Fashion & Accessibility

If you’re a long time reader, you’ve probably noticed the lack of fashion posts as of late – at least, compared to times past. Admittedly, part of this is due to my short attention span and me wanting to branch out to other topics, but part of it is trying to figure out how to take part in fashion when my accessibility to it has changed. Among other things, shoes over 2″-2.5″ tall are right out for me, at least for the time being. For someone who used to regularly lust after shoes along the lines of these, that’s quite a change! And now, in general, I’m unwilling to wear anything the least bit uncomfortable (no matter how cute!) because really, why add to discomfort/pain when I’m already feeling it?

So how do you enjoy something when, whether intentionally or not, you’re left out of it? Good question – one I’m still trying to untangle in my head, while re-tooling my wardrobe so that it realistically fits my wants and needs, but still has some sort of aesthetic that I like. And here’s another one – what would make for more accessible fashion? This is what I came up with (psst, retailers! pay attention!):

• More sizes! Smaller sizes, larger sizes, easily available fully or partially custom sizes (like eShakti) to cater to a variety of heights and proportions. (I know eShakti’s prices are not 100% accessible to everyone – but I firmly think retailers going down that road is a step in the right direction.)
• More knits! Especially in soft and breathable things like cotton (polyester knits = the devil!). Knits can handle weight fluctuation much better than woven fabric can and have less tendency to be scratchy, which is an important factor for those with pressure/skin sensitivities.
• More elastic, instead of button/zipper closures! This can look sloppy if not done well, but I don’t think it has to look bad by any means. If someone is sitting the majority of their day, whether because they have a sit-down job because they can’t stand all day or from being a wheelchair user, hard buttons can be unnecessary and uncomfortable. See also: extensive beading or pretty much anything that adds unnecessary plastic bits to clothing. Not to mention that some closures (like one skirt I have with a hook and eye + zipper closure up the back) can make clothing very difficult to put on by yourself.
• Better online shopping options! Better photos, accurate size charts, a detailed text description of the item for those on braille or text to speech computers, video of the product in motion – these things should be implemented at pretty much any online store that sells clothing, if at all possible. Shopping in a physical store is unnecessarily taxing (physically and mentally) for many people, and let’s face it, online shopping is just a hell of a lot more convenient. If it’s to be a viable alternative, not only should these suggestions become the norm, but the return process (whether online or in store) for online purchased products should be made as painless as possible.
• More comfortable shoes! I’ve covered this before, but it can stand to be said several times. There are some brands doing it right but a lot of others still look like Victorian schoolmarm shoes, and not in a cool steampunky way.

I’m trying to incorporate all of these things into my wardrobe more – not only is it pretty much a physical necessity any more, but hopefully if something sells well, similar things will be restocked. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list, I’m sure it’s biased to me and my experiences – anything else you’d like to add?