For some, the symptoms of scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine) may be mild, allowing them to navigate day-to-day life as they have so far. Others, however, may have a more severe type of scoliosis and experience symptoms that impact their appearance and comfort such as back pain, uneven or protruding shoulder blades, and a spinal curve that’s more pronounced.
This can not only cause discomfort but make them feel less confident when dressing up and going out. The good news? Others with scoliosis have successfully navigated this issue so that they can dress for their scoliosis and feel great doing so. If you have scoliosis and dress more confidently, here are some helpful tips on how to dress up your curves.
1. Prioritize both comfort and fashion.
Arguably one of the most important tips to remember when you’re finding clothes that make you feel great is to prioritize comfort. Although there is an endless number of fashion choices out there, some options can dig into your curves and make it difficult for you to get through any events you’re going to. Many women with severe scoliosis have experienced this during special occasions and know how uncomfortable it can be to try to get through the event while your wardrobe is causing pain.
So, what type of dresses for women should you be looking at? The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for comfort. For example, even if you’re looking for petite dresses that are designed to hug your frame a little tighter, you’ll still be able to find high-quality options that offer you a little more breathing room than other form-fitting options. Additionally, many of these types of dresses will give you the ability to add accessories like a jacket that can make you more comfortable once you’re ready to show off your outfit in public!
2. Find clothing items that can draw the eyes to the clothes rather than your posture.
Getting scoliosis treatment, whether that be treatment options like a scoliosis brace or scoliosis fusion surgery, can help you correct the effects of your condition over time. However, in the meantime, you’ll still likely have to deal with the physical effects until it’s completely corrected, which means dressing in such a way that serves to make certain aspects of your scoliosis less prominent. For example, wearing off-the-shoulder tops, peplum tops (which help to enhance the waistline while hiding any major posture problems), and tunics with comfortable jeans are all great ways to draw more attention to your outfit instead of your body.
3. Accessorize the parts of yourself that you love.
Accessories not only highlight parts of yourself that you love but enhance your outfit and direct other people’s eyes to where you want them to go. Whether this means putting on some flashy earrings, adding some chunky bracelets to your arms, using a fashionable scarf to minimize notable posture issues, or grabbing your favorite large purse (not heavy, of course), accessorizing really pulls together your outfit and the attention of those looking at it. It can be a good idea to start with accessories that work with multiple outfits, then move onto more specific items that work perfectly with some of your favorite outfit combinations.
The symptoms of scoliosis can be severe and prominent, but that shouldn’t stop you from going out into the world and living your best life. Whether you’re looking for the perfect dress or want to improve your day-to-day wardrobe, use the tips provided above to learn more about how other women with scoliosis dress more confidently and how you can begin to do so too!