by Audie Metcalf

If you offered me $5,000 to wear shorts for a day to interact with “other people,” I would have to say no. I just can’t do them.

Fine I would. But I would be deeply uncomfortable.

I’m not telling you to be insecure about your legs. Of course not. I’m telling you that your legs are gorgeous, whether they’re smooth or dimpled or skinny or fleshy or long or short or firm or soft. And I so deeply believe that our differences are what make us beautiful. Because true beauty is found, unquestionably, within each of our supreme uniqueness.

And so many of us have done a bang-up job shedding all of the weird, internalized body stuff imposed on us by our judgy moms who told us we’d be pretty if we just “toned up a little.”

But alas. So many of us are also still works in progress.

I’ve accepted my neck rings. My goblin feet. My baby hands. My perpetual eye bags. But exposing my stumpy legs and dumb knees? I’m not there. Yet.

For anyone else on a similar leg journey, you’ll get there. We’ll get there. But in the meantime, here’s the 8 things I wear on repeat that make me feel gorgeous and confident and pretty.

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1. THE FLOWY SKIRT

Frankly, skirts are SO superior to shorts. It’s almost laughable. I hear some hogwash about thigh chafe, but obviously, you just slap on some bike shorts or THIS gel, and you’re golden. The “midi” length, as the fashion people say, just always works, every day, for nearly every occasion. I wear them constantly.

Photo 1: The exact skirt I’m wearing is from the brand Caslon, which does lovely clothes, but sadly, this particular skirt is no longer available. However, we found THIS very similar style that has that same airy, flattering fit. And THIS tube top is a busty gal’s dream. More on that later.
Photo 2: Again, I don’t think this exact skirt is available anymore, but THIS one is very similar. I wear it with THIS unreal bodysuit (Yes, it’s from Kimmy K, what can I say, her clothes fit amazingly well and have a huge size range) and yes, my nips are making themselves known. I’m fine with it. I’m also wearing one of 19 pairs of sandals we specifically picked out for being exceptionally comfortable, and which all happen to pair perfectly with a long skirt.
Photo 3: There is nothing more comfortable than an extra breezy high-rise skirt with an elasticated waist. We love THIS one as a wear-all-the-time midi. And THIS lovely maxi is very similar to the one I’m wearing in the photo. It's perfect for under bathing suits or bodysuits and it's always supremely flattering.

2. THE CROPPED BUTTON DOWN SHIRT

What does a shirt have to do with not exposing one’s knees, you ask? Well. Maybe nothing. All I know is that the length of this shirt is so endlessly wearable, such a brilliant “outer” piece in warmer months when you don’t want to wear a jacket or a blazer but want to look slightly more buttoned up. I wear it with nearly everything. It comes in 87 million colors.

Photo 1: THIS shirt is from Everlane and runs slightly large. Look where it hits on the waist. So flattering it hurts, don’t you think? I could never do that oversized button-down “boyfriend” shirt thing without looking like a schlub. But this is magic. THESE jeans will truly change your life, the TANK is ribbed and therefore amazing, and THESE shoes (similar to the ones pictured) are the only heels that are remotely wearable.
Photo 2: This is the same SHIRT over this old, dumb DRESS from Amazon that suddenly I wear all the time now with the shirt. And THIS ha t which is my other solution for never washing my hair. Oh, and the most comfy flips that come in a massive range of nudes and colors.

3. THE FANNY PACK

I realize I may lose some of you here. Ironically, probably those of you who are my age, since we have VIVID and sometimes haunting memories of the fanny “fashion” of our youth. And while I know fannys are “back” when worn across the chest (according to TikTok), I just can’t with that trend. It slices my chest down the middle and bifurcates my boobs, and I feel like that helps no one to look their best. But worn around your waist?! Truly one of my favorite go-to little hacks to cinch loose dresses, cover up a pooch (NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH POOCHES), add a little interesting pop of color to an otherwise boring outfit, and mostly just to have full “use” of my “arms.”

Photo 1: I’m loving THIS one which holds a surprising amount of stuff and is incredibly durable.
Photo 2: A FANNY is especially handy for early morning dog walks in your PAJAMAS. THIS on e holds alllll my crap, and the neon makes my heart sing. Lean into neon.

4. THE AIRY PANTS

The high-waisted, wide-leg pant is a curvy gal’s catnip. There’s just nothing more flattering. And truthfully, shorts are not even that different in terms of their cooling properties. I wear these pants basically all the time. They work for almost anything.

Photo 1: While THESE pants aren’t the exact ones I’m wearing in the picture, they’re equally soft, breathable and wide-legged. I'm thinking of buying them in all colors. Be sure I’m one of those lunatics who stocks up on a single style when I find something that works.
Photo 2: Same HAT, same TOP, but now with my beloved wide-legged PANTS from Amazon. Yes, Amazon. And the price is beyond. (Size up one size).

5. THE MAGIC JEANS

I don’t think I wore a pair of jeans until I was 25 years old. The Gap didn’t have a “curvy” line back in the 80s, and literally, nothing fit over my butt. We are so lucky to have so many stores make clothes for those of us with intense hip-to-waist ratios, and while there are mannnnny jeans that I’m impressed with, nothing holds an hourglass-shaped CANDLE to the jeans from Abercrombie. They have made me a jeans person. There’s no waist gap. They come in so many sizes. They’re perfect.

Photo 1: Their straight-leg JEANS are so so so perfect. As we’ve established, I don’t like my legs. And mostly, it’s because they’re so incredibly short relative to my body, but for some reason, the Abercrombie straight-leg jeans work so well. I love wearing jeans with a ribbed TANK. And then I just throw on a blazer if I need to look semi-presentable. THIS one has immense stretch, so it’s the only one I wear. Ever.
Photo 2: So this is the third time you’re seeing a TUBE TOP, so we must address it. Similar to you being triggered by the fanny, you are likely also getting a little bit hivey from the tube top. But I promise you. A tube top (get one size smaller than your actual size) is a big-bosomed gal’s dream. I wear one constantly in the summer. It’s more flattering than almost any other cut on broad shoulders. Just look above. Don’t you agree? And paired with THESE bell bottoms, the proportions are perfect. I wore THESE heels for the photo because that little point of blue sticking out beyond the bell is so chic (and I def have worn them like this in the world), but tyyyypically I just wear my trusty flips.

Photo 3: These are the SAME jeans just two sizes larger than my normal size to create that “boyfriend jean” effect. And again the SKIMS bodysuit that you judged me for wearing from before.

6. THE WHATEVER WHEREVER DRESS

A dress is such a good choice because you only have to make ONE decision about your outfit that day. All three of these dresses work for the hottest days of summer and the cooler days of fall (all look great with jean jackets thrown over, boots, etc.), and they’re a great way of always looking polished and put together while basically exerting no effort. And. You’ll notice. The length. I believe they’re all considered “midi” length, so if you, too, would never expose your knees, that’s the right word to look for in a dress. And, of course, the fanny makes an appearance.

Photo 1: THIS is a dress I’ve been crowing about for like two years. It’s insanely flattering. I love it with those two-tone FLIPS.
Photo 2: THIS dress is splurgier than I normally go for, but when I tried it on, I decided to forgo Starbucks for two months (three months?) and get this instead. It holds you in almost like shapewear but feels like nothing. And it’s ribbed, which is the magic fabric for anyone with hips and boobs and a butt, like me. And it comes in many colors that are pretty gorj also. And look how that FANNY pops it!
Photo 3: This extremely simple but gorgeously cut DRESS from Everlane has been my go-to “fancy” dress for every occasion. This time, I brought the pop of color with the SHOE. I love wearing all black and then a pop of color or a neutral shoe. It’s memorable and chic but not too fashiony and annoying.

7. THE COLUMN SKIRT

This skirt is by SPANX. Did you have any idea they make clothes?! I didn’t. It definitely doesn’t feel like compression, but the material is so interesting and stretchy and feels dreamy. I think sometimes, if we’re self-conscious, we stay away from tight clothes when in fact, tight clothes are almost always MORE flattering. And this skirt is no exception.

Photo 1: This SKIRT has these two genius little side slits, and they are so insanely flattering. They show a peek of leg, but you’re still covered. And again, with that cropped Everlane little TOP! I like showing a h i n t of skin, especially since I never wear anything short, which balances things out. Throw a BLAZER over this and you can go to work. Or an interview. Maybe.
Photo 2: And here’s the “sporty” version of the SKIRT to show it’s wildly versatile. The material might be…neoprene? It’s very soft and almost bouncy, so it’s cute with a SNEAK and a TANK, too. Yes, and a FANNY. I know. I’m tiresome.

8. THREE MORE THINGS I COULDN’T THINK OF A CUTE CATEGORY NAME FOR

I leave you with a smattering of other things I wear “on repeat” as they say, because I find them all to be supremely flattering on a 40ish gal, with a 16-inch differential from my hip to my waist, when I want to look chic, vibrant, not fuddy-duddy, and, most importantly, so comfortable that I can barely distinguish my going-out clothes from my pajamas. Oh, and of course, without ever showing my knees. No. Knees. EVERRRR!!! (If you’re oldish like me you’ll get that insane reference).

Photo 1: THESE drop crotch pants are possibly my favorite pants. They are divisive, though. But I get compliments from strangers on these more than anything else on their list. And my fave JEAN JACKET of all time, ooops another FANNY that’s almost monochrome, a ribbed TANK, and neutral FLIPS. There’s a real capsule wardrobe theme emerging, isn’t there?
Photo 2: THIS cozy sweatshirt is low-key loungey but so, so pretty. The exact one pictured isn’t made anymore, but I wear THIS similar one all the time with the best JEANS of all time and over tanks. Have I been known to wear it over a flowy skirt cinched with a fanny? You know I have.
Photo 3: I saved the best for last. THESE leggings are the thing I wear the most on this entire list. Leggings weren’t really a “thing” back in the day, like at gym class in school or workout classes in college. The option was…shorts. So…I didn’t really exercise. Since the discovery of the yoga pant, life has become technicolor. I’ve tried a lot. But nothing comes close to the softness and comfort and TRUE high-waistedness (not a word?) of these. If you buy only one thing, make it these.

And remember. You’re beautiful. Just as you are.

The 8 Essentials I Wear Constantly As A 40ish Lady Who Is Self-Conscious About Her Legs