Balancing Comfort And Fashion When You Have A Chronic Illness

I don’t think women should be forced to choose between comfort and fashion.

It can be so hard to find clothes that don’t aggravate fibromyalgia and pain from chronic illnesses. Once I got diagnosed, it suddenly made so much sense—no wonder I have so much trouble finding clothes!

I’ve never been able to stand tight clothes, thick waistbands, itchy tags. If clothes are made in a way that seams press into my skin—no thank you! And I’ve never understood why people love wearing tons of layers—I have to so I don’t freeze, but it’s so hard to find clothes that layer well together without causing me more pain, especially through my shoulders. The weight and bulk of layers can really make my fibro flare up.

 

WHAT’S A GIRL TO DO?

If you have trouble finding clothes with fibro, this post is for you! I’ve linked to what I’m currently wearing all the time, and added tips on what has helped me find my most comfortable and stylish clothes. That way, if my picks aren’t your style, hopefully you’ll leave with some ideas to help you find clothes that fit your style and help you be more comfortable.

Some links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of sales, at no additional cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support of my blog!

Because of my pain and discomfort, my go-tos lately have become pajama pants and loose tops. The idea of wearing pajamas all day has never appealed to me. If I don’t get “dressed” in the morning, I just don’t feel put together. Back when I was homeschooled for several years, people would often exclaim, “Oh cool! Do you wear your pajamas all day?” Ummm, no. Getting dressed has always been a part of getting ready for the day. I wouldn’t pick to wear pjs nonstop, so being forced to wear pajamas has made me feel not quite like myself.

 

SOME TIPS I’VE LEARNED

I recently decided I needed a change. Feeling unwell all the time has already made me struggle with not feeling like myself, and I didn’t need my clothes adding to the problem. And chronic illness is hard enough on your self esteem without your clothes making you feel frumpy.

I really enjoy fashion—pretty colors and patterns and silhouettes make me feel happy. While I am in no way implying that my worth is caught up in my appearance, I believe clothes can be a tool we use to help brighten our moods, especially if we’re dealing with illness. They’re also a way to express who we are. Being able to choose what I wear feels like a victory over chronic illness.

So I decided that I’d start small, and at least once a week, I “dress up” even if I’m not leaving the house. No pajamas allowed! And it has helped to look in the mirror and see me looking more like myself. All the clothes below have passed what I’ll call “the pajama test”—I’ve worn them all day at home when I could have easily changed into a pair of pajamas!

A quick note on what I look for in a fit: I’m pear shaped, so I favor clothes that emphasize my waist and minimize my hips. (If you don’t know your body shape, now is a great time to look up the kind of fits that are most flattering for your figure. This will also make finding comfortable clothes much easier.) My shoulders are broad compared to my torso, so I struggle to find tops that fit without pinching my shoulders (I can’t stand that pinched feeling!). I also can’t tolerate pressure on my lower back (I gave up on belts a few years ago) or pressure on my ribcage (I get enough of that from asthma, thank you very much). Writing down some things you like/don’t like in clothing can help you make decisions more easily in the dressing room.  

 

MY FAVORITE DRESSES

I tried on these two Mudd brand dresses recently and just stood there in the dressing room in shock. “These are the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn in my life,” I told my mom (aka, my Personal Shopping Assistant). The fabric is velvety soft, the fit looks tailored but feels lightweight and loose. I could go on and on about how much I love these dresses. They pair easily with leggings and sweaters and have become my go-to whenever I want to look dressy but still feel extremely comfortable.

It looks like they’re currently on clearance, so you may want to buy sooner than later. I actually emailed Mudd and asked them to continue making these styles of dresses! I’ve never done that about an article of clothing before! I didn’t hear back from them, but I hope they keep making them. (I may have also suggested different colors I would love to see them in…)

Keyhole Fit and Flare (4 different colors)

(They come in plus sizes too!)

Love, love this dress! The way this dress is constructed of vertical panels is very figure-flattering. And it’s so comfortable that I gladly wear it all day instead of pajamas!

Crisscross Skater Dress (4 different colors)

(Also available in plus sizes!)

I like that this dress has a trapeze style that puts absolutely no pressure on my waist or hips, and it’s also flattering on my figure. Because of the looser fit, I bought this dress one size smaller than the Keyhole dress.

What to look for in dresses: flowing fabric that compliments your figure and doesn’t overwhelm you. Lightweight to prevent shoulder pain.

 

MY FAVORITE PANTS

In this blog post about the fact that comfort and style really can go hand in hand, Chronically Stylish blogger Dana Renata makes the point that having comfortable pants is key. I couldn’t agree more!

I was so excited to discover these Time and Tru Jeggings last month. When I pulled them off a rack at the store, I was momentarily confused because they were so lightweight. Were these children’s jeggings? NOPE, they are that wonderfully light. One of my main complaints with other jeggings is that they are so elastic-y and thick that they feel like waterlogged fabric.

And then I tried them on, and they felt like pajamas! But they have a nice texture so they LOOK like jeans. And not only that, they FIT! Most jeggings I’ve tried that have fit through my hips have been way too big in the waist, defeating the whole purpose of jeggings—not having to wear a belt. I’ve worn these without a belt with no feeling whatsoever that they were sliding off. And they’re comfortably stretchy (no weird pressure that keeps you from bending your knees like some jeggings).

I found they fit true to jean size, which is nice. I’ve often had to size up when buying jeggings in the past.

They come in various different shades from arctic white, light (pictured), dark, and black.

And there are fun patterns like these polka dots!

They also come in capris like this red rum and these cheerful colors and fun patterns

I just discovered they make bermuda shorts too. I know what I need for this summer!  

What to look for in pants: lightweight, textured, small waistband, fit that complements your waist and hips. Tailoring might be a good option for getting a comfortable fit through the waist.

MY FAVORITE LEGGINGS

Since I’ve already gone on and on about the above products, I’ll keep the rest of this post more brief: these are my favorite leggings in the whole wide world: a.n.a. knit leggings. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and pair perfectly with dresses or tunics.

 

MY FAVORITE TOPS

Layering Tip: Start with a sleeveless shirt. I wear tank tops year round to keep my shoulders from feeling pinched. I’ve found that reducing the bulk of sleeves makes it so much more comfortable to wear a sweater or blazer over a tank.

I was excited to find some tunic-style tops by the brand Justify (available at Fred Meyer) that were long enough for me to wear with leggings.

I have tops similar to this style from Bongo brand that I wear over tank tops frequently (mine have sleeves that reach to just above the elbow, but other than that, they’re the same brand and style). I’ve also found lightweight, flowy sweaters from GNW brand (at Fred Meyer) and comfortable cardigans from Old Navy.

 

MY FAVORITE SOCKS

Now wait, before you say “But Cassie, those are compression socks,” hear me out. These socks don’t look like compression socks but they still help with my low blood pressure due to dysautonomia. They’re cotton, which I love, and they’re the only kind I’ve tried on that haven’t aggravated my fibromyalgia or Reynaud’s. (I tried other pairs and they left my feet more sore and cold.) I do well with the lighter compression (15-20mmHg) these offer.

I hope these suggestions help you feel not only more comfortable but also more like you!

These are my top picks currently—what are yours? What other clothes or styles do you love best for feeling comfortable and beautiful?

Enjoyed this post? You may want to follow my style Pinterest boards for more inspiration! I’ve divided up outfit ideas by Casual and Everyday, Classy and Polished, and All Dressed Up. I’ve also curated my favorite Style Tips.