Welcome to the world of fashion with compassion, where style meets functionality and empowers those battling lymphedema. This article delves into the realm of stylish clothing tailored specifically for lymphedema warriors, helping them find comfort and confidence in their everyday lives. Living with lymphedema can present challenges, both physical and emotional. The swelling and discomfort associated with the condition often make it difficult to find clothing that fits comfortably. However, thanks to innovative designers and brands, there is now a growing range of fashionable options available. We understand the importance of feeling good in what you wear, that's why we're here to introduce you to a selection of garments specifically designed to accommodate the unique needs of lymphedema warriors. From trendy tops and dresses to compression sleeves and specialized accessories, these stylish pieces not only prioritize comfort, but also allow individuals to express their personal style. Whether you're looking for garments that offer optimal compression, easy access for lymphedema management, or simply want to feel fabulous, we have curated a collection that combines fashion and function to help you look and feel your best. Join us as we explore the world of fashion with compassion and discover the perfect wardrobe for your lymphedema journey.
Dolman Sleeves
The dolman style is a perfect option for those with larger upper arms because it offers a wide, loose sleeve fabric between the armpit and elbow. The dolman comes in long sleeve tops, sweaters, dresses, cardigans and jumpsuits, just to name a few. You can really outfit your whole wardrobe with this one sleeve style.
Bell/Butterfly Sleeves
Made popular in the 60’s and 70’s in the counter-culture movements, the bell sleeve style is an elegant option that offers a loose sleeve fit through out, often narrowest at the shoulder and wider as it goes down the arm. They are also sometimes referred to as a “butterfly” sleeve when the opening is more extreme because the sleeves resemble butterfly wings. Bell sleeves are often available in tops and dresses in short and long sleeve versions.
Bishop/Poet Sleeve
A bishop sleeve is typically categorized by a wider sleeve width from armpit coming to an abrupt tapper at the wrist or forearm depending on the length. The bishop sleeve style typically comes in full-length and three quarters. This is a great option for fuller upper arms. You can find blouses and dresses with this sleeve style. It’s important to be careful with the tightness of the tapered portion of the garment at the wrist or forearm, as a tourniquet can agitate lymphedema.
Tulip Sleeve
The tulip sleeve style is a romantic style that’s a warm weather favorite. Typically available in short sleeve tops and dresses, the tulip sleeve style is a loose flowing fabric that crisscrosses over the bicep forming a shape resembling a tulip. It’s a beautiful style and I do hope more designers would offer us tulip options for the spring and summer.
Kimono Sleeve
The kimono sleeve is the mullet version of the bell/butterfly sleeve. It’s narrowest at the shoulder and gets wider as it goes toward the wrist, but the cool thing about the kimono is that the sleeve opening is asymmetrical with a longer sleeve inside (underside toward the body of the top) than outside. This style derived from the traditional Japanese kimono, which has similar, but far more exaggerated sleeves. The kimono sleeve style is available in a variety of options including short and long sleeve blouses and dresses.
One way to find any of these sleeve styles when shopping online is to use a shopping search engine such as http://www.shopstyle.com and plug “dolman” or “bell sleeve” into the search. From there you can narrow down by article of clothing and price point on the left side-bar to find what you’re looking for.
What are your favorite style options for upper extremity lymphedema?