Exercise: optional. Confidence? Non-negotiable.
Forget the infamous phrase “suns out, guns out”. As soon as the sun begins to shine, it’s rarely our arms that we’re worried about getting out. It’s our legs. The big reveal – swapping jeans for skirts – can feel more difficult for the lower half of the body. So how to make ourselves feel good? It’s about enhancing what’s there, lifting and toning with strengthening exercises, while deploying clever products to smooth and define the area.
Many make the mistake of simply focusing on what they can see in the mirror and go hell for leather on the squats and lunges but actually that creates not just an “imbalanced aesthetic, but it can also lead to issues at the knee and lower back,” explains Worthington. A workout with him will include roughly twice as much work for the posterior chain of muscles than those at the front. You have been warned.
Another thing to note if you have a penchant for wearing heels: “Improving the balance between the quadriceps and hamstrings tends to be of particular importance to anyone who commonly wears high-heel shoes,” he says. “Standing for long periods with your heels raised pushes the centre of gravity forwards, meaning the quadriceps are doing most of the work to keep the body upright.”