Pain-Free Living

Keeping Your Style

by Kate Ancell

This article came about because I couldn’t decide what to get my mother-in-law for Christmas last year. Not only does she live on the other side of the Atlantic, in damp, windy Scotland, but she also has rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which was flaring up at the time. After she commented on the sorry state of her winter coat, I thought “Aha! That’s what I’ll do — I’ll replace her coat for her and send it over a bit early to make sure that she has it before the cold really sets in.”

Only, it turned out that my project wasn’t going to be that simple. Finding clothing that’s stylish and easy to wear can be hard for anyone, but when you have arthritis or are shopping for someone who has it, the difficulties multiply.

Arthritis can affect everything from your ability to raise your arms above your shoulders to your level of finger dexterity. For some people it can be difficult, if not impossible, to fasten and unfasten buttons, manage zippers, and handle toggles. In addition, some people with RA develop lumps called rheumatoid nodules under the skin near their joints. These nodules may be sore and painful, especially if irritated by seams or scratchy fabric. You may try to address these problems by purchasing pieces in larger sizes so that you can slip into them more easily, but because these clothes don’t fit well, they may fail to keep you as warm and comfortable as properly sized items.

When I was shopping for my mother-in-law’s coat, all of these elements were in play, which made finding the right coat off the rack a nearly impossible task. But my search taught me a lot about shopping for arthritis-friendly clothing, and in this article I’ll share what I learned so that you can find clothes that you feel good in and enjoy wearing.

A few notes before we get started: Although this article focuses on women’s clothing, much of the advice is useful for men, too. And don’t be discouraged if you find that some of the brands I discuss cost more than you normally like to pay for clothes. These are meant as examples to get you started — use them as inspiration for what to look for when you are shopping in your favorite stores.

Functional and fashionable?

When you are looking for arthritis-friendly clothing, searching for adaptive clothing, or clothing designed for people who have difficulty dressing because of a physical disability, seems like the logical place to start. But an Internet search for adaptive clothing for arthritis brings up thousands of results—most of which aren’t useful. Many of the adaptive clothing options for people with limited mobility seem to be designed to ease the work for caregivers, rather than to be attractive for the wearer. I don’t know many people who want to go to work dressed in an easy-to-wear yet not very flattering poncho and out-of-style pants, for example. Though many people with osteoarthritis (OA) develop the condition later in life, people can develop RA as early as their 20’s (and people with juvenile arthritis may develop it when they are much younger). That means you may have years of productive work and a full social life ahead of you, for which you’ll want functional yet stylish clothing. But whether you are younger or older, active or inactive, chances are you wish to maintain your dignity and sense of self with clothing in which you like the way you look.

But it can be hard to force yourself to go to crowded malls and shopping centers and squeeze into tight fitting rooms, especially when you’re not sure whether you’re going to find what you need or want. That’s why learning which clothes best suit you, where to find arthritis-friendly clothing, and how to tailor items to your needs can make shopping easier and more enjoyable.

Trends that may work for you

If you enjoy keeping up with style trends, there’s some good news: You can still be fashion forward when you have arthritis because many of the current trends work well for people with limited mobility. Shawls and wraps are popular, it’s the year of layers and the slouchy sweater, leggings are back, and pull-on boots are fashionable and comfortable.

If you do find everyday clothes that look flattering, fit comfortably, and are easy to get on and off, you might want to buy them in various colors. Fashions change from season to season, and next year you may not find clothing that suits you as well. Some stores may be able to order additional sizes or colors from other branches for you, often at no extra charge. Simply store the extra clothes in plastic containers or mothproof garment bags until you need them.

Here are some of the more popular clothing trends that may work when you have arthritis. (See “Where to shop” below to learn where to find the brands mentioned.)

Shawls, ponchos, and pashmina wraps. The fleece shawls that many adaptive clothing makers create can be less warm and comfortable than a good quality cashmere shawl, poncho, or large pashmina wrap. True pashminas are very thin, soft shawls made of high-quality wool that’s similar to cashmere, but many pashminas found in stores are made of cashmere or silk. In addition to being cozy, they fold up conveniently so you can tuck them into a bag or purse. Pashminas are widely available in major department stores from late summer to early spring and year-round on Web sites such as
Pashmina International and Amazon.com.The latter offers a wide variety and often has discounts on high-quality pashminas.

Layered tops and lightweight cardigan sweaters. Layering clothes has become popular, and many designers offer items that are suitable for people with arthritis. The department store Nordstrom, for example, carries the soft, warm, and flattering designs of Trouvé. Because they fit loosely in some spots but stay close to your frame in others, these tops are comfortable and insulating, and the soft cotton helps to ensure that your skin won’t get irritated. Try layering several tops and tunics with a loose, lightweight or “featherweight” cardigan such as those from J.Jill, which can remain stylishly unbuttoned. Because all of these items are light, it’s easy to build layers of warmth and comfort without adding bulk.

Leggings. These footless tights are back in style not only because of the resurgence of 1980’s and early 1990’s fashion, but also because they’re comfortable. Leggings can be a good choice when you have arthritis because they have an elastic waist, stay put all day, and keep your lower body warm. If you have trouble getting them on, a sock or stocking aid can help. Wear leggings with long, layered tops and slip-on boots and you’ve got a stylish and hassle-free look for fall. If you find that you like leggings, you might want to stock up on them because you may not be able to find them as easily when fashion trends inevitably change. As for particular brands, HUE makes reasonably priced leggings sold in hosiery-type packets that you can purchase in department stores and online.

Pull-on boots. Just as leggings have made a fashion comeback, so have boots. Although some styles are a bit tricky for anyone to pull on, there are some good choices if you have limited dexterity. For example, UGG boots (and the many, often less expensive, look-alike brands) offer warmth and comfort. The newer knit-style UGG boots go well with leggings or activewear. The boots’ lining wicks away moisture and keeps your feet from becoming overheated. And as long as you treat the boots with a waterproofing solution, you can wear them in any weather. Similarly, traditional British Hunter rain boots (and their many look-alike brands) are trendy and easy to pull on, and they keep feet warm when worn with fleece Welly socks or other long socks designed to be worn with boots.

Where to shop

When you’re shopping for arthritis-friendly clothing, you have several options. Some retailers specialize in adaptive clothing that looks stylish, and many department stores carry easy-to-wear brands.

Adaptive clothing retailers. Fortunately, there are some clothing companies that understand the unique needs of people living with RA and OA. Many designers of adaptive clothing were actually motivated to start their business when they were unsuccessful in searching for stylish and appropriate clothing for family members or close friends with arthritis or other mobility problems. Several adaptive clothing retailers offer their selections online. Here are some sites that may be helpful to you:

• Silver Moon Bay. This site offers reasonably trendy casual tops and pants for women that have front snap-tape closures. Many of the clothing items are made from natural fibers. (From the site’s home page, click on “Adaptive Clothing.”)
• Youcan Toocan. On this site you’ll find adaptive clothing from different designers and manufacturers, including Janska, which makes stylish and warm capes and wraps for women. There is also a wide variety of lifestyle aids, including sock aids and moccasin-style socks.

Department stores. If you’re near a metropolitan area, try the larger department stores for the best range of clothing in different shapes and sizes. Here are a few places to start:

• Bloomingdale’s. Most branches of this upscale department store offer a free personal shopping service in which a shopping assistant listens to your needs, shops the store for you, and brings a variety of clothes and accessories for you to try on. Call ahead to branch near you to be sure it offers personal shopping.
• Nordstrom. This high-end department store offers some free alteration services for full-priced clothes. Making items truly adaptive may incur fees, but you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you can bring the clothes back for adjustments if necessary. The department stores Belk and Saks Fifth Avenue also offer this service, although they do charge additional fees for alterations, which you’ll need to factor into your budget.
• Lands’ End. You can find this retailer’s clothing on its Web site and in its catalogs, as well as in some Sears stores. The company offers a no-quibble return policy, so you can return anything that doesn’t work out. The customer service phone representatives know the products inside and out, so it may be worth spending some time talking with them to build wallet-friendly, casual outfits.
• Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, J.Jill, and Talbots. These stores offer durable clothing made of natural fibers and available in easy pull-on styles. Check their Web sites for store locations near you.

Tailoring clothes to your needs

Now that you know what current trends are out there and where to find them, think about what you like most in a garment. You have the unique advantage of knowing what types of clothing are painful to put on, what pieces don’t work for you, and how you’d like to change them. So your first job is to make a list of what you like in clothing and what you don’t like. The next task is to seek out a local tailor. Ask for references from the tailor (who should be happy to provide them to you), inspect his or her work firsthand to ascertain the level of expertise, and talk with him or her about your needs.

Starting from scratch. If you’re lucky enough to find a truly talented tailor, you may be able to brainstorm the elements of your perfect outfit and design it together. This can be expensive, and it will mean many visits and a lot of custom fitting. But it may be well worth the trouble and cost if the garment is for a special occasion such as a wedding or graduation. It may also be worth the time and expense to create one ideal casual day outfit — the one you feel most comfortable, stylish, and empowered wearing.

Altering off-the-rack clothes. A tailor can also help you transform some of your clothes into adaptive wear. Bring along your favorite pieces of clothing that do and don’t work for you. Show the tailor how you get into and out of clothes so that he or she can see exactly what problems you face. Do you get stuck when you try to pull things over your head? Are you unable to manipulate buttons or zippers comfortably with your fingers? Do rheumatoid nodules make wearing tight clothing uncomfortable or even painful?

When you and your tailor are on the same page, you can discuss the following adaptive options:

• Velcro
• Magnetic snaps or tabs
• Color-coded snaps (alternating colors help you match up each female snap with its corresponding male snap)
• Zipper rings (large, round rings that attach to zipper tabs, making them easier to pull)

For example, if you have trouble zipping a coat you already own, a talented tailor should be able to sew on new, easy-to-manage fasteners such as Velcro, snaps, or small magnets. The tailor should be able to alter other items, such as skirts, pants, jackets, and button-down cardigans, in a similar way. In some cases, a tailor can replace buttons with snaps that look like buttons or remove a zipper altogether and use an alternate closure method.

Of course, tailoring clothes to meet your needs can take a lot of work and can be expensive. Think of it as one option among several for finding arthritis-friendly clothing. By keeping an eye out for comfortable trends, shopping at adaptive clothing retailers who keep aesthetics in mind, and searching store racks for pieces that work for you, you can attend to your comfort and keep your style.

Last Reviewed September 21, 2011

Kate Ancell is a freelance writer based in Illinois.

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