I loathe summer because I have such ugly legs

I AM writing to you even though I know there is no solution to my problem, which has been with me almost all my adult life — and I’m now 76.

But I’m not a ‘blue rinse, twinset and pearls’ old lady; just someone who detests summer and hot weather. Why? My legs. Please don’t dismiss this comment as just another woman unhappy with her body.

Seriously, my legs are so ugly I am even reluctant to let a doctor glimpse them.

Not only are my calves huge (inherited from my mother — the rest of me has always been fairly slim), my legs are bowed and worst of all, show masses of blue/purple veins.

When I was young in the Sixties, I was never able to wear swimwear, shorts or mini dresses. I endured bitchy remarks like, ‘You’ve got legs like a rugby player’ etc.

They’ve caused me so much trauma and unhappiness. I’ve been on holidays when everyone was wearing shorts during the day, except me. I’ve always longed to have slim legs, which is silly because it never can be.

I always cover them and can’t bear my husband to see them. He was once fastening some boots up for me, with difficulty, and started saying, ‘You haven’t got slim ankles like most...’ and stopped himself.

Magazine articles about how to ‘get the perfect legs for summer’ make me weep.

Truthfully, I have never seen another woman with legs like mine.

I just needed a shoulder to cry on. Have you got any suggestions?

DEAR BEL,

PERHAPS some people are expostulating, ‘Why is Bel printing a letter about somebody’s fat legs?’ And, ‘Surely there are more important issues in the world?’ But I mentioned your email to my mother, who’s had varicose veins almost all her adult life. She fully understood why you’re upset. And so did I. Physical flaws can cut to our hearts — and it’s no help if people say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter.’

We see the extremes of this in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) — a mental health condition (to quote the NHS) ‘where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others…Having BDD does not mean you are vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life’.

Many of us dislike an aspect of our looks. For me growing up, it was wearing glasses. For another it might be red hair or a big nose. You either do something about it (from contact lenses to plastic surgery) or come to terms with the ‘flaw’.

These days I believe it’s harder than ever to shrug and accept because we’re so bombarded with glamour. Love Island has much to answer for — as it makes young people addicted to the show insecure and unhappy about their faces and bodies.

You could do nothing about the legs you so dislike, and that’s why my shoulder is ready for tears — because I can imagine how hard it was when you and I were young. Age brings problems, but at least releases us from miniskirts and shorts!

These days it’s possible to dress in a wide variety of styles which disguise flaws. Personally, I don’t think women of 70-plus sashaying around in shorts is a good look, whereas wide trousers or palazzo pants are just perfect. Swishy ones in light fabrics, heavier for cooler weather, sporty ones with stripes is the way forward!

Look at the websites of M&S, Zara, Boden, eBay . . . search for ‘wide-legged trousers’ and you’ll find some great buys on sale. Pair with the latest trainers (Russell & Bromley has a sale on, and its platform trainers are good with ‘big’ trousers — just try) and you’ll look very on trend. Make this your own style.

Those, poor unloved legs have carried you faithfully for 76 years, so ensure you reward them with lovely body lotion every time you shower. Then veil them stylishly.

I never thought I’d make any fashion references here, but I know clothes matter as statements of who we are and how we value ourselves. So no more tears, Ann.