facing the other way, this can gradually disrupt the proportion of ideal legs;
- sit with legs wide apart;
- sit cross-legged;
- when standing, lean on one leg;
- stand cross-legged;
- regularly sleep on your stomach or side;
- carry a bag on the same shoulder;
- always wear heels.
A few tricks for being more slim
Every day, walk a few steps, first on your heels, then on your toes, then on the outside, and then on the inside of your feet, and in that order.
Make it a rule to start every morning with a gentle stretching of your legs without getting out of bed.
If you work in a sedentary position, you are likely to accumulate excess fat (or water) on your legs. Drink more water and do not eat a lot of smoked and salty foods.
When you work while sitting for a long time, try to sit on the edge of a chair, this way you will ensure tension in the muscles of your legs and will work them unnoticed.
If you are at home, do not wear synthetic socks and tights - they have a harmful effect on your feet.
Your slippers should belong only to you, do not give them to anyone for hygiene reasons.
“The one who walks will master the road!” Every day you should try to walk 10 thousand steps, so it’s better to save money on the bus and walk.
Regular foot massage improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of fat deposits. Stretch your thighs when you sit, for example, in the office - no one will see this.
Eat more fresh vegetables, in particular white cabbage. Don't eat at night.
Forming perfect legs
Why do we look at dancers and ballerinas and admire their legs? They are flexible, and the solution to the question of how to make ideal legs should begin with the formation of joint flexibility.
“Hard” hips are the key to your clumsiness and awkward gait, so your hips need to be stretched and “opened.” Some useful exercises:
- Tilts. Legs “cigarette” on the same line, the toes of the left foot rest against the heel of the right. Bend forward, then switch legs. Until unpleasant sensations appear, we do it.
- Hip stretch. The more unpleasant the exercise, the more effective. Sitting on the floor, at a distance of 30 cm from you, cross your legs, just your feet. Keeping your back straight, bend forward (towards your feet). We complicate the exercises: we place one foot on the other, and bend forward. To make it even more difficult: bring your heels together. We press on our knees with our hands and bend forward. This way you stretch the muscles of the inner thigh.
- Exercise "swastika". It’s a difficult, uncomfortable exercise, but we remember the inverse relationship between convenience and efficiency. The result is only possible if you overcome the pain. The exercise helps shape perfect legs by stretching the outer thighs and helps get rid of cellulite. Until you get tired of it, you can do it. On the floor, we form “half a swastika” from the legs bent at 90 degrees at the knees: one - in front, the second - on the side, the legs lie completely on the floor, including the knees and buttocks. The exercise is difficult for unprepared people, since “stiff” hips are difficult to “open”. We sit on our buttocks, our back is straight, and we bend forward, backward, and to the sides until we get tired of it.
Not bad gymnastics
The complex must be performed with tense leg muscles, without relaxing them:
- We lie on our back, legs at right angles to the body, arms along the body. We pull our socks up. Tightening the muscles, bend the right leg, straighten it and repeat with the other leg. We do it for five minutes without stopping.
- The position is the same as in the first stage, only the left leg is bent. The muscles of the right leg are tense, toe up. We bend the right leg, the foot is straight, while the left leg is extended upward, the heel is parallel to the ceiling. Repeat with different legs in the same rhythm for 5 minutes. We don’t stop, we endure and we do it, it’s impossible to get perfect legs right away, you need systematic training.
- Socks point up. Place the right heel in front of the left leg. We turn the left heel forward, legs straight, muscles tense. We return the legs to the starting position and repeat the heel turn, now with the right leg. With the right heel we press on the left leg that resists the pressure. Next, we lower our legs and bend them at the knees, crossing the ankles, the right leg is above the left. Repeat with the other leg.
Each era in human history has developed its own formula for female beauty. Either athletically built ladies or slender young ladies were considered the standard. Fashion trends in relation to female beauty were also influenced by the environment: in the peasant way of life, where strength, efficiency and the willingness to give birth to many children were valued, there could hardly be a demand for a fragile, pale young lady.
The beauty parameters of women's legs also changed depending on the era. However, the formula for the beauty of female legs that we have inherited from antiquity is still in use: the circumference of the lower leg is equal to the circumference of the neck, and the circumference of the thigh is one and a half times the circumference of the lower leg.
Leg beauty parameters
The modern world has become more demanding of the proportions of women's legs and... more loyal. The number of parameters characterizing ideal female legs has increased many times, and this has allowed a huge number of women to consider their legs beautiful, at least in several respects.
The main parameter is the correct form. The legs should have four “windows”. If you stand straight and connect your legs, you should get four gaps. The first is between the foot and ankle, the second is above the ankle, and the third is below the knee. And the fourth, narrowest one - above the knee at the top of the thigh.
The next parameter of ideal legs is the shape of the knee. There should be no sharp corners or bags above and below the knee. You need to look at the knee not from above, but in reflection in the mirror. This makes it easier to appreciate all the advantages of your legs.
If you slightly bend your leg at the knee and look at the reflection of the knee in the mirror, then the owner of ideal legs will be able to see a “baby face” on her knee with all the attributes: eyes, cheeks and even bangs.
There should be a depression at the back of the knee, which many men consider the most touching part of a woman’s legs. The distance from the beginning of the thigh to the foot should be divided exactly in half by the knee: that is, the length of the thigh is equal to the length of the ankle. This proportion is considered ideal.
Now, using a measuring tape, you can measure the circumference under the knee and ankle. If these indicators are the same or the volume under the knee is slightly greater than the volume of the ankles, then another parameter of ideal legs has been met.
In the film Some Like It Hot, one of the characters paid great attention to a woman’s ankle, considering it an important criterion for female beauty. The ankle should not be too sinewy, but at the same time the tendons should be visible on it. And although such a description of the ideal ankle seems counterintuitive, men can easily determine by appearance which ankle meets the criteria for an ideal ankle.
You need to assess the condition of the calves in much the same way: proportionally developed, strong, round. Over-pumped calf muscles are just as bad as flabby, rattling calves.
Another criterion for ideal female legs is the Achilles tendon (the place where the shin meets the heel). This place should be elegant, thin, embossed, and have small indentations on both sides. The heel is round in shape, should not be flattened, only slightly protruding under the Achilles tendon.
The ideal shape of the hips is what modern women fight for in gyms and in fitness classes, putting maximum load on this particular part of the legs.
If you mentally divide the thigh into three equal parts, then the widest part should be in the upper third. At the same time, there must be a “window” near the groin.
In profile, the ideal thigh resembles a “spindle”: at the groin and closer to the knee it is narrowed, and slightly widened in the middle part. Closer to the knee at the back, the thigh gradually tapers.
A few words about the ideal foot. In honor of this part of women's legs, poets composed poems, painters - canvases. This part of the female body still remains a fetish for many men, including famous and famous ones (let’s remember Quentin Tarantino, who took a close-up of Uma Thurman’s feet).
The foot should be thin, slightly concave, not deformed by narrow shoes, not disfigured by bunions. Size, oddly enough, does not matter much, the main thing is proportions. The same Tarantino admires Thurman’s size 42 feet.
Proportions of body and legs
Well, and most importantly, the legs should be proportionally combined with the entire figure, because female beauty cannot be divided into parts, beauty is a complex concept.
Existing standards of female beauty suggest the following proportions:
Not all women can boast of meeting absolutely all the requirements for ideal female legs. And rightly so - nature loves diversity. Not only those legs that meet the specified criteria can be considered ideal - the length of the legs is approximately half the length of the body.
Amendments can be applied to these criteria, because women have different body types: large-boned, asthenic or normosthenic physique. The difference between the length of the legs and half the height of a woman of normal build is 4 cm, for thin-boned women (asthenic build) - 6 cm, and for large-boned women - 2 cm.
Leg exercises
But even these “lightweight” formulas can be difficult to live up to. Therefore, you need to love those legs that nature has endowed, especially since they perform an important function - they carry us in space, regardless of ideal proportions.
However, you can correct the shape of your legs with the help of physical exercises. Of course, even the most sophisticated exercises will not change the length of the legs, but they will help correct the shape, add grace where necessary, and volume where necessary.
We offer a set of leg exercises that will bring even the most “imperfect” legs closer to perfection. The complex requires a systematic approach and regularity. It should be performed at least five days a week, without expecting that after a week the legs will acquire ideal proportions. The complex consists of five exercises.
An exercise to stretch the outer and inner thighs and strengthen the buttocks. Spread your legs as wide as possible, turn your feet 45 degrees. Squat down slowly, trying to keep your back straight. It is not necessary to squat all the way; it is important to linger at the bottom of the squat for a few seconds, and only then rise. At first the delay time will be minimal, but over time it will need to increase.
Exercise to develop the calf muscles. Stand up straight, rise on your toes, lower yourself without touching your heels to the floor. Continue swinging on your toes, either increasing or decreasing the pace until a slightly painful sensation appears. This exercise perfectly warms up the calf muscles; while performing, you will feel warmth in your calves.
Exercise to develop the back of the thighs and buttocks. Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart. Stretch your leg as far back as possible, hold for a few seconds, repeat with the other leg. At first, the exercise may be difficult due to the need to maintain balance, but over time the body gets used to this position.
An exercise for all leg muscles, as well as the abdominal muscles. From a straight position, raise your leg with the knee bent high, press it to your chest, and hold for a few seconds. Repeat with the other leg. Gradually increase the delay time. This exercise also develops balance and coordination of movements.
Exercise to develop the inner thighs. In women, the inner thigh is the most difficult to train. A wonderful exercise from the training of sumo wrestlers. Stand up like a sumo wrestler: legs slightly bent at the knees, body slightly tilted forward. Alternately lift one leg off the floor, then the other, try to raise your leg as high as possible.
Ideal legs for the lazy
If nature has become modest, and there is no desire to correct its mistakes through physical exercise, little feminine tricks will come to the rescue. Heels perfectly “lengthen” your legs. Flesh-colored shoes if you wear a skirt, or matching trousers too. A properly chosen skirt can also visually add a couple of centimeters to even the naturally shortest legs.
"The Law of Four Windows"
The most famous of the canons of leg beauty says: a woman’s legs should form four windows - between the toes and ankle, above the ankle, below the knee, and also above the knee at the bottom of the thigh. Moreover, the last gap should
to be the narrowest.
There are as many as 13 additional claims about the shape of each leg segment. Thus, the front of the knee should, according to beauty writers, resemble a child’s face with bangs, cheeks, dimples and a chin. The ideal ankle should be “thin but not skinny” - as they say, feel the difference. The widest part of the thigh is “in the first third.” Should you count from below or from above? And on the reverse side the knee “should have a depression.” Have you ever
Do you see anyone have a ledge there?..
Of course, men, in order to appreciate the beauty of a lady’s legs, do not need to look for eyes and bangs there. By the way, according to the canons of Polyclitus, the waist circumference of a young lady should be twice the size of her neck. The circumference of the lower leg is equal to the neck, and the circumference of the thigh is one and a half circumference of the lower leg. The distance from the heels to the waist must be related to the length of the body as 2:3. Taking into account such proportions, classical antique statues were created. It may look okay, but remembering all these criteria, and even more so taking measurements on the first date, is not an easy task. Fortunately, men’s requirements in life are extremely simple: long, straight, fit, well-groomed. Let us note that even if you cannot flaunt the first two qualities, the latter will more than compensate for the miscalculations of Mother Nature.
Ideal formula
But isn’t it interesting which women’s legs are worthy of the title of ideal? Numerous beauty researchers come to the rescue, who seem to really like
"dismember" women's bodies and
derive all kinds of formulas.
Ideal length of female legs, of course, is also calculated:
▪ height 161-167 cm – leg length 84-89 cm – hip circumference 56-57 cm – calf circumference 34-35 cm;
▪ height 168-174 cm – leg length 90-94 cm – hip circumference 57-58 cm – calf circumference 35-36 cm;
▪ height 175-180 cm – leg length 95-100 cm – thigh circumference 58-59, shin circumference 37-38.
There is another formula: the difference between the long legs and half the height should be from two to six centimeters, depending on the width of the bone.
It’s interesting that while long legs are considered an advantage in women, long legs are considered a disadvantage in men. Western scientists conducted an experiment: they gave participants photos of men and women with different leg lengths, asking them to choose the most attractive. Then, after doing the math, the researchers reported that the sexiest ratio of a woman's legs to torso (from crotch to neck) should be 1.4:1. And for men it’s 1:1. Why? The reason, allegedly, lies in psychology: a long male torso appears larger and more muscular, and this gives a feeling of reliability.
Is it possible to increase it?
But what if the result of the equation is not unsatisfactory? There are many ways to lengthen your legs. Starting from heels, tights to match the skirt, high-waisted clothes and ending with surgery. Since Academician Ilizarov invented his famous device, the dream of “building up” limbs has become a reality. True, this method cannot be called pleasant. The legs are deliberately broken (usually in the shin area) and placed in a bulky apparatus. It stretches them by about 1 mm per day. The maximum permissible result is +6 cm. But why spend 3 months in bed with huge pieces of iron in your legs (this is also very painful), if it has been proven that kickboxing, ballet and rock and roll lengthen your legs naturally?
It is also common knowledge that high-heeled shoes lengthen and slim your legs. Choose a model with a pointed toe if your calves are too thin. This sock shape will add a couple of centimeters to them (the same rule also works in the “reverse direction”). If the color of the shoes matches the shade of the tights and skirt, then the lower part of the body becomes visually longer. Therefore, you should not wear black shoes with light tights and a dark skirt if you value every millimeter of the length of your legs. Ankle-strap sandals also make your legs look shorter and fuller.
Oh those legs!
There is also a separate classification on the topic of slimness and curvature of the legs. Legs are:
▪ slender, that is, the centers of the femoral head, knee joint and foot are on the same line.
▪ with O-shaped curvature, when the bones of the legs are deformed and the legs look like a “wheel”.
▪ with X-shaped curvature – the bones are curved so that when the hips are closed, the ankles diverge to the sides.
▪ with false curvature. This is when there is no curvature or deformation of the bones, but the soft tissues are distributed in such a way that the illusion of uneven legs is created.
If you find yourself with any of the above, there is no need to despair. Any legs will look slender if you choose the right style of trousers, skirt and shoes. In addition, you can slightly correct the shape of your calves and thighs with the help of step, tennis or running. By slightly “increasing” your muscle definition, you will make your legs straighter.
Star limbs
The title of owner of the best legs in show business is firmly held by Gwen Stefania. By her own admission, the singer has been controlling her diet since the age of 12 and works equally selflessly on both her vocals and her appearance, ELLE reports. Yes, her slender legs They run a kilometer marathon every day on a treadmill.
Fergie is also used to receiving compliments for her well-built, athletic limbs. According to the singer, she sacrificed her favorite dish - pizza - for her spectacular appearance. The invention of the Italians is forever excluded from the diet of the vocal beauty. In addition, she regularly runs, works out her muscles on exercise machines, and goes hiking.
Beyonce also regularly appears on the list of owners of the most beautiful legs, despite the fact that her data is far from that of a model. Meanwhile, men claim that it is these lush hips that are truly sexy. The singer admits that the main thing is to love yourself without regard to the opinions of others. Beyoncé prefers not to talk about her daily sessions with a personal trainer.
But Victoria Beckham, on the contrary, is listed in the rankings of not the most attractive limbs. But her data is almost perfect! It turns out that those around him are embarrassed by the unnatural gait of the ex-peppercorn - the result of constantly wearing shoes with high heels and platforms. But, despite the criticism, self-confident Victoria does not intend to change her tastes and habits. Which in itself is commendable.
Lyubov Petrukhina
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