Disability, But Make It Fashion
The holidays are upon us, so now is the perfect time to share about four of the top trends of the season, from the perspective of a fabulous fashion-loving brain injury baddie living with disabilities (moi!)
Having disabilities doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy fashion. In fact, it’s a way to express yourself to the world when you are often stereotyped, or assumptions are made about you as a disabled individual. Making fashion accessible may not be as difficult as you think, so here are four top trends of the season and how to make them more accessible if you have a brain injury.
Note: I read somewhere that we have enough clothing in existence right now to clothe the next seven generations of people. If you don’t already have something from these trends, I encourage you to try to find pieces secondhand. Good for the environment, your bank account, and who doesn’t love the thrill of the hunt???
Faux Fur
As someone born and raised in Alaska, faux or vintage furs make an appearance every winter-even if now that I live in Arizona. This time of year I can wear them in the morning but by the afternoon I am being roasted alive. Faux or vintage furs elevate casual outfits like sweats, which are often more comfortable when you’re living with a disability.
Burgundy
Red became a go-to shade for Fall, and now that the holidays are upon us, burgundy is making a big statement, especially with monochromatic outfits. Wearing a solid color from head to toe not only looks super chic, it also makes dressing easy when you have a brain injury-no need to try to match pieces, they’re all the same color!
Leopard Print
leopard print jumped off in the Fall and is still going strong. I’ve always considered it a neutral and therefore appropriate for any time of year, but that’s just me. You can just do a single piece or an accessory (like a handbag) if patterns aggravate your sensory sensitivities.
Statement Pieces
Try easy-to-put-on jewelry like a string(s) of pearls (faux is fine!) or clip on statement earrings that don’t require a lot of dexterity or hand-eye coordination, which can aggravate your brain injury symptoms.
Big Bags
I have to be careful with this one as I have chronic pain so if the bag is too heavy, it’s painful for me to lug it around. But having the ability to have everything you need with you at all times as a disabled person: medication, ear plugs, sunglasses, snacks, etc. and you just happen to be on trend for the season? That’s a win-win!
Are you looking forward to the chic, glitz, glam of holiday fashion? Which trend do you want to try this year?
©2024 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
The Joys of Online Ordering: Something to Look Forward to
““Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” ”
It may not be obvious at first glance to see the connection between being disabled & buying things online. As a person living with disabilities, especially considering that my life is so drastically different than it was before the accident where I acquired the disabilities, speaking candidly, it often feels like I don’t have a lot to look forward to.
Because of my disabilities, I don’t get to spend time with my friends like I used to, I’m unable to attend events the way I used to & I am unable to do many of the hobbies that I could do before.
Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to be alive & have done my best to make modifications & parcel out my energy & abilities on any given day to still be able to enjoy doing as much as I can. But because of how frequently I often feel like I’m missing out, (because I am) I’ve learned to find joy in other small ways.
One of the surprising ways that I’ve been able to find joy is in online shopping! Now, this is obviously something that you are not meant to go overboard with as it can become an addiction or even negatively impact you financially. But I’ve found there can be so much joy in something small, like the anticipation of expecting a little treat from Sephora-a new Armani eyeshadow or YSL lipcolor perhaps. (I just ordered the eye tint in Wood and am loving the Candy Glaze in Scenic Brown-seriously, I’ve been wearing it every day.)
I do most of my shopping online right now as it’s been a really great accessibility tool for me as a disabled person. Shopping IRL is very often a struggle that aggravates my symptoms to the point that I’m unable to function for the rest of the day, or for several days after-even with The Awesome Teen™️ helping me. I usually order my groceries for delivery since grocery shopping is a really difficult activity for me, as it is for many disabled persons. If Trader Joe’s would start a delivery service, my life would be infinitely more enjoyable…especially given my addiction to their truffle potato chips. Maybe it’s better that they don’t deliver…😆
But back to the fun part. Shopping online gives me something positive to look forward to in the future. Of course I have goals & aspirations that I would like to achieve, but honestly, when I’m faced with the realities of my disabilities & an unknown future living with them, it can feel discouraging sometimes.
But when I place an order online, I know that generally speaking, getting my special item(s) is going to happen. Regardless of my condition or what I’m able to do, it’s going to happen. So it gives me something positive to look forward to that’s not connected to the limitations of my disabilities. And I get a little prize at the end of it. Who doesn’t love that?
Finding joy in small, sometimes unexpected ways can be a great way to stay encouraged when experiencing big life changes like becoming disabled. I think the same is true if you’ve lived with disabilities your whole life as well.
Below I’ve listed a few of my favorite places to shop online, including some secondhand spots so you can feel extra good about your shopping choices heehee. 🛍️
Thrift Books-Thrift Books is a secondhand online bookstore. My most recent purchase was “Love Letters of Great Men” edited by Ursula Doyle, a book that was inspired by the first Sex and the City movie.
Sephora-This is one of my all-time favorite places to shop. I was so happy when we got our first one in Alaska. It can be hard to buy makeup blind without seeing it in person, so I may do a separate post about how I do that, but there are so many amazing products & brands to choose from.
The RealReal-The RealReal is an online secondhand luxury store. It’s a newer favorite of mine. They have everything from Louis Vuitton to Chanel to The Row, Fendi, Christian Dior and Loewe. Everything is authenticated by a team of experts so you can feel safe purchasing your fabulous pieces.
Amazon-Amazon is my go-to for sooooo many things. Household items, self care items, clothes...I mean you name it and Amazon probably has it…and with 2-day Prime delivery! I even recently bought miso paste from Amazon! I’ve provided a link to my Storefront with some of my chic, elegant picks for your fabulous life.✨ As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase.
Ulta-Ulta is another awesome way to purchase your beauty items, especially because they have a really great rewards point program. They’re also one of the few retailers that carries Chanel makeup, so that’s a plus!
AbeBooks-This is another online secondhand book retailer. They have great prices and obscure titles, including a lot of out of print literature.
Saks Off5th-Saks Off5th is Saks 5th Avenue’s discount counterpart. You can score some pretty great deals here on all the types of things you’d find on the regular Sak’s site.
I’d love to know where you love to shop, leave me a comment and let me know!
©2024 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.