Looking Fly in Denim

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m very much into fashion. I love wearing trendy clothing, because it makes me feel good! I especially love wearing denim in the form of jeans, shorts, jackets - really anything. I even have a cute little denim fringe jumpsuit! I love that the material can create many different looks. Although denim is one of my favorite fashion staples, it’s not always fashionable for people who must use wheelchairs or scooters for mobility purposes. Finding pieces that are fashionable, operational, and accentuate my body can be a challenging process. Oftentimes, clothing can be either too tight or too baggy when in a seated position. This can be a big hindrance when operating a mobility device.

When on the hunt for jeans, I have a couple of guidelines to see if they will work for me. The first thing I look for is where the details or special stitching are located. Most have all their unique detailing on the back of jeans. In my case, no one really sees them, so styles with cool designs down the sides of the legs, like fringe or rhinestones, are the ones I buy most. Second, modern denim that stretches is helpful for me since the traditional material usually has no give. Having this extra flexibility assists me in getting myself dressed for the day and allows me to use the restroom independently.

As the world turns, so does the world of fashion, including denim trends. I don’t want to be left out of an ongoing fashion trend because a piece of clothing doesn’t function the way I need it to, or because a designer doesn’t take someone like me – who is seated most of the time - into consideration.

I’m thankful that some designers are aware of the challenges people with disabilities face when it comes to finding accessible denim designs. My need to be fashionable is REAL! I’ll keep adapting my own clothes so I can keep looking fly even in denim. What’s your favorite denim look? Have you ever adapted the denim in your own wardrobe to make it work better for you? Tell us about it by commenting on our Facebook post!