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Original poster

summer clothes and varicose veins

101 replies

trouserqueen · 26/04/2011 14:22

Hi there

Reading the thread on leggings and summer dresses inspired me to start this thread.

I have really bad varicose veins on my one leg which means I am really limited to what I can wear on a hot day. The veins are below the knee so that only trousers or totally full lenght dresses would cover.

I think the comment from a poster who said that leggings with a dress hints that someone is ashamed of their legs, well yes I am!

I have a good figure and am slim but there is no way I could ever ever reveal my legs in public. Holiday abroad is fine as I have no choice and no one knows me, but walking around the shops streets at home no way!

I have had surgery twice which has improved them slightly as in they don't stick out but are stilll very visible.

I wear dresses and tights and that's is fine(thick ones) and occasionally leggings and shorter dresses but never bare legged.

To make matters worse my one foot has millions of broken veins so even shorter trousers are not an option!

Is there anyone else afflicted like me? If not, what do you think seeing a woman in trousers during a heatwave? I feel like a granny.

OP posts:
YusMilady · 27/04/2011 15:27

Chandon all over the place - previous seasons from such predictable fall backs for the femme d'un certain age as Toast, Reiss, Jaeger and Hobbs, but Jigsaw have got some great stuff this summer. I've got my eye on this although the model makes it look like a paper bag: [http://www.jigsaw-online.com/fashion/1001260/J13633/womens/skirts-and-shorts/linen-silk-herringbone-skirt]

Original poster
trouserqueen · 27/04/2011 16:09

Good support here! Thanks.:)

Those considering surgery may not actually have option of what type, it may depend on the veins. mine were stripped twice, dr said only option. Big veins involved or summat.

I too, would prefer surgery scars to veins. Also, age is a factor. To have old ladies legs in your 20,s and 30's when everyone os wearing mini skirts and clubbing. And imagine a young woman clubbing surrounded by blokes showing off her varicose veins?! Unthinkable to me. It wouldn't happen. Its ok to be out and proud in theory, but age plays a huge part. If I were 50 odd and developed them after years of good legs I could accept it as an age thing. To spend the best yrs of your life like it isn't the same.

Also I I said, if it were a couple of lumpy ones high up my leg itd be ok, but ALL over lower leg looks odd.

I agree, I would love to see a pic and even show mine, but wouldn't know how to! Plus you would all flee the site!

OP posts:
YusMilady · 27/04/2011 17:01

I do sympathise trouserqueen, but I'd equally say that to spend the 'best years of your life' feeling ashamed and covering yourself up is pretty sad too!

Hope you find a solution that works for you, and gets you out of bloody leggings!

Chandon · 27/04/2011 18:38

thanks YUS!

wildfig · 27/04/2011 23:09

I have a couple of pretty horrible ones on the back of my right calf, and I've had them since I was quite small, so that, and the fact that I can't actually see them and they don't hurt, mean I don't think about them that much. I have legs like a Wigan front row anyway, so really it's probably just as well that i've never done miniskirts.

Every doctor who's passed an opinion on them has told me to wait until I've finished my childbearing before any surgery. As i haven't as yet managed to have any children, I suppose I'll have to spend the uni tuition fees on ludicrously expensive laser vein surgery, and stick to nude fishnets in the meantime. Grin

bladders · 28/04/2011 22:27

Been watching this thread with interest. I have a lovely varicosity on my calf courtesy of my pregnancy. Huge amounts of thread veins too. And to add into the mix, a hefty amount of lipomas dotted around my legs and backside. Also on my arms. They are lumps under the skin that just look delightful. Every year I have the same dilemma about summer dressing. Roll on winter when I can hide the skin away again.
Bloody horrid isnt it. Mine is all inherited. I am in my 30's. Its just depressing to think what kind of state my poor body might be in in a few years time. It makes me so sad. I used to have beautiful legs in my teens and I never showed them off, too self conscious. I say fake tan and get them out a bit. Its just too depressing otherwise. I might well join you. Lets be brave.....

violet12 · 23/01/2013 18:59

Hi I have found a site called pebble support tights they have opaque tights in flesh tones not black for a change they arcompression tights which hold you in might your veins a lot less bulgy and you can't see anything through them it took me nearly 6 months of getting in touch with companies they even sent me a few samples my veins area bad I never thought I'd see the day when I wore a

Thirstysomething · 13/02/2013 12:56

Hi Violet, it looks like your message got cut off - are the tights good? I have a really important wedding to go to this summer and have super bad thread veins all over one leg, right down to the foot, it would help so much if I could find some tights (or even better make up?) which would disguise the problem. The rest of the summer I just grin and bare it ;)

Missbopeep · 13/02/2013 13:32

If they are flat veins and not bulging, can you try using fake tan religiously in summer? I have one small varicose vein that I am conscious of, but it's just below my knee on the back of my leg. I also have some small spider veins on my calf- so in summer I don't show my legs ( which are quite shapely) without a layer of false tan.

JeffFaFa · 13/02/2013 14:19

missbopeep - i have bad varicose veins at the back of my legs from knee toward thigh but not bulging, and one at side of knee about 1cm that is bulging, do you think fake tan could improve the look of these? im only 27 but 2 children have caused them :( ive never wore a skirt or dress since my early teens and summer is a killer, i also have boney, veiny feet that swell in the heat :(

Ive never used false tan though could you recommend something easy to apply im very fair skined, think blue white!

Snowkey · 13/02/2013 14:28

I asked this question on here last year too and a lovely Mumsnetter recommended Sally Hansen fake tan - leg make up - the pale one and it works, they are disguised - not completely hidden but no one stares at them but me.

Missbopeep · 13/02/2013 16:12

Oh that is such a shame not to wear skirts or dresses- honestly- why worry what people think?

But- I like St Tropez fake tan- it's the one for fair skin in a tube and I usually mix 50/50 with body lotion for first application.

Another nice one is Clarins gel- again mix 50-50 to start.

champas · 18/02/2013 22:31

Hi there, I'm 46 and just decided to try the laser treatment, can anyone recommend this?

I'm fed up with the summer leg camouflage game. I've been unlucky inheriting veins which bulge in the heat on my left calf,and each year it's getting worse,especially when we go abroad somewhere hot.

Last year i got off the plane wearing skinny cotton jeans which looked cool,but i had my surgical tights on which I cut off at the ankle so my feet showed.(my left leg really ached when we reached our hotel probably tights didn't work!).

Then round the pool, poolside I had fake tan on my legs and had long sarongs and always tried to sit with my legs up so the veins didn't show so much.

In the evening, I either wore cropped white skinny jeans or leggings. Also I had a couple of sheer dresses, I think the fashion last year was great!, I had the excuse had to wear white cotton leggings,because they were see through. One dress was short at the front and long at the back.

navneetsingh · 19/02/2013 07:51

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MoodyDidIt · 19/02/2013 11:10

aww i feel your pain op

i am lucky as i have long slim legs but one of them is pretty much ruined by varicose veins since my dcs :(

at least i look ok in leggings / skinny jeans!

prettyanddainty · 19/02/2013 14:27

wideawakenurse I was wondering if you would be so kind to post that product you are talking about? I suffer with unslightly stretch marks on my legs, so also in the situation where i have to cover my legs in the summer.

juejue1 · 03/05/2013 01:14

Wolford Neon tights have changed my life!! Honestly!! Ok I'm 51, probably a lot older than you yummy mummys but I've hated my legs forever. In my teens, 20's and 30's skinny legs (wasn't fashionable to be thin then) after three children a couple of small varicose veins and now humongous amounts of blue broken veins on my calves. I have not worn dresses for 20 years until last year, now I wear them all the time. Pricey but well worth it, they just cover everything, seeing is believing, just try them.

Hopefully · 03/05/2013 06:59

I'm 30 and I have quite bad VV on one leg and spider veins ALL OVER and I made a real decision a few years ago to just think bugger it and not care. And once my legs have a bit of colour it is so much less noticeable - Sally Hansen spray on legs stuff is my friend until I get a tan every year!

Most people are far too busy stressing about their own grey hairs/ veiny legs etc to care about anyone else, and if they do notice, who cares? Would you judge someone with bad scar tissue down one leg? VV is just a bit of damage on the inside instead of the outside.

Thirstysomething · 08/05/2013 17:18

Anyone tried Dermablend or Cover FX or any of the tattoo cover up body make up?
I have a wedding in two weeks - all the tights I have tried either don't cover the veins, or make me look like Nora Batty they are so thick and skin coloured.

I really don't want to wear black opaques if it is hot (some hope).
Fake tan helps, but to be honest, doesn't really do that much if your veins are bad. Mine aren't sticky-outy, just look like really terrible bruising all over one calf and ankle.
Thanks!

Huffpot · 08/05/2013 21:56

Wow! Am very glad I'm not the only one with lumpy bumpy legs and spider veined ankles that look like I've been beaten around the legs

nessamac · 16/05/2013 13:46

Try MAC face and body foundation and then dab their pro longwear concealer in the same shade onto the worst areas. It really does work and covers everything. I have really bad spider veins and some of them are lumpy and they completely disappear. As a bonus, if you get the right shade you can look as if you have a terrific tan! It doesn't rub off or transfer onto clothes once it's set. You need to use a flannel and soap to remove it at the end of the day. I'm going on holiday next weeks and plan to use it by the pool. I'm pretty sure it will stay put in the water.

Marylou2 · 16/05/2013 15:15

Ladies, you are inspirational! I also have varicose veins on one leg which are much improved after surgery. Hadn't worn a skirt for twenty years and still really self concious. I think I just got into the habit of covering up. I've never spoken about my veins to anyone apart from my surgeon not even DH. I feel so much better after reading all your experiences and I hope everyone has a lovely summer-in leggings or not.

trice · 16/05/2013 16:43

I have lumpy purple veins on my legs. I hide them until I get hot. After that I just have to let everyone else get over them. I have never noticed them on other women.

Thirstysomething · 17/06/2013 14:24

Hello, update if you are interested - I used Dermablend for the wedding, but I don't think I would have used it without tights. If you didn't have such bad veins though, it would be brilliant.

I got the mini palette of lots of colours from Escentuals which was great for just a few uses, eg occasion, or if you were going on a weeks holiday.
Then when we were up for the wedding I found a pharmacy with the cover stick testers and bought one (totally different colour to the one I would have thought, so well worth testing...).

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