For women, that means skirts that cover the widest part of your thigh and hit 4-5 fingers above the knee. For men, that means dark washed jeans that fit you properly in the waist and are a slim fit. Avoid overly baggy clothing as this can actually make your entire body, including your thighs, look bigger. It's a good idea to also avoid low-waist skirts that shorten your legs and make your thighs look larger, as well as mid-calf skirts as they can look matronly or frumpy. This means purchasing clothing that is not too tight or too loose and is styled or cut in a way that slims your larger lower body. For women, clothing like wrap dresses and A-line dresses work to slim your thigh area and still look good. Avoid tight fitting dresses made of material that are too body hugging like lycra, nylon, and satin. Dark colors always seem to make everyone look slim. However, don't be afraid to wear prints, especially printed tops that draw attention away from your legs and thighs. If you are petite and larger in the lower body area, avoid very bold or large prints as these can overwhelm your look. Opt for the more detailed or printed garments to be skirts or pants. Avoid horizontal stripes as they can make you look wider and draw the eyes side to side, right onto your thighs. Go for tops, skirts, and dresses with vertical stripes as they draw the eye up and down. The whiskering on the thigh area of the jeans will only draw attention to your thighs. As well, go for dark wash jeans that fit you well rather than capris or short shorts that will only accentuate your thighs rather than slim them down.

Summary: Go for bottoms that cover your thighs. Invest in clothing that will slim your lower body. Stick to dark colors. Avoid whiskered jeans.

For children older than six, you can pick from a wide variety of musical instruments. Younger children, however, are limited in what kinds of instruments they can physically handle. If you are picking an instrument for a child younger than six, a violin or a piano makes the most sense. Young children can more easily handle such instruments. The piano can be a great choice for a young child because it provides foundational skills. A child can better understand music by playing the piano, as there is a visual representation of music that can help foster an understanding of musical theory. Violins are good options as well, especially because they can be made in small sizes for very young children. A violin also helps a young child learn how to tune an instrument, which is important for developing musical skill. Some children have body types that make them more prone to certain instruments. Keep body type in mind when selecting an instrument for your child. Height is a big factor when it comes to choosing instruments. A child that is of a smaller size will not take as well to a very large instrument, like a bassoon. If you're choosing an instrument a child plays with their mouth, think about lip size. Smaller lips do better with instruments like the French horn or the trumpet, while a child with larger lips would struggle with these instruments. Also, think about your child's fingers. Long and slender fingers will do better with a piano than short, stubby fingers. If your child has braces, or will get them soon, this can have a big impact on which instruments they can and cannot play. Braces will not inhibit your child's ability to play clarinets and saxophones that much. A flute will have an initial adjustment period for braces, but can be successfully played if your child has braces. Bassoons and oboes can also be played with braces. Braces are not as compatible with instruments like the trumpet, french horn, and baritone instruments like the tuba. A child should be practicing their instrument for 20 to 30 minutes a day in order to improve. Therefore, you need to pick an instrument your child is able to practice in your home or at school regularly. Large instruments, like a piano or drums, may not fit into your home if you don't have a lot of space. You should also keep in mind sound. If you live in a quiet neighborhood, people may complain about your child playing drums. You do not have to rule out a large or noisy instrument simply because it does not fit into your home. See if your child's school has a place where your child can go and practice outside of the home, especially if your child has their heart set on a particular type of instrument. Some instruments work better if a child who is highly coordinated. Woodward and percussion instruments would work best with a well coordinated child. If your child is not as well coordinated, stay away from these instruments unless your child expresses a very strong interest in learning them. If a child truly wants to, say, play the drums, they may be able to develop the necessary coordination with time.

Summary: Take your child's age into consideration. Evaluate your child's body type. Choose an instrument that works for a child with braces. Be practical about whether or not your child can practice regularly. Consider how well coordinated your child is.

Trouser-cut pants are a good choice for business or formal settings, such as the office or church. You can wear your trousers with a pleat or cuff if you like that look, as well. Skinny jeans are a casual style that is best suited to everyday wear or going out. Look for a pant that follows the shape of your leg as it tapers down to the ankle. You can experiment with distressed or neutral washes to complement your clothes. Straight-leg pants are a versatile cut that can equally become more formal or casual depending on the garments you pair them with. Look for pants that have a uniform width from the thigh to the ankle. This cut tends to flatter all body types. A big trend right now is pants that double as leisure and athletic clothes, affectionately known as athleisure. Pick up a pair of maroon legging that you can wear to the gym then to brunch. It'll be a comfortable, easy addition to your wardrobe.

Summary: Select trouser-cut maroon pants for a business look. Try maroon skinny jeans for a casual look. Choose straight-cut maroon pants for a polished look. Don maroon leggings as athleisure wear.

Avoid horizontal stripes and excessive patterns. These will draw unwanted attention to your body that you may be trying to avoid. Solid colors are a safer choice if you want to appear slimmer. The tried and true rule is that black is generally very slimming and flattering. Sticking with darker colors are a safe bet because brighter/lighter colors draw attention to your body and are less effective at camouflaging certain trouble areas. If you do choose a pattern, think vertical. Any vertical stripes or patterns that flow vertically will follow the length of your body and elongate it rather than cutting it off like horizontal patterns would. Statistics show that many women wear the incorrect bra size on a daily basis. Go to a store and get professionally fitted for a bra. The store clerk will make sure you figure out the exact right size for you. If your bra is too small, it can make you look top-heavy; if your bra is too big, it will make you look frumpy. A well-fitting bra can also have a minimizing effect for women who feel they are too top-heavy. Wearing shapewear garments under your clothing will help slim your figure, smooth out lines, and give you better posture. All of these are good things that will help your clothes look more flattering. A wide belt (not a skinny belt) will help hide your tummy if that is a problem area for you. Sparkly earrings or exciting headbands can draw attention away from your body and direct people to look elsewhere. In general, shoes that stop at your ankle or have ankle straps will make your legs look shorter and cut off the smooth lines of your body. Instead, go with some tall boots or ballet flats. And of course, heels make everyone's legs look great.
Summary: Know what designs work best. Wear a bra that is the right size. Invest in some shapewear. Choose the right accessories. Pick flattering shoes.