What to wear!

[Abby2006]

Getting dressed is such a pain and the care of all the clothes is taking what little energy I have

I usually just wear sweats with lots of thermals and sweaters,

putting everything on takes so much time.

Sometimes I feel like living in a flannel gown I never go anywhere so why is my life filled with all this taking care of cloths,

How do you handle the daily chore of getting dressed?


Abby

[SalpalSally]

I rarely go out, so I have caftans, hostess robes, mumus, whatever works. I dress every day to look nice if someone comes to the door. I have an outfit on the ready to go to the DOCS or whereever. Much easier and more comfy for me.:o

[agate]

I don't care how dressy the occasion is--I don't wear dresses or skirts any more. I might break out a lightweight dress if the weather is around 100 degrees. Otherwise, skirts and dresses are out. With numb legs, I never know where their hems are. This can be embarrassing.

I look at the outdoor temperature every day before getting dressed. Then I look at the forecast and wonder if it's believable. Then I look at the sky and might poke my head out the door to see what it feels like.

Then I choose what to wear based on my best estimate of the weather.

It's always pants and a top, plus shoes and kneehighs. If I'm going to be outside and it's under 50 degrees, I choose corduroy pants. Otherwise, cotton (seersucker in summer). The top can be a sweatshirt or pullover sweater if it's cold. My elbows and collarbone area get cold easily. I'm partial to long sleeves and turtlenecks in winter.

Lately I've been wearing a top plus a corduroy or flannel shirt open in front. I can take it off if I get too warm. The "layered look."

I've noticed some people go around all day in a housecoat or even pajamas or a nightgown. That seems like admitting to something I don't want to admit to. I like to act as if I'm still living a normal life.

So every day I try to make my hair presentable and make sure I have decent clothes and shoes on. In recent years, even though I don't deal with makeup any more, I put on some colored lip balm because my face looks pale.

[Cat Dancer]

I haven't worn a dress for years. I sleep in briefs and a t shirt, and have pull-on jeans and t-shirts for daywear. I have some "dress" pull on pants for those times when I go out someplace that jeans might not be appropriate..but for most of my outings...to the grocery store, pharmacy...what I have on is what I wear.

I do think getting dressed in something other than sleep clothes is good for me psychologically, whether I actually go out of the house or not, so I do get dressed every day.

[SalpalSally]

I'm the opposite to most here, because I can't stand anything tight on my body anymore. A pullover, shirts, slacks and jeans were my uniform, when I was still running around like a real person.:o

I keep a nice pant or jean outfit clean and ready to go, if I must go out in the world. But in my little world it's nice neat caftans or long pullovers and such....not PJs and not dresses (never wear 'em)

[agate]

I don't like tight stuff either, Sally. But I've found loose sleeves to be a problem because they catch on things, and when they catch on a pot handle in the kitchen and pull the pot off the stove, there's real trouble. Except for that, I'm all in favor of loose-fitting clothes.

And how about jewelry? I gave up on wearing that some time ago even though I've always liked jewelry. It's just one more thing to fuss with. I've got a few pieces tucked away because they have sentimental value but all of the rest of it is long gone.

[Abby2006]

A pull over shirt is the worst right up there with buttons.

I got to where I buy xlarge and I only weigh 76 pounds (enphasema does that to a person) so that the clothes will just fall over my head.

I guess my biggest problem, is thar in a life before illness I was a neat freak and never could just leave my clothes layingall over the place

And forget the gizmo's thy have to help you pull on your sock's - the button thingy mess with mt head- and I have not wore shoes in 4 years I have one pair of old (I mean old 1989 old) is the only pair I can tolerate on my feet - my one yearly outing (med check) amost came to late as the weather was a biy nippy for tennis shoes.

Abby

[Abby2006]

I do not wear jewerly. I opened up 2 of the 5 holes I had in my ears only to get a bad infection, forget makeup, and I have not had a salon haircut since 2001.
OIhaven's worn a dress since 2002

Abby

I just learned how to make a image in ere - that is me pre illnesss days 2000

[SalpalSally]

Pretty picture, Abby. Thanks for sharing!

[Cat Dancer]

I'm a sucker for jewelry, particularly rings and earrings. I wear at least ear studs every day (I have pierced ears), generally a simple gold chain (it rarely comes off, even when I shower), and my wedding rings. If I'm not baking bread or doing messy work on a dollhouse restoration I'll wear other rings.

I learned the hard way to avoid long sleeves, especially loose sleeves, in the kitchen! It's hard enough to cook from a wheelchair without dangling sleeves in the pots, snagging on the handles! I made quite a mess with a kettle of tomato soup and an errant sleeve..

[Kittianne54]

I vary, according to what I'm doing and feeling that day. Caftans, etc. Are best for the days I'm having bladder issues. It's quicker access to use the bathroom. I self cath and am prone to UTIs, so urgency can be an issue.

If I have an appointment, I wear pull on jeans or dress pants. I prefer pull over type tops, or blouses that I always keep buttoned so I can pull them on.

Around the house I wear pull on 'soft' pants and long or short sleeve tops, depending on the temp.

I have a black pull on skirt that I wear for weddings, etc. I pair it with various tops, depending on the season. I find when you're in a wheelchair, you can get away with a lot!

Dressing is a hastle. I need to use a 'reacher' to put on pants. Various gadgets to put on elastic stockings. Leg lifter for my right leg, so that,s another obstacle. I also have apparatus to remove the elastic stockings. I can still use my walker in the house.

I often feel it's just not worth it.

[agate]

Kittianne, it may not be worth it because dressing takes energy and time--I agree. There have been days when it has taken me hours just to get dressed in the morning--times when there's been an infection hanging on, for instance, or an injury.

But the psychological benefit matters to me.

Abby, what a great photo! Thanks for sharing it.

Hair? I have a couple of wigs in case I can't stand my hair another minute but I try to do my hair entirely by myself--washing and setting it a couple of times a week and letting it air dry, and cutting it as needed. In recent years I've been treating myself to a professional hair cut once a year or so but since moving I haven't yet found a place to go to.

I keep intending to go to a Master Cuts or some place like that but the last time I tried that (over two years ago), I went there but was told to come back in a few hours. I didn't have a few hours and so went to another chain nearby where I had to pay over $30 for a mere haircut.

I'm not sure how safe it is for me to be cutting my own hair, with my fumbly hands and imperfect eyesight but I've been doing this for over 20 years. I like to think I know what I'm doing....

In my 20s and 30s I routinely got perms every 3 months. I gave up on that because each time it took several hours and I got tired. Sitting under the dryer was miserable, and having my head tilted back was a special kind of torture.

And it was costly.

[Gary]

A male point of view..........

And no I don't like wearing dresses either sorry had to say that.

My wife says I have nakedphobia. I cannot stand to not have button down shirt and a tee shirt pants and shoes and socks. I mean the miniute I get out of bed no matter how I feel. As a matter of fact a couple of years ago when I tried to go into the white light. My wife found me unconscious on the downstairs bed FULLY DRESSED. it was a topic of conversation with the paramedics and while I was in the hospital my daughter and my wife told the nurse keep him covered or he will be mad!!

Most of my life my employer (government) furnished my clothes. And like many men I wear what ever is closest and most comfortable. And over nearly 30 years if we go somewhere my clothes are picked out for me. This gets worse I have never shopped for clothes before I was married I gave my mom money and she bought my clothes and when my clothes need replacing they still magically appear in my closet. There is an exception last week we attended a funeral and my wife said that she is making an appointment to get a new suit and my attendance is mandatory.

Now before everyone jumps me about chauvinistic. I do all the laundry and always have.

[Cat Dancer]

I generally get my hair cut about 4 times a year. I keep it short so there's "room to grow" before I need another cut. I go to the hair cut place inside of Wal-Mart where I can get a cut for $15 with a "senior discount". I try to go in the beginning of the week, Monday through Wednesday, and early in the day. I've found that folk will come in over their lunch breaks for haircuts, so I avoid that, and towards the end of the week everyone is getting gussied up for weekend stuff. I've never done the "setting and permanent" thing, so I don't miss that! :), just "cut and go", occasionally blow drying if it's really cold out, or my hair is particularly long (like, I really need a haircut but haven't gotten to WalMart.."

[SalpalSally]

Yes Cat and Agate, never long floppy sleeves and Abby, I also buy pullovers in X-X-LG, so they are easier to put on and don't cling.:o

Hair, OMG, I am so sad about my "crowning glory", as me mum called my hair. I always made sure, in the old days that it was perfect and if wasn't, I stayed home. Now I just wash it, air dry it, comb it, fluff it and spray it. I don't have the energy to do the do, like I used to, ugh, see my avatar...grumble grumble.:o