As a girl in her twenties with chronic illness, I have been through my share of flare days. Whether it was needing to skip class in high school, calling in sick for college, or staying home to work remotely, flares affect every stage of life. It sucks, so here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks to make sure what you wear does not inhibit you from living the life you were called to. When your body demands rest, what you wear shouldn’t demand any more from you.
Comfort is the key to success. If you have the opportunity to stay at home, put on your favorite loungewear set or comfy pajamas. Of course, stay away from any tight or itchy fabrics that will only make things more unpleasant.
Consider your body temperature in choosing what to wear. If you are easily overheated, stay away from the thick fabrics and heavyweight sweat sets and lean towards the easy, breezy linen and bamboo. If you tend to be cold most of the time, maybe pick out a cute sweat set that makes you feel a bit more yourself.
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to stay at home when we have a flare day. If you need to run errands, go to class, or go into the office for a full day of work, my tried and true flare-day summer outfit is an empire waist dress. That way, there is nothing rubbing against my stomach as I sit for multiple hours throughout the day, and I feel cute while I’m at it.
As expected, the winter is a little trickier to find something that is more accommodating for flares. Since my skin is very sensitive to fabrics and textures, I tend to stay away from leggings with a regular, slimming waistband. Instead, I find that leggings with a crossover waistband works wonders, and they are especially comfy if you wear under a maxi dress and sweater combo in the winter.
Of course, trying to find something to wear in the midst of a flare is overwhelming and often overstimulating. My favorite tip to feeling more human in the midst of it is to take more showers than usual, style my hair in a low-maintenance way, and nourish my body in what I eat and drink. Remind yourself that you are still beautiful and worthy of so much love, even when you feel your worst.
That’s why I am designing The Collection, a three-piece wardrobe to fit your every need, whether it is for a day at the beach or a flare day at home. Click here to learn more!
What is your go-to outfit when you are not feeling your best? I would love to hear what works for you in the comments!