One of my favorite things about fashion or style really, is the creativity it offers and at times inspires. There is so much more to it than how you put pieces together to create outfits, it’s also about what you can create out of the pieces you already have, doing something new, fashion hacks not exactly upcycling, but a creative challenge nonetheless. As a woman with a disability fashion hacks have mostly been about how I can make something more inclusive to wear it, but sometimes they’re just about fun. Over the years, I’ve come across one fashion hack after another that has helped me out and function-wise and had me happily playing in my closet. These fashion hacks are things that every girl should know disability or not. If you’re still with me after this long intro then keep reading to find a hack that might just help you out next time you’re in your closet.
These first few are going to be fashion hacks involving mini dresses because they just say spring and summer to me especially if there is a floral pattern and I’ve been in a mood to wear dresses and have fun with it recently. I wasn’t comfortable wearing dresses for a long time for various reasons, one of them being I wasn’t sure how it wouldn’t lead to a wardrobe mishap during the day, but I was tired of feeling like just because I’m sitting in my wheelchair I had to wear pants all the time and I know I’m not the only wheelchair user to feel this way. For me, mini dresses are fun, cute, and a piece I know I love having as a part of my closet to play around with for my personal style.
10 Fashion Hacks Every Girl Should Know
Adding Bike Shorts To A Mini Dress: Be honest, have you ever avoided wearing a mini dress while sitting in your wheelchair because you were worried about a wardrobe malfunction? I get it, I worried about that too, but after a simple addition I’m worry free when wearing a dress for transfers or simple twists and turns in a wheelchair while maintaining my sense of style. Adding bike shorts to my outfit when wearing a mini dress helps me to stay comfortable and confident in my outfit. There are dozens of places to get bike shorts, look around to find a pair made of fabric that works for you. However, just be sure that it’s not too hot so that you don’t get uncomfortable wearing extra fabric and sitting in a wheelchair, if you’re like me.
Turn Your Dress Into A Skirt / Or A Cute Top : If you have a dress you’re not really loving anymore try wearing it a different way. First the skirt, fold the dress down to your waist then add a top and tuck it into the waist. I prefer a simple cami especially if the dress has a pattern, After that add a belt to keep everything looking fitted. Next up, the top. Carefully fold the hem up a bit, afterwards put on a pair of shorts or pants, whatever works for the weather and tuck the dress into the waistband. Now you have two additional styles to refresh that dress.
Place A Scarf Or Shower Cap On Your Head To Avoid Messing Up Your Hair Or Makeup: How many times have you messed up your makeup and stained your clothes because you did your makeup after getting dressed and ended up dropping something? I’ve done it countless times and sometimes the stain was bad enough that I couldn’t hide it and had to change my outfit. These days, when getting ready, I put on the bottom part of my outfit if I’m not wearing a dress and a robe and do my makeup. When my makeup is finished, I put a scarf or shower cap over my head to make sure I can breathe easily then put it on the top. After everything is in place, remove it and you’re good to go makeup smude and stain free.
Turn Any Sweater Into A Crop Top: not ready to put your winter sweaters away yet? Wear them a little bit longer by turning them into crop tops without cutting them with this easy fashion hack. Grab hold of the sweater on each side and bring them to the center, take material with one hand, and twist it, pulling the shirt tighter. After that you can either talk the material or under the band of your bra or add a scrunchie and create a ponytail then tuck it under, have someone help to make sure the back is tucked in too if you need it. Now you have a new cut-free crop top.
Pair A Basic Cami With A Cropped One: I love basic pieces in my closet and believe that they can help you style so many outfits. Cropped everything is in right now, but if you don’t want to go all out on the cropped look you don’t have to. A great way to refresh a piece like a cami is to wear a cropped one over it. I ordered one from Forever 21 I can see myself styling this way all summer long. Unfortunately, I didn’t get in time for this post, but will update it when I do.
Mix Fabrics To Dress Up A Look: In order to dress up very basic look, for example jeans, you can pair it with something silk, suede, or leather. The way you style it is of course going to affect the piece and fabric you choose, but like with anything else when it comes to fashion, don’t be afraid to play around with it. Instagram and Pinterest are also great sources of information and inspiration when you need help styling a piece.
Give A Shirt A More Fitted Look By Bringing The Ends Together And Twisting It: If you’re like me and not a fan of the loose t-shirt look especially sitting in your wheelchair, then this next fashion hack is definitely for you. When you want to give your t-shirt a more fitted look, simply take the hem of the shirt on one side and start twisting, add a scrunchie then do the same on the other side, you can then tuck the sides into the waistband and you’re good to go.
Mix Prints To Refresh Your Closet: Years ago it was a fashion faux-pas to mix prints, thankful that’s a fashion myth we’ve stopped following for a while now. Mixing prints when putting together an outfit can help you breathe new life into the pieces in your closet although it can be tricky sometimes.
Pick A Base Piece To Design The Rest Of Your Outfit Around: Do you have trouble putting outfits together? When I buy something new or when I’m shopping really and I see something that I like or fits my style, I immediately start thinking of all the ways I can style it. It’s good practice to envision how you would style a piece with at least 2-3 outfits featuring it so you know you are getting your money’s worth. Afterward, if you have it in your closet and are inspired by something you may think of another way to wear it.
Dress Up Your Handbag By Adding A Detachable Handle Or A Scarf: Last but not least one of my favorite fashion hacks because it involves handbags. There’s no rule of fashion that says your handbag has to be matched to a part of your outfit, at least not anymore. That being said if you want to add depth to your handbag or match the bag to your outfit without really matching the bag, get a detachable bag strap or a scarf you can add around the bag’s existing handle. You have several options with this and can even use one to give the handbag you choose a more elevated look.
These fashion hacks are simple and don’t require any cutting, which is why I wanted to write no need to struggle with the scissors As I said before fashion hacks used to be an easy way to make something work for me, but now they’re mostly about fun with one or two accessibility requirements thrown in. It can be easy to hate that you have to worry about that in the first place and you’re right you shouldn’t have to just because you have a disability and want to look cute, but I’m also hoping that sharing hacks like this, though most of these aren’t disability-related, that people will see that making a simple change that making fashion products exclusive doesn’t require too much extra work.
Fashion or style, whichever word you use is supposed to be about self-expression and fun, fashion hacks help you do that and help you put your own stamp on your outfits, even if someone else inspired the idea. Always have fun with it and don’t be afraid to try a hack or two, you might make things easier accessibility-wise or at the very least, come up with a cute new outfit idea.
Do you have some favorite fashion hacks you feel every girl should know? Share it with me in a comment below.
~Kimberly
