Navigating Disability Fashion and Gender Presentation [CC]
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In this video, I discuss how my disability (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome); the chronic pain and other symptoms I may experience affect the way I dress and in effect the way I may present my gender expression.
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Annie Segarra (Annie Elainey) creates mainly first-person videos on introspective topics, social topics, sharing her experiences and thoughts on disability, body image, LGBT topics, gender equality, etc, as well as creative content; a variety of music/artistic media and short films. Annie identifies as a queer disabled (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) Latinx woman and uses she and they pronouns.
![Disability Misconceptions Tag (EDS) [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sBSzm9RbXAY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Disability Misconceptions Tag (EDS) [CC]](/img/tr.png)
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I have CFS and rarely am able to leave the house. I've always loved style and fashion, and I miss being able to wear what I want instead what is most beneficial to my illness and situation. So I have embraced the joys of pajamas! I used to be one of those people who just wears a ratty t-shirt, but now I have fun nightgowns and pajama sets that make me so happy to put on and wear for the day around the house. It's been a great outfit for me to be able to still express myself even when I'm just going to spend all day in bed.
YES! DAYTIME PAJAMAS!!
@@theannieelaineyyou’re my best friend I really like you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I can relate a bit to you, the only time I leave my home is to go to the grocery store or my doctors appointments, which I have multiple times a year. I use to just wear just a long big T shirt, but recently my grandmother bought me multiple cute pajama sets and I love wearing them they're so cozy and cute. I guess when you spend most of your day in bed cute comfy pj's does lift your spirits a bit. ☺️
Wow I didn’t even know I needed this conversation. I feel like there’s such a strong relationship between my disability and my fashion. Since I started using a cane part time I’ve felt this weird pressure to look more put together. Like for some reason wearing sweatpants and using a cane feels like a weird combination for me so on days where I know I’m going to need my cane I feel like I have to wear button ups or at least nicer shirts and pants. Also my pain prevents me from wearing skinny jeans which I love and boots because then I can’t walk right so sometimes I feel so limited in my expression
Ari Trueswell same! Somehow I get way more attention/ people trying to help when I'm looking frumpy. Being put together somehow makes people think, oh they've got it
THIS! I love you guys so much right now.
Tips I've learned:
* If you want/need to go braless but are self-conscious about your nips, get yourself a pack of reusable adhesive nipple cover pasties.
* Harem pants/capris and palazzo pants are super comfy and usually have an elastic waistband or drawstring, no buttons or zippers to deal with, and they are nice and roomy. Some palazzo pants are even made to resemble skirts.
* For those of us with cold feet, stick foot/toe warmers to the bottom of your socks before putting your shoes on. They last for many hours.
Random idea you may have already thought of: on days you want to present more "masculine" but need the comfort of a skirt, what if you try baggy loose basketball shorts? They work more like a skirt ;)
I love that idea! ❤
I've been thinking about this topic for so long. I'm genderfluid and I'm autistic and have fibromyalgia. Finding clothing that satisfies my gender presentation desires but also satisfies all of my sensory/pain needs. I really like to dress up really nice for any day that I feel a specific gender intensely but most of the time I end up in the same sweats and a baggy shirt. I used to get really upset about it but I've started to find ways around it. I also recently got a cane and I've found that it can be a great thing to build an outfit around!
I also had a wedding experience sort of like that. I packed two outfits because I was traveling really far away and I didn't know what presentation I'd be feeling on the day. I started the day in smart suit pants, button up shirt, and a vest but had to take it off between the ceremony and reception because it was too hot, too tight, and could be too difficult to get off by the end of the evening so I switched into the dress I brought.
This whole video is great and just what I needed
Love that you can relate! And so many others do as well!
Great video as always 💕 I related to this as a blind girl even though I have a very different experience. When I first started losing my eyesight I felt embarrassed wearing sunglasses and baseball hats inside (I’m light sensitive) but now I am am able to embrace it!! I feel like being blind has a beatnik aesthetic lol. I’m glad your videos exist :-)
Hi! Let me know in the comments what are some of your disability fashion hacks! Here's what we discussed in the video:
Skirts/Dresses/Shorts - less constricting for chronic leg pain
Buttoned-up Tops and Dresses - easy on shoulders
Holes in Pants - to relieve pressure
Sunglasses - for light sensitivity, migraines, sensory overload
Braless - to relieve shoulder pain
Annie Elainey I don’t know if this is a genderfluid/disability hack, but I think it is. I wear a lot of men’s pj bottoms both because I like them, and for wheelchair to toilet transferring reasons. Very relatable video. I need top surgery, but for wheelchair transferring reasons and probably other health related issues, I’m pretty sure it’s not going to happen. And it is like wearing a costume you don’t like and can’t get out of.
I have to wear Sketcher Shape-ups from having plantar faschiaits. They help my husband with back pain too I only do pants that I can just pull up and tie at the waste. Oh winter time is big time layer season!
Not really a hack for comfort but more to help ad individuality. If you have a mobility device like a cane that might have a design on it make sure to have easy to put on outfits that match the design it makes people think you're really well put together.
I've also found that for people who constantly have temperature issues like me you can always tie a flannel around your waist, it looks really cute and it's easier than trying to keep up with a heavier jacket.
Soooo glad you made this video!
I'm a fellow EDSer, here. Below are some of my EDS fashion solutions I've created over the years.
I'm grateful to have the choices of skirts, shorts, sweatpants, pants, whatever, etc. I'm reframing disabled attire challenges into something more positive. Yes, my clothing choices are more limited than the average person, but I'm filled with gratitude for having so many choices = a gift & a blessing. Choices = freedom.
As for gendered "dress codes", I don't care. I do my own thing without feeling I'm "breaking" a code. If people have expectations of me or if they care about implementing strict gender dress codes and judging me, I simply don't care if I adhere to their unrealistic, irrational thoughts. My comfort comes first. It's an act of self-love.
ANYHOO... some EDS fashion tips...
1. Under plastic wrist splints, instead of wearing the cheap white cotton padding "tube" which comes with the splints, cut the bottom end of a fun, colorful, sock (basically turning it into a "tube", so there are openings in both ends of the sock). Then cut a small thumb hole in the side towards the top. Wear under plastic brace.
This technique also works well for repurposing single socks which lack a match. Even if the sock doesn't have a cool print or funky color, the fabric of a basic black or white cotton sock is far more durable than that cheap cotton tubing which comes with most plastic braces and lasts for maybe -2 washings before falling apart.
2. ⬆This same concept can be applied to neck braces. Are your soft neck braces becoming dingy white, covered in little balls of pilling? No worries. Cut "tubes" from the sleeves of long-sleeve shirts. Then slip the sleeve over the neck brace for a stylish break from the usual bland brace.
3. Being that I'm spend most of the day in bed (resting, sleeping, using computer, etc), wearing cotton granny undewear is great. The ample coverage & sturdy material helps prevent pressure/discomfort on skin. Men's cotton undies would work as well. Cute sexy underwear (less coverage, thin fabric) should be reserved for, uh, "special moments" of short-term wear.
Another benefit to the big cotton undies is the abilty to wear a direct-to-skin pelvic brace (such as Saunders Group or OPTP brands) underneath the undies.
4. Shoes w skirts or dresses... Oh, wow. you're really lucky, Annie, to be able to even wear low heels. For some ESDers, we I can't even wear low heels. And, of course, any high heels at all are a no-go for all of us EDSers. 99.9% of other non-heel shoes are painful, torturous, injury-inducing.
Medical shoes look tacky w skorts, dresses, n' pants, so I've discovered that the most basic knee-high flat-bottomed winter boots can rock the look year-round. For this fashion solution, I suggest the cheaper boots constructed from plastic/vinyl (probably from China = less expensive) because the material has some give to it. Boots like this can be found at places like Target, Payless, Walmart, etc. (After buying the cheap shoes, consider donating a few bucks to a non-profit which helps child laborers.)
ANYHOO... once you acquire the knee-high winter boots, wear your ankle braces inside the boots. If your braces are extra-bulky, buy a size larger than usual, to fit the braces in.The boots need not be super supportive because the braces are doing all the work.
Black boots not working for you? Try white vinyl flat-bottomed knee-high boots. For more boot colors, check out knee-high cosplay boots which come in a variety of superhero colors.
4. Need to elevate your leg in public during hot weather whilst maintaining modesty? Skorts are the solution.
5. Need a durable skirt? Try a tactical kilt. Yes, they make them. A tactical kilt, is a spectacular combination of a long-lasting army pant fabric built in the shape of a skirt, complete w tons o' sturdy pockets & loops; great for holding latches for small things you can't carry = takes weight off wrists/arms.
The primary target group for tactical kilts (avaiable in many colors/prints) are men, but I've seen a few tactical kilts out there for women.
6. Haven't washed your hair in days? Too fatigued? In too much pain? No worries. Cover up your messy hair with a hat. Could be a basic baseball cap, or a way-stylish hat. I've found some really neat vintage hats for sale at costume shops, thrift stores, and even Craigslist.
7. Another option for unwashed hair: wear a handkerchief as a HEADkerchief. You could even be Rosie the Rivetor. Endless styles/wraps out there, for handkerchief on the head.
8. I have a bunch more ideas. Maybe I'll share more later.
I have trouble regulating my temperature and wearing cotton flowy pants has really helped. I find them at thrift stores often with elastic waist bands which is always a plus! Tight jeans and tender gut don’t mix well for me! I love them because I can often find them in a solid or print and if you wear a long shirt you can dress them up or I can wear it with a crop top to stay cool!
Also I totally agree with the braless, I absolutely underrated the pain and discomfort it was causing me.
Thank you soooo much for this video. It feels like someone else is living in my body and wearing these clothes. I live in non-elastic drawstring sweatpants because my allodynia (from fibromyalgia) is just too painful to wear things that are tight against my skin. Cotton material is my best friend and most comfortable fabric. I wish I could afford new pieces that fit and are actually comfortable. I just feel so stuck.
Re: light sensitivity, I’d check out light sensitivity glasses! Theraspecs is where I get my glasses. I have the blue Audrey indoor & outdoor glasses and they’re made specifically to block out light that causes migraines and light triggers. I don’t know how I lived life without them before. I really rely on the indoor specs. Their blog is also an excellent resource for late sensitivity and migraine pain in general. It also help me discover that wearing sunglasses inside can actually make your life sensitivity worse so I really would look into glasses specifically for light sensitivity, even if they’re not Theraspecs.
What's the blog for light sensitivity?
My clothing style has shifted a lot toward more loose dresses, layering, and long skirts, which I'm thankful for now that my disability has kind of forced me to really go back to comfortable clothing. I get asked a lot why I don't wear 'form fitting' stuff anymore, and pain levels and staving off numbness are a huge part. I also just like looking like a swamp witch, so I'm glad the style I have gravitated towards has become practical and affirming at the same time.
This video really hit home for me. I'm also in a big transition period in my life and haven't really had the money or energy to get new clothes, but I've felt somewhat uncomfortable in what I wear for a while now. I've graduated from college, but haven't found a job yet. Sometimes I feel like my clothes are "too young." I'm also realizing I am probably autistic which has made me more self-conscious in some ways. I haven't quite figured out yet if there is a bit of a gender aspect to it, also.
Disability wise, compression stockings have the biggest impact on what I wear. I'm really looking forward to summer being over. Summer + stockings can be really annoying and hot, which is just great when you are sensitive to over-heating. Both of my pairs got messed up early on in the summer, which just makes everything harder. I can't afford to buy more $100+ pairs just because one developed defects and looks like it has bleach spots or the other got a run.
For several years, I wore mostly full pantyhose, but I'm now preferring thigh highs because the waistband gives me stomach pain some days. I strongly prefer mid-thigh length shorts and dresses, though. So then there is the issue of clothing not being long enough to cover the big, silicone bands and feeling too exposed. Tights and leggings are too hot and also have the waistband issues.
Oh my gosh! How I could I forget about compression socks! I'm actually wearing them in the thumbnail of this video! Bless! They look so 90s and cute!!
I know this video is a bit older now, but I just wanted to say: I've watched this video several times since you uploaded it and it's Still Helpful and Reassuring!! I'll come back to it sometimes when I'm feelin especially affected by health/gender complications
I also struggle with health concerns affecting gender presentation, and it's hard to express! It's like,, trying to explain to people the interactions between two minority experiences to people who have never lived them is impossible. But it's hopeful seeing other queer disabled people find ways to work with this!
Your videos on gender and disability are very comforting to watch, and all of the other people commenting with similar stories really help to feel less alone lol
I needed this so very badly! Thank you for putting words to the feelings I secretly have around this. You have brought to light yet another level of adaptation that I subconsciously conform to. You’ve inspired me 🤗 I thought I had to give up on expression via “ clothing” but I have a new scope thanks to you
Is anyone else irritated by the fashion of waterfall cardigans without buttons which are a bugger with flapping when trying to crutch or transfer in and out of cars& chairs?
I like the 3/4 length tunic/shirt/cardigans' bum cover because it conceals the fact I'm always wearing elasticated, lounge wear/trackie bottoms for all the reasons you state, and loose fit helps conceal when I'm only wearing a vest top and not a crop bra.
I gave up on 'bra' bras despite 34DD 5-6Years ago for shoulder+thoracic pain reasons too... Needs must.
But the gender aspect on top must be a minefield mindfuck.
Thank you for speaking up Annie and doing such valuable work in the community xxxxx
I can totally relate with you on wearing sunglasses indoors. Migraines are the worst. I've been experiencing them since middle school. I am on the autism spectrum which makes different textures too much. When I was little I would cry every time I got new shoes because I hated how they felt.
I don't have any experience with chronic pain or EDS, but I have seen how it affects my sister who has CRPS/RSD. She can't wear rings because it causes her pain. She had a cyst on her ankle for years before it was removed and only wore slides because anything else would cause her pain.
I just want you to know that your identity is valid no matter what you wear. I hope that more companies will strive to make clothes more accessible.
If one more person comes up to me and starts singing "I wear my sunglasses at night", I SWEAR.
Attached to my head pad right now- love your videos! They make me feel empowered even if I can't have much independence.
This! Is! So! Cool! I’m so excited every time you upload! I’m so excited that you continue to push forward! You are so eloquent and clear! Thank you!
i have ulcerative colitis and basically had to stop wearing pants at all, especially jeans, because of belly pain and bloating. At first it was difficult to reconcile my conception of myself as "not a girly girl" with wearing skirts all the time, but then I realized my concerns were more centered around cliches and stereotypes that didn't end up relating to how I felt in my body, wearing my skirts. After some practice I now feel comfortable putting together more masculine outfits with skirts or leggings. But other people still get confused - casual Friday at my work is a day that most people like to wear jeans and I get teased a bit for not participating.
I can totally relate to this as a gender fluid person with EDS. I also have a problem with structured pants. I've switched over to elastic top, loose pants with a tapered leg so it doesn't look like sweats all the time. I also find that tucking in shirts helps a ton with the hours of angry red marks. The shirt still leaves some marks with the folds, but it's much wider and not as painful.
I've been struggling a lot with these things especially lately as I've been leaving the house a lot more for college (finally getting qualifications to go to university after illness kept me from finishing college 8 years ago)! So this video is so helpful and comforting and as always great to see a different perspective as well as the things we have in common 💜
Hey I loved and appreciate this video as someone who has a disability and going though gender stuff I totally understand feeling boxed in my you're disability when it comes to presenting, wishing you all the best 💕💕
This is a great video with many points I hadn't thought to considered. Thanks Annie!
THANK YOU!
I wear a nursing bra bc I can access my port without the ta-tas hanging out, no wire, it's great when I swell up, and I have discharge from cyst networks. Less than $15 at target and the clips don't need nimble fingers bc it's designed for a cisfemale holding an infant and clipping/unclipping w one hand.
I sewed cool coccyx support and rollator seat covers and next I'm making a new pump bag and zipper access in my shirts to my port.
I can't wait to figure it out bc my #disabledjoy and #live_on shirts are on point! And I'm tired of cutting my shirts.
#zebrafashion
#LGBTQIA #zebrastrong love
I love the sunglasses hack for sensory overload!! I experience sensory overload at least once every other day!
Love this conversation! Since an ankle surgery in high school, my left foot doesn't arch enough to physically fit it into any kind of high heel, so I've felt your frustration with events like weddings! I usually get shit for wearing flats, especially since I'm super short to begin with.
Also when my IBD flares badly, my stomach is so sensitive I can't have any fabrics touching it - empire waist nightshirts onlyyyy! I've also stopped wearing jeans and inflexible clothes because of how quickly my stomach expands/changes clothing sizes after eating. The pants I do wear, super low waist or high waist all the way, nothing that will have a tight waistband around the most sensitive area.
I am Autistic and Dyspraxic. I find that loose fitting clothing is the best choice for me because of the sensory problems, I can very much relate to your experiences of sensory overload from lights and sound as well as clothing. I dislike button up shirts partly because they are too tight when done up, but also because my Dyspraxcia means I can have problems with the buttons. The Dyspraxcia and Autism also affect footwear because shoelaces are something I will never be able to do, I have to get other people to do them up for me, and because of both conditions I walk in a way that wears shoes out very fast.
What is interesting, however is that in the UK it's pretty accepted for women to wear suits to weddings as guests not as a mark of gender presentation or sexualities but simply because they do not enjoy dresses and are fed up with fashion inequality I'm terms of the ease of dress code rulings for men!
I think my perspective on this binary also comes from living in Latinx culture as well where the gender binary is STRONG, like, if I were to show up at a latino family member's wedding in a suit I might be seen as vulgar, disrespectful, and offensive. Because I was raised in these surroundings, my mind can get a little stuck in the binary as well, these weird hard rules like. "If I have to wear clunky masculine shoes, I cannot possibly wear them with a feminine dress"
I didn't realize how relevant that was to this conversation until just now.
Absolutely sweetheart, the comment section and your video didn't even play the heritage and race card but there is certainly that tradition in play too which I have overlooked since in general these days, the white British UK wedding scene is majority non religious venues with a huge number of registered wedding venues that host the entire shebang- ceremony+ reception, not just hotels but converted barns and country houses etc.
I can relate so much to this fashion issues! I have a pretty painful lumbar herniated disc, so I can’t be seated for too long (now also because of my fibro and CFS) but last year I took me a long time to realize I was basically using a uniform like a cartoon character because every time I went out I used the same type of pants and large comfy shirts to the point that I had the pants reduced to a swiss cheese. I also gained a lot of weight so I am only now starting to try new clothes or combinations that can also be comfortable and trying new things that makes me feel pretty is actually very nice when I’m in the mood. For the other times I go with stay in my pjs. I am struggling with shoes at the moment because my ankles are too weak and keep turning outsides, so I have to use boots and ankle braces. Oh, my knees are sending yours a hug, they know how it is. You don’t have a tip for blouses when I have the same issues with raising arms/shoulder pain but also difficulty managing buttons?
Thank you so much for this video! also for making videos in general cause I know with the unpredictability of eds it can be so very difficult
if you dont feel like wearing a 'femenin' dress, you could weare a 'masculin' kilt
This is so interesting!! I prefer to present myself very ultra feminine but I just don’t have the energy anymore to do full makeup and cute hair anymore. Let alone shave so I can wear shorter skirts. And my balance is crap so I can’t wear heals anymore either.
We need more disability and genderqueer lines! And hopefully a few that’s made for both :)
So I have the opposite problem with tops. I have spastic cerebral palsy on my left side and struggle with buttoning things. Also shoe laces are a pain but slip ons slip *off* my left foot. I like wearing things with buttons or zippers open with another top under. Luckily I live in Florida right now and don't have to bundle up. When I lived in Washington, winter clothes were the bane of my existence. Also getting a haircut is hard when you can't hold your head straight. :-/
I don't have CP but one of my friends does and she has some AMAZING button up shirts that have faux buttons with magnets along the chest to close it up!! i have a dress shirt like that and it's pretty great, my hands get tired very easily so buttoning things is something i avoid. it was really helpful at my prom!!
Would you mind ding a video about bras specifically? My (currently undiagnosed) pain condition means any pressure on my ribs or skin is incredibly, blindingly painful and it's been really difficult to feel related to my body because I feel like I can only wear big baggy sweatshirts to hide my bra-less-ness. Something about tips for styling without bras or bras that are more comfortable than typical underwire/sportsbras in your size sorts of thing?
Those silicone reuseable nipple covers on Amazon are pretty cool, but each kind has different adhesives so it depends on your skin and how much you sweat. And how much scaffolding you need.
LOL I need quite a bit of scaffolding
I relate so much to this. I have 2 pairs of shoes that actually work with my feet. I have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and my toe joints are curled and messed up so I need extra room in the toes. So for everyday wear I have to wear crocs (and I dress pretty feminine, so it really cramps my style) and then I have 1 pair of black dress shoes that work for an hour or two before I start really feeling it. And those black shoes took over half an hour searching an entire giant shoe store to find, and it was a miracle to find them.
I can relate to not being able to dress the way I want to present (as a nonbinary person) sometimes bc I don’t have the money to buy clothes that would be comfortable and also bc I don’t have a disability but I do have a lower pain tolerance so I often can’t bind being more sensitive, and like no one should bind more than a certain amount so yeah that sucksss. I struggle a lot with not being able to bind sometimes, thankfully I should be able to have surgery thooo and hopefully sooon
With no pain or fatigue I would be super femme every day but pain days are leggings and hoodie days and I can't give up the hour of sleep necessary to do hair and makeup on a daily basis.
I mostly wear shorts and tshirts because I fatigue so easily and because of my sensory processing disorder. It really sucks when I want to look more masc but in the winter I'm confined to my leggings or sweatpants... Which can make my dysphoria worse. CONSTANT struggle. my little fashion/clothes hack is these shoes called fitkicks!! my work requires black, closed toed shoes (i can't handle shoes) and these help a lot. they're similar looking to water shoes. love thems
I'm depressed so 95% of my wardrobe is black and the other 5% is grey. I genuinely feel wrong wearing white or colours, like I'm lying to the world about being bright and happy when I feel like a walking corpse. I get that this isn't the same as dressing for comfort from a physical disability, but I guess I just wanted to participate in the conversation. This was a well made, thought provoking video and you look adorable in button-ups. Have a nice day
I found the radest shirt with Wonder Woman wrestling a raptor on it, but my autistic ass can't wear it because it's made of a blend and too scratchy 💔
i thought i was the only one that did the first hack!! i tend to wear a lot of jeans with holes in the knees because it helps my joints hurt less & sitting down doesn’t kill the backs of my knees either
I have EDS aswell along with POTS and I love active wear. Sport bras leggins. Also how else to wear knee braces. And wide soft fabric shirts in wich i don't overheat and don't have to iron.
My hair is usualy in a bun. If I lack the energy to wash them I use baby powder on them and comb through. Cheaper than dry shampoo and basicaly the same.
I would love to see a video how to integrate braces and splints without ruining your outfit lol
As always - great job! Thank you so much for these videos! 😻❤
Dont let the capitalist tell you that fashion is your identity. Wear the most comfortable and utilitarian clothing you can find. Formal dress events are bourgeoisie nonsense.
I also buy Vogmask n95 and Breathe Happy antimicrobial/antidroplet masks bc they're cooler than the scratchy blue ones and I can sanitize them in the laundry. I'm going to try to make masks and pump bags some day and just ship them to #spoonies
It's true that your clothes can easily cause your pain. I sometimes have that with cp
I am in the process of getting diagnosed with EDS and a seizure disorder. I never really thought about it, but I don't dress as androgynous anymore because pants hurt to wear. I've slowly been taking things away like belts because of bad brusing and skin tearing, so I wear suspenders. I also have sensitive skin, so sometimes clothing is extremely itchy. I didn't realize I had started to change how I dress until you pointed it out
Your channel is wonderful ❤️
Very interesting video. I don't have EDS. I have spina bifida. As with many with SB, I have, at 42, gained quite a bit of weight between my teen years (when I was a wheelchair racer) util now. I'm 70 lbs overweight and it is all in my belly. I wear XXL shirts, but XL shorts. And I need to wear those woven belts to minimise my pants sagging (which still happens regardless of what I do).
I'm very fascinated by fashion; I love looking at modeling, both men and women, on insta or in magazines, but my reality is not so simple. Clothes frustrate me when they should be the ultimate fun for a person.
I would say, wear whatever the heck you feel comfortable in.
Your video kind of reminds me of a discussion about how people present themselves in Second Life. In a virtual world you can present yourself as pretty much whatever you like. Able-bodied...in a wheelchair... We from Virtual Ability even have a raptor and a sphere among our friends.
I have scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis etc. I can relate to the frustration of getting dressed and being fashionable.
Thank you for talking to us about this! I actually made a blog post about how my disability affects my style.
Bras invariably dislocate my ribs!
Love your style
I love skirts and wear them pretty much every day, but I have this pair of plaid leggings that I've designated my "pain pants"--meaning just those and a turtleneck and I'm basically set with a reasonable level of comfort and respectability. A lot of the time I also have to dress warmer than other people because my disability causes muscle spasms, so you'll find me in really thick winter over knee tube socks and sweaters in like 50F weather.
With my hEDS, I ended up with a torn meniscus (the most recent trouble, anyway). My hack is wearing leggings with my brace. I just wear mostly leggings now but they're fairly comfortable. Also, front-close bras are a lot easier on my shoulders / ribcage than dealing with traditional bras. ^_^
Thanks for the tips!
I have joint/muscle pain and weakness in both arms which makes any task involving hands difficult. I leave enough buttons on my button up shirts undone at the top so I can slip them on! Saves my hands from having to do up e v e r y single one. (Not helpful if you have shoulder issues though). Also I wish I'd known of a good zip up binder before I had top surgery. Those were hell to put on just because of the strength/contortions required to shimmy into the dang things and pull them down.
Please tell your sister to do some more vids I love her channel
Your hair looks so good and shiny (:
Thank you for your video. How do you deal with the bra straps. I hate them. Having scoliosis is so painful to wear bras. I know exactly how you feel when you get exited for an outfit and then pain takes over and it all goes down hill. Same boat here.
also you should try some of those baggy, ""hippy"" like pants, they might be helpful!!
Hey Annie, I have EDS as well and just wanted to share some things. In regards to shoes especially, if i like a pair and they aren't particularly comfortable, i buy a size up to put the orthotics in, and room for swelling. I don't really have any hacks for heels, as I don't wear them.
I also find that tights and skirts can cause my waist and lower buck muscles pain after wearing them for extended periods of time. I need the tights because they compress my joints and muscles which helps with blood flow; and the skirts on hot days. Any tips of relieving band pressure?
I identify as a Demigirl, I’m pansexual, and I’m demiromantic. I also have classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I wear baggy clothing, which I love. Longer dresses, I wear braces a lot. I wear leggings compression for assumed POTS(i haven’t been testing. I almost always wear sneakers. I don’t care how fancy it is I wear sneakers. I wear jackets a lot and elastic waistband things. I also have that problem with jeans
Do you use a teleprompter? Do you have a behind the scenes at your in-home studio and equipment you use? You make great eye contact with camera. :-) Thanks for the inspiring content!
If I were in the position of not being able to wear trousers I would wear utility kilts/ regular kilts, but then again i'm from scotland so don't know if they would be recognised as masc where you are
The brand MNML (I buy on Dolls Kill) is great for comfortable androgynous clothing (including pants) Otherwise leggings are more comfy for me than pants. Theraspecs (expensive but worth it if you can) has migraine glasses that look more like prescription lenses so I no longer have to wear sunglasses inside 😎
My disability has guided my fashion a lot as I have to rest with my legs elevated usually on my sofa, because of that I don't wear any pants that have buttons or zippers as that's really uncomfortable so I only wear leggings cause they are super comfortable for me. Have you tried wearing wide leg pants to help your knee pain?
yes, I cannot wear jeans
The dodo has the cutest new video in which the featured puppy’s humans are spreading Ehlers-Danlos awareness!
ua-cam.com/video/qSy7q07mwew/v-deo.html
There needs to be more comfortable and fashionable clothing for individuals with disabilities and limitations. Clothing that's more easier to get on and off.
❤🧡💛💚💙💜✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Wow I guess I never noticed how much my disability dictates what I wear 🤔 Now i can’t decide if ignorance was bliss or not. Like it’s cool that I’m aware now, but now I’m also kinda sad and having a pity party... no one wants that. High price of being woke
Repent
Pls u and Christina doherty you guys are a match made in heaven not because of the fact you both have EDS but because I think that you two would just make good friends in general