A collection of clothes hangers on clothing rack

I've always had a little fashionista in me. Still, after a lymphedema diagnosis at the age of 24, I found myself in a monumental fashion nightmare, searching for ways to dress stylishly with lower limb lymphedema.

 The lymphedema in my left leg started gradually, and it was relatively mild for the first couple of years. At some point, the difference in the size of my legs became more noticeable and I started to become very insecure about the imperfection with my legs.

All of a sudden, I couldn't comfortably slide my leg into the collection of chic denim and form-fitting slacks that I proudly collected over the years. Anxiety and despair kicked. I realized that I may not ever fit my clothes perfectly again.

I also had a sizable sundress and minidress collection that I gave up wearing because I was uncomfortable and embarrassed by the swelling in my leg. I was extremely uneasy dressing in a way that brought attention to my legs.

My lymphedema diagnosis took all the fun and excitement out of shopping for new clothes. Trips to the mall and other shopping excursions with my friends left me irritated and somewhat resentful that clothes shopping had suddenly become a burdensome chore. I couldn't buy the clothes of my choice and found myself coming home from shopping trips with an unflattering pair of loose-fitting trousers or sweatpants that were too big.

Let's face it; lymphedema can be a serious fashion and self-confidence buster! There's no line of lymphedema designers to choose from, and everyday dressing can be particularly challenging in a fashion-conscious world.

If you have recently been diagnosed with lower-limb lymphedema and you're having trouble finding stylish clothes, or feeling embarrassed by your swollen limb/Limbs, I know exactly how you feel! It's distressing when you can no longer fit into your favorite clothes and have to change the stylish ways you like to dress.

Over the years, I have found ways to create comfortable, stylish outfits finding clothes that hide the swelling in my leg. So, ladies, I've put together a list of a few fashionable ways to dress when you have lower limb lymphedema.

Palazzo Pants

Woman dressed in crop top and wide pants leaning on door

Palazzo pants, often worn by yoga enthusiasts, are known for their spacious cut, and fashionable pants are super comfortable to wear every day. These flexible wide-leg pants come in a variety of colors and patterns, which include floral and Aztec designs. Palazzo pants are a perfect alternative if you need a loose-cut pair of pants to fit over and hide your support hose or lymphedema wraps.

I usually find palazzo pants on Amazon or eBay, but you can also find them in many retail clothing outlets and online retailers. Palazzo pants come in other forms such as capris and rompers, and the wide-leg flares look great with t-shirts, crop tops, turtlenecks, or fancy blouses. Palazzo pants are typically worn during Spring and Summer months, but I have found ways to rock them in the Winter. Just throw on a pair of warm leggings underneath and kick on some matching shoes.

Maxi-dress

Woman wearing blue long maxi dress

Maxi dresses are a great year-round piece to add to your wardrobe when you have lower leg lymphedema. Maxi-dresses offer the utmost comfort, and the dresses can be another stylish option to add to your clothing attire when you need to accommodate your lymphedema garments.

Maxi-dresses are versatile and can be worn comfortably while at work, school, church, weddings, shopping, out to dinner, etc. The free-flowing dresses are low maintenance, so on days when you have to spend extra time on your feet, a maxi-dress can be a perfect choice picking a low-effort outfit.

Maxi-dresses are considered a staple in woman's clothing, and dresses are one of the 2020 top trending street style fashions among fashion influencers and bloggers. Maxi dresses are great for low-energy days or when you need a quick outfit to put together. The dresses make an excellent choice when you're uncomfortable showing off your legs but still want to feel stylish and comfortable. For more inspiration on how to kill it in a maxi-dress, click here.

Footware

Pair of shoes

Anyone living with lower extremity lymphedema knows how challenging finding fashionable shoes can be when you have swelling in your ankles and feet. Shoe shopping can be a major bummer when you can't find the right shoe to fit.

People with lower-limb lymphedema need to have comfortable shoes to walk in. Finding comfortable footwear can feel like a never-ending task, and finding stylish shoes that fit can leave you utterly annoyed and frustrated.

I suffer from mild swelling in my foot and toes from lymphedema but have more significant swelling in my ankle, making buying certain shoes and boots totally out of the question. Ankle strap high heels and knee-high boots are unfortunately a thing of the past, but I still manage to find stylish shoes that look nice and provide comfort and support.

Here are a few shoe ideas to inspire you if you have mild swelling in your feet from lymphedema.

Mules

Mules are stylish and practical shoes when you have a lot of swelling in your ankles from lymphedema. The open-back shoes are making a comeback in 2020 Summer and Fall fashion trends, and the shoes come in a wide range of colors and styles to choose from. Mules are easy to slip on and off, making them a perfect choice of fancy footwear when you suffer from swollen ankles due to lymphedema.

Check out these brands to find mules

Sketchers

Dansko

Clogs

Clogs are another good option if you have mild swelling in your feet, and the 70's clunky footwear is making a comeback in 2020 runway and fashion show shoe trends. Many clogs come with cushioned insoles that can provide extra comfort to wear at work or anytime you have a long day standing on your feet. I often buy a pair of extra-wide clogs or a pair of clogs one size bigger than my actual foot size to make sure the shoes are no too tight around my foot. Tight shoes can cause abrasions on the feet, leading to potentially serious cellulitis infections for lymphedema patients.

Some popular brands of clogs

Crocs

Clarks

Birkenstock

During a recent online shoe search, I discovered a relatively new company call Pandere. The company is run by all women, and one of the co-founders has lived with lymphedema for many years. If you have a more acute case of lymphedema with a substantial amount of swelling in your feet, these shoes can provide you some relief when looking for shoes.

Pandere shoes were created for people who have trouble wearing regular shoes. The shoes are designed to expand several width sizes to help people with swollen feet fit into a comfortable pair of shoes. The company offers a wide and extra-wide collection of stylish shoes for people who cannot fit in a regular size shoe.

Joggers

Woman wearing a black jogging suit

Some days I want to throw on something sporty, but searching for joggers that I can fit my leg into, sometimes feels like an impossible task. The swelling in my leg has worsened in the last year, making the search even more maddening and depressing. Most jogging suits come with a skinny leg nowadays that someone with advanced lymphedema has no chance of fitting into.

Shopping online, I have stumbled across a few brands that provide an extra-wide pants leg and still look jazzy.  Here are a few wide-legged sweat pants brands that you can match with an urban hoody, turtleneck, teeshirt, or other piece of sporting gear.

Click here to find wide-leg sweatpants

Some days, it's just plain difficult to have lymphedema, no matter what you put on. Lymphedema affects your body image and sometimes the condition becomes difficult to control, resulting in more swelling. You don't always feel feminine or beautiful in your clothes when you're walking around with a swollen limb.

Lymphedema might take a toll on your emotional health. It's unavoidably upsetting when you can't fit into the clothes and shoes of your choice. Worsening of lymphedema symptoms can leave you feeling sad and depressed at times. Lymphedema flare-ups can be painful, but I try to take the focus off of my leg and do something that feels good. Sometimes you need to do something special for yourself and forget about your lymphedema for a while.

New Hairstyle

Woman getting her hair done at salon

A catchy new hairstyle can have a refreshing effect on your self-confidence when you have lymphedema. A killer haircut or dramatic new hair color can attract lots of compliments and uplift your mood. According to Identity magazine, a new hairstyle can boost your self-confidence and have a positive effect on the way you feel about yourself.

I'll be the first to tell you I don't always invest in my hair, but there are times when I like to treat myself to a fresh new hairstyle when I get the lymphedema blues.

If your lymphedema has you down, why not go out and give yourself a pick-me-up new hairdo. A stunning new hairstyle or bold new hair color can help you feel empowered when you can't control lymphedema flare-up symptoms. Click here for some of the 2020 hottest hairstyle trends for women.

Summer can be extra challenging when you have lymphedema, and the heat and humidity can make lymphedema worse. Summer activities like going to the beach and backyard pool parties can make you feel insecure when everyone is wearing cute shorts and bathing suits, and you're stuck wearing your lymphedema wraps or support stockings.

Don't let your lymphedema stop you from enjoying summer activities. You can still wear a swimsuit in the summer, protect your skin, and feel confident in your favorite bathing suit. Long Length wrap skirts make the perfect cover-up for summertime activities. There's no better accessory to compliment a bathing suit when you have leg lymphedema. The stylish wraps come in varied styles and colors to match any swimwear piece and can help keep you comfortable and confident in the summer when you have lymphedema.

Lymphedema can change the way you normally like to dress, but you don't have to limit yourself to buying dull over-sized clothes and borning footwear when you have a swollen limb. I"m still extremely self-conscious from the swelling in my leg, but I have found ways to dress that enhance my self-esteem and create a sense of style and uniqueness. I hope these fashion tips encourage you to create trendy outfits that look great and boost your confidence when you have lower limb lymphedema.

Feel free to add more fashion tips if you have lymphedema in your arms or legs.

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