Wheelchair Fashion Manifesto

The author has a philosophy, based on years of experience and careful thought, about how to look sharp while using a wheelchair.

By Tiffiny Carlson

When I was injured at the age of 14, I automatically assumed I’d be destined to wear patterned muumuus and slippers in public, condemned to look frumpy before my time. But I was wrong. After 3 years of depression following my accident, I met a stylish paraplegic who worked at the rehab I went to. She proved all of my assumptions wrong. She was beautiful, successful, a wife, a mom, and she knew how to work a sexy office suit! Meeting her knocked me out of my depression and put me on the path to becoming a die-hard fashion addict.

Since then, I’ve become a wheelchair fashion guru, so-to-speak, and I run a site, www.beautyability.com, with one mission: to enlighten and teach the basics on adapting fashion to your wheelchair. Below is a handy basic overview of my tips that all wheelchair-users, male or female, should keep handy and refer to often.

Pants

Pants are without a doubt the most important thing to adapt if you’re going to be sitting down 24/7. First, avoid “high-waters” at all costs (you know, high cuffs). You want your pants to touch the tops of your shoes and if they don’t, you’re going to have to go out and buy some long inseam pants. For women out there, Hollister sells great long inseam jeans (as does The Gap), and New York & Co. sells beautiful long inseam trousers at reasonable prices. Tall Girl, www.tallgirlshop.com, and other specialty shops for tall women will have what you’re looking for, too.

Another must-have attribute of pants is flare-legs, which make you look slimmer when sitting. Lastly, it’s wise to have several pairs of yoga pants in your wardrobe. Yoga pants are non-constricting (great for your skin), stretchy (easy to put on), and can be dressed up or dressed down. Very versatile. Victoria’s Secret sells some very comfy yoga pants with long inseams. Plus, they come in a myriad of colors.

Tops

Look at your shirt as the easiest and best way to show off your style. While able-bodied people whoop it up wearing crazy pants and stand-out

The author argues that long-inseam pants, extra wide shoes, and attractive tops are must haves for people who want to look good in a wheelchair. heels, I say we wheelchair-users can make a statement by wearing unique tops.

Also, don’t be afraid of form-fitting tops. If you want to hide your tummy, try an empire-waist. The seam right under the bust makes the rest of the material flow prettily around your mid-section.

Another good tip is to buy long-torso tops. Sitting all day can make your shirt ride up on the side, but having on a long-torso top completely cuts out the irritating stress of having to pull it down all day. Rolli- Moden, www.rolli-moden.com, is a leading designer of button-up shirts for male wheelchair-users. Their female line, on the other hand, could use a little work.

Shoes

Shoes can be the bane of the wheelchair user’s existence. With pressure sores, swelling, and who knows what else, a lot of us just give up altogether and wear slippers all day. But please don’t resort to that just yet. You have options.

Payless Shoes always has a great variety of inexpensive wide shoe lengths. These are smart if your feet are “normal” sized in the morning, but swell up by night.

Kitten heels and wedge heels work best for ladies who refuse to give up their high-heel addiction. You can even bring in a heeled shoe to any shoe tailor and he’ll cut down your heel (1″ max) so you don’t have to give your beloved shoes away. Beaded flats are also a great alternative to heels.

And if you’re a flip-flop fan who’s dying to find a pair that will actually stay on your feet, check the “T- Strap” back-strap flip-flops at Newport News for only $10: www.newportnews.com.

Etc . . .

Don’t forget to accessorize. Hats, belts, pins, scarves (which are very in this season when tied in unexpected places), jewelry, and whatever else you might have that will personalize your look are always a great way to play-up a simple outfit. I love how easy it is to accessorize, too. Once my attendant has gone in the morning, I can still fiddle around and try on different accessories before I leave for the day.

Simply put, I love fashion. What it’s done for me mentally is priceless. Heck, there’s nothing like a new outfit to coax me out of bed-even on the worst of days.

Tiffiny Carlson is 26 years old and a C-6 quadriplegic residing in Minneapolis, MN with her rescue kitty “Daphne.” She has been published in New Mobility, Kids on Wheels, Ican.com, 366Mag.com, Halftheplanet.com, and many others.