Dealing with any skin condition, finding something to wear can be extremely time-consuming. I was always into fashion growing up, but I never felt comfortable wearing what all the cool kids were wearing. I was consumed with hiding more than anything.
My eczema was focused on all the places that you’d show in the summertime: folds of my arms, backs of my legs, neck, and hands. The summer was the worst for me. I would wear anything that covered me up, even if it was 90 degrees outside. It’s funny, looking back at kids coming up to me asking if I was hot, and I, jokingly, would say, “It’s not hot enough.” I think I inadvertently learned to control my own body temperature after wearing winter clothes in the summer for so long.
I did this method of hiding behind clothes until I was well into my early 20s. It wasn’t until I got into my senior year of college that I started to accept my skin condition for what it was. That was around the time I received the opportunity of a lifetime with Dove. This would be the first time showcasing my condition in a way that I never have before.
I realized that I could no longer hide but I didn’t ever need to. It felt like ripping off a Band-Aid of years of suppressing my true self. What better way of rebelling against that feeling than showcasing my scars. I began wearing short-sleeve shirts and shorts. It may not seem like a huge deal, but boy did I feel free.
Once I was comfortable in my own skin, I decided it was time for a new wardrobe. I found that going to the store was better than ordering online because you could feel the material of the clothes. In this new age of fast fashion, I feel that a lot of the pieces we see in the store are compromised due to the demand. Now, I pay close attention to the make of the clothes to see if they will be good for my skin. I’m a firm believer in investing in quality pieces because you save money in the long run.
I always opt for comfort. My favorite pieces to wear are typically long- or short-sleeve cotton tees that glide over my skin or a good bodysuit. I aim for pieces that make me feel like I’m wearing nothing at all. I like my clothing to be a bit more fitted, so when I look for shirts, I look for most of the fabric to be cotton; preferably more than 90%, and the rest of the fabric to be elastane of some sort.
Skims brand clothing has pretty good options and extremely comfortable nightwear. My all-time favorite piece would have to be Stript bodysuits. They are extremely comfortable and make me feel as though I have nothing on at all. It’s an all-in-one fit, it’s comfortable on my skin, and I look damn good in it!
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