The Distract Factor: Dress on your own terms

One day at an appointment with my oncology team, my NP mentioned that even though my legs are different sizes, you would hardly ever notice due to parts of my outfits that would catch your eye first. It was kind of a strange compliment, but it was also kind of true. A lot of my outfits have a trademark “distract factor” that actually help in drawing attention away from my swelling.

My legs might be visibly different sizes, but who’s going to notice that when there’s pom-poms on my pants?! Or funky red Dr. Martens boots on my feet?

The purpose of this post isn’t to make you feel like you need to draw attention away from your swelling or compression though. Rather, it is to encourage those who think dressing as neutrally as possible is the only way to hide their lymphedema to still have fun with their fashion.

You don’t have to focus on blending in just because you have swollen legs or arms; you still deserve to express your style on your own terms. Even with lymphedema, you can dress cool, cute, business-y, or whatever other look you may be going for.

Picture from Summer 2020: Outfit featuring overalls and polk-a-dot tights

Picture from Spring 2020: Outfit featuring ripped jeans with pom-pom cuffs

Picture from Fall 2019: Outfit featuring polk-a-dot tights, green skirt, and red Docs

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