With a little leg work, you will soon be wearing those gold strappy high-heeled sandals, and that short, flirty sundress. Here's how:

Hair Be Gone!

The first step is getting rid of hair. Whether you shave with a razor and a bar of soap, or work many of the hair removal wonders that are on the market now, is a personal choice. It depends on how much hair is involved and how much time you have. Some of us tend to let this go during the winter, but now's the time to tackle it.

Exfoliate

Some call it cellulite, some call it the remnants of winter skin. I call it weird bumps. It doesn't matter - it can all be smoothed with a mesh shower ball and some exfoliating cream. Rub the backs and sides of your thighs, and anywhere else that needs to feel silky.

Get a Golden Tan

For light-skinned women, the next step is a self-tanner, used just on the legs. Pasty legs draw attention to themselves. And pasty legs with thin skin means your veins probably show.

So break out the self-tanner, and keep your legs bronzed all summer long. This means you'll want to reapply the self-tanner about every 3 days to keep up your leg color. Since you must wait at least 15 minutes after application, before getting dressed, work out a schedule that allows for this. Some women put the lotion on before bed and simply sleep in it all night. In the morning they shower, and their legs are a beautiful color.

More advantages of a darker leg: spider veins and freckles become less noticeable, and heavier thighs or saddlebags look less obvious.

The Foot

Every day after your shower, be sure to include your feet in your body lotion application routine. Wear flip-flops until the lotion soaks in.

Once a week, an all-out pedicure is a great way to maintain summer legs. No need to spend money, just do it at home. Soak your feet, file your toenails, and exfoliate rough spots if necessary. Dry your feet thoroughly, apply a rich lotion, and gently push the cuticles back with an orange stick. When everything's soaked in, put your favorite color polish on your toes. Keep the color by your bedside so you can do touch-ups during the week.

Shapely Legs

The good news: it's easier to get legs into shape than any other body part! And the exercises are painless, they can be done in small pieces of time throughout the day if you're in a rush, and results show quickly. What could be better? Here's how to get them:

1. Always choose the stairs.

2. Park in the farthest corner of the mall parking lot.

3. Do a few easy exercises, but do them every day.

In your bare feet, stand straight but relaxed. Go up onto your tip toes and back down. Repeat 20 times.

Stand, holding a chair back with one hand for balance. With a straight knee, lift your opposite leg out to the side as high as you can easily take it, then gently let it down. Repeat 10 times. Starting from the same position, lift your leg to the back for 10 repetitions. Change hands and legs, and do the other side.

For the inner thighs, we become ballet dancers. Stand with legs a few inches more than shoulder-length apart, with toes turned slightly out. With your back straight, bend your knees and lower your body until you feel your inner thigh muscles working. Repeat 20 times.

For inspiration, check out the article called How to Love Exercise, from the website My Makeup Mirror. And remember, don't do any exercises at all without first clearing it with your health care professional.

Gorgeous Shoes

Forget about what Carrie wears on Sex and the City. They have sexy summer shoes at Payless too. The only requirement? Let your pretty feet show as much as possible. Heels make the legs look leaner - just remember to vary your heel height every day and do some hamstring stretching at night. There are all kinds of soft inserts on the market now, so you can wear heels and still be comfortable.

It's good, too, to have a pair of flats to wear on occasion, and a pair of sports shoes for serious walks.

Gorgeous, sexy, silky legs can be yours this summer. Give it a whirl. Who can resist pretty sandals, pink toenails, and perhaps an ankle bracelet? It's time to enjoy your summer, you gorgeous thing, you.