Arthritis-Friendly Fashions I Wish Would Come Back

By Elizabeth Medeiros

3 min read

As a young female, I am continually dealing with the expectation to look fashionable and put together. I've been told again and again that I should "dress-up" a little. And while no one likes to be judged, it tends to rub me the wrong way. It's not that I don't want to be put together- it's that I'm trying to wear clothes that don't aggravate my juvenile-onset psoriatic arthritis!

How PsA affects my clothing choices

Since I was in high school, I've wished that women's fashion would become arthritis-friendly. There are so many items I want to wear because they're cute, but simply can't. Strappy sandals and heels always blister me. Most purses put a lot of strain on my shoulders. And don't even get me started on skinny jeans: half the time, I can't get my swollen heel through the little hole for your ankles.

There are times when I look through old magazines or photo albums and I look at a woman's clothes and think "that looks comfortable." Towards the end of the '60s, I started noticing a lot of comfortable looking clothes. And there are days I wish some of these things would come back:

Bell bottoms

On days when I'm swollen, bell-bottoms sound heavenly. I would love a nice, loose pair of pants that don't constrict my poor knees. Finally, my joints could breathe!

But you know what is in style? Skinny jeans- the kind that takes 15 minutes to squeeze into. I can't even get them on if my feet are swollen! And I won't even attempt if I'm low on energy. My saving grace during this trend has been jeggings (jean leggings) and jeans made of super soft material. Otherwise, I'm wearing my black leggings that might be a tad too stretched out at this point (hey, my joints need space!).

Fanny packs

Hear me out.

I've struggled with everything from wristlets to satchels. Regardless of which joint the strap is sitting on or how heavy my bag is, it can still cause pain. But you know what kind of strap wouldn't hurt? One around my waist.

As a child, I was the proud owner of two fanny packs, and I loved them. They made life so much easier, and I wish I still had the confidence I had back then to wear them now. They came back for a while in teen culture, but I want a big comeback. And I want them to be couture!

Converse and dresses

You can pry my sneakers from my cold, arthritic hands. Sneakers have always been my most comfortable shoes, and I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon.

I love wearing dresses (especially the way they painlessly slide on), but I always hesitate to wear them because I don't have the right shoes to wear them. I vote to bring converse and dresses back into style, so I can wear my "formal sneakers" (you know the pair) with my summer dresses. The only thing better would be combat boots and dresses!

Comfort trumps fashion

While I don't think these styles will come back soon, I wish they would. But ultimately, fashion shouldn't be our highest priority- comfort and safety should be. So while I can yearn for my style to be the next biggest trend, I accept that nine out of ten times, I'm going to dress for comfort. And I'm going to pick things that make me feel functional and pretty.

I've worn my slip-on sneakers with dresses because that was the only way I'd make it through the day. And you know what? I got a lot of compliments- people focused on my dress, not my shoes. And even when I did get comments on my sneakers, I shrugged and said, "they're comfortable." Everyone has an opinion, but the only one that matters is mine.

As women with arthritis, let's set our own fashion trends fearlessly. Let's wear what's comfortable and feel good in it. And let's buy it all online to conserve our energy!

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Psoriatic-Arthritis.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Eileen14700 Moderator
Wait. Combat boots with oversized dresses are out of style? *Looks down at self.* Oh well! I clomp to my own drummer. Be yourself, trying to be anyone else is exhausting! -Eileen, <a href='https://psoriatic-arthritis.com' target='_blank'>Psoriatic-Arthritis.com</a> Team
kearinreid Member
You can still find baby doll flats that don't look bad with dresses. I have to wear office clothes and those are the only shoes I wear. I also wear dresses almost exclusively because they are always easier to get on. Empire waist dresses fit me even if I gain/loose weight and they are so easy to throw over the head. Also, I only buy dresses with pockets these days so that I don't have to carry a purse if I don't want to.
sarahr Member
I wear whatever I want now but it took me to get to being nearly 40 before I developed this attitude. I have really missed wearing what I wanted for years so am enjoying flaunting my fashion sense now!! I am with the OP on Trainers. I live in mine, or flat boots. I wear mostly Boden dresses, as they always have good designs and have pockets. Skinny jeans never ever, they really hurt ankles and knees! I have a pink dotty wheeley shopper bag so no bag straps or just go out with phone in pocket. I probably sound like someone you'd cross over the road to avoid but people do often compliment my look or dress. It has taken me an awfully long time to realise that, if you stare at me then really that's your problem, not mine. Life is too short and painful not to be comfortable 💔 
1. Mary Lynn Member
 <inline-mention username="sarahr" user-id="3308910"/> , I love to wear dresses especially in the high heat and humidity of my corn growing state. You can't beat a dress for comfort and style. I will be checking the brand you mention here. Thanks! I love large bags. My rheumatologist spotted my new beautiful, blue leather bag at an appointment and said, "Mary, your joints can't support carrying that." I don't recall asking his opinion LOL Usually my husband carries it or a shopping cart totes it around. I may have to make a reluctant adjustment.
2. ClairG Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="sarahr" user-id="3308910"/> Thank you so much for this wonderful input! It takes some time to get to where we find our peace and what people think or say doesn't reach us like it used to. I love that you live your life the way you want to live it, It has taken me years to realize that what people say and how they behave is about them and not about me. I will admit, I had to look up what Boden dresses were, they are gorgeous and I did not know what they were called. They come in such beautiful colors and I like the style, they surely look lovely. How has your psa been? Warmly, Clair ( Team Member)