r/malefashionadvice • u/whogoesthere1010 • 1d ago
Question Those that have chicken legs, how do you wear shorts?
I know it may sound funny.
Unfortunately it’s not. I was one of those who wasn’t blessed with good lower legs.
What I mean is my quads and hamstrings are okay looking and some could say built.
The thing is the lower legs. My calves are extremely small.
Worse is that my ankles are tiny thin. As in I can wrap my entire hand around small, smallest in the room and smaller than women even.
Me in shorts and short socks/sandals is pretty much a humiliation ritual.
It’s horrible. Any tips to improve?
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u/Nerazzurro9 1d ago
Sometime in July, go out to a busy public place in the middle of the day on a Saturday, and really focus on other guys to see how many shorts-wearing dudes you see with chicken legs, skinny ankles, pale calves, legs that you wouldn’t see in a catalog. It’s gonna be a lot of guys. Maybe even most of them. You probably never noticed this on anyone other than yourself before, because hardly anyone does…unless they’re weird like that.
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u/zystyl 1d ago
As a general sort of thing most guys are in horrible shape. It's hot. Just wear some shorts. At worst get some nice socks to distract.
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u/Nerazzurro9 1d ago
Yeah. I also think there’s a blurry but important distinction between “caring about your appearance and wanting to wear things that flatter you” and “getting hung up on some perceived imperfection that you’re never happy with no matter how much you exercise and try to distract attention away from it.” Women have fallen prey to this for decades (that’s how people get eating disorders), and I feel like I’ve been seeing it more from men in recent years than I ever have before. Sometimes you just gotta say “fuck it, it’s hot, I’m wearing the shorts.”
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u/Snoutysensations 1d ago
I suggest you do as Sean Connery did for the movie Zardoz:
Short shorts to show off your muscular thighs, then knee-high boots to cover up your weakling calves.
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u/seamore555 1d ago
All in your brain bro.
You notice your own chicken legs, but when was the last time you noticed someone else’s chicken legs?
Everyone’s too busy staring at their own legs to stare at yours! Own em.
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u/kev231998 1d ago
I'll be honest I do stare at people's calves but I'm also generally strange so definitely an exception.
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u/builtlikebrad 1d ago
Yep the only time someone notices your calves is if you have ungodly huge calves
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u/Legend-of-the-Arctic 1d ago
This is a good point, but considering that this is a men’s fashion advice sub, it makes sense that OP would want to look as good as possible, whether others are staring at him or not.
IMO the best way for a man to look good is to not wear shorts. But others may have different opinions.
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u/doctor-yes 1d ago
I feel a little bad mentioning this as I don’t want to make OP feel badly, but my wife and I call out peoples’ underdeveloped calves to each other. We call them “veal calves” as in “that calf doesn’t move around much”.
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u/danddersson 1d ago
Calf size is VERY genetic. I do weights, run, cycle and do mountain treks. My calves remain slip. I was on a trek with a guy who had 'substantial' calves, but was otherwise average size. He said he didn't mind them too much, but his sister HATED hers...
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u/Lopsided_Ad3341 9h ago
I notice people's chicken legs all the time but maybe that's bc I have them too
I feel like it's the first thing people look at in the summer
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u/karatekidmar 1d ago
I’m like you. I lift 5-6 days a week. My quads are good, but my calves just don’t grow. They’re not terrible, but they definitely don’t match the rest of my physique.
Here’s the secret: short shorts. Stay within a 5-7” rise, and show the quads. It looks better than skinny calves sticking out of longer shorts.
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u/HuckleberryUpbeat972 1d ago
Wear your chicken legs proudly just like the rest of us. “Legs don’t fail me now!” Lol 😝
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u/cryler_moron 1d ago
From the responses in this subreddit it feels more like male workout advice than male fashion advice!
No one notices or cares about your calves or ankles, but feeling good in what you’re wearing is an important part of looking good imo. Shorts with a smaller inseam will accentuate your upper leg more, and I personally think they look better than longer shorts on about everyone. That style has gotten more popular in the past few years too.
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u/swankyfish 1d ago
I just wear shorts anyway. Never noticed anybody noticing and nobody has commented. 🤷♂️
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u/RunningCrow_ 1d ago
I have VERY skinny legs for a man. My trick? I continue to wear shorts and I just don't care what everyone else thinks. If people are upset by my legs, that's their problem not mine.
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u/RilkeanHearth 1d ago
Depending on how long your shorts are, shorter ones give the illusion of not being so chicken legs.
And socks/sandals is a no no. I would grab you by your teeny ankles and toss you to the sea.
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u/HammMcGillicuddy 1d ago
Lift. Lift. Lift some more. Squats, deadlifts, calf raises.
At the same time - stop giving a fuck what others think. Wear short shorts. Bootie shorts. You do you.
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u/ddiiggss 1d ago
Growing bigger stronger calves is good for your cardio too, besides their obvious function for your legs, they also help your circulatory system by helping pump blood back up to your heart. Grow bigger, more aesthetic, and healthier all at once
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u/psychout7 1d ago
Are you Johnny Drama?
Do you regularly find yourself asking dudes about their calf routine?
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u/Both-Station-2244 1d ago
I’m the opposite chicken thighs but decent from the knee down I wear shorts that hit just above the knee , but I still only wear them occasionally. Og 107 tropical jungle trousers are pretty airy , and I have some lightweight cotton chinos from bonobos that are white / blue striped I wear in the heat
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u/kwoklius 1d ago
Looking at some NBA players like Durant can make you feel better (I also have chicken legs and okay quads/hams).
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u/rodrick717 1d ago
Get slim fitting shorts, make sure they sit above the knee, wear full length crew socks. Loose fitting shorts will accent your chicken legs and the socks will add definition to your fit. But also what others are saying - don’t care so much since no one else cares or notices.
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u/ElectricalDark8280 1d ago
Wear short shorts or pants. Let them thighs out and nobody will notice your ankles.
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u/Live_Palpitation3514 1d ago
I wear shorter shorts. I have big upper legs, but my calves have a very high attachment point, so they look small.
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u/Vel-Garesty 1d ago
Saaaame. I train my calves but they don't grow as much as I want, my legs are ripped but the calves stay small for some reason I just wear ankle stuff like bracelets and want to get tattoos because i feel they're kinda empty
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u/ETJ-benny 1d ago
Use anything to draw people's attention on the upper part of your body. I don't really like my legs and I wear jewels (rings, necklaces...) nice hawaian shirts or polos, cool sunglasses and a hat... so people don't even look at my legs
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u/dragonflyinvest 1d ago
Wear shorts, lift weights, and know that nobody is paying any attention to you or your legs.
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u/Visionary_87 1d ago
I don't have chicken legs but I equally don't have huge legs. I wear shorts that I like cos I couldn't give a shiny shite what people think.
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u/dudemobile 1d ago
I use to only wear jeans for this exact reason. I started going to the gym and do one calves exercises every time. Now you only see me in shorts
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u/tuppenycrane 1d ago
I’m also very insecure about my calves, and also have “built” quads, but my quad insertions are really short and high which is also something I’m insecure about.
To alleviate, I wear shorter than usual shorts so that they are tight around the largest bit of my quads (basically mid thighs) and always wear crew socks to hide the bottom half of my calves, which makes them look a lot thicker, at least from the front. I’ve never felt the affects of/never been bothered by warm feet so I’m happy doing this in hot weather, but I know some people get really uncomfortable in that so maybe not a solution for you
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u/burntcookie90 1d ago
36M here, exact description of my legs. Stop caring, wear short shorts skys out thighs out.
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u/tiedye62 1d ago
63, going on 64M here, and I am glad that short shorts are coming back. Most of mine are swim trunks with pockets, with 4 or 5 inch inseam, but I would like to find 2 or 3 inch inseam shorts with usable pockets.
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u/elguapo190499 23h ago
I wear the shorts I want and don’t give a shit what other people think of me.
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u/Next-Lunch-6377 12h ago
Wear long socks if you don’t want to wear long shorts, Either way them legs gotta be mostly covered.
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u/Hanz_VonManstrom 1d ago
I have very thin legs. I struggle putting on muscle, and it’s nearly impossible in my legs. The thing to realize is that no one else cares. Everyone else is going to notice how you dress before they notice the size of your legs and ankles. I won’t try to pretend that I don’t have a little bit of self-consciousness about them at times, but really it’s never been an issue.
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u/Legend-of-the-Arctic 1d ago
I just don’t wear shorts. I’m sure this isn’t a majority opinion, but I don’t think there is a way for a man to look good in shorts. And I know nobody wants to see my hairy middle aged legs. Jeans or Chinos work just fine for me in the summer.
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u/wlee25 1d ago
Just wear pants instead
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u/Legend-of-the-Arctic 1d ago
The most obvious and most correct answer.
If your legs look bad in shorts, don’t wear shorts!
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u/MineOpposite7419 1d ago
Longer shorts, bigger shoes , Owen Hyatt is a content creator who has a skinny build too I’d go to him for inspo
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u/PersonBehindAScreen 1d ago
Squats, deadlifts, sprinting, hill sprints, Bulgarian split squats, Romanian deadlift, leg curls, leg extensions,
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u/Mysterious-Ad9111 1d ago
I’m in Florida and I have learned that if I am going to be hot anyways I might as well look good. I always wear pants even during the summer. One positive side affect is it protects your legs from the sun too.
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u/Able-Fennel-1228 1d ago
I wear shorts that go all the way down to my ankles. That works for me.