Afraid to wear a dress

Musicgirl

I have lipoedema, which distorts my lower body, especially my legs, which are enormous and totally out of proportion with the rest of my body. It has also affected my arms. I find dresses are the most comfortable form of clothing on a hot day. If others are offended by my arms and legs, too bad. I try not to expose too much of my body and generally wear an empire style, knee-length dress over leggings. However, if it gets too hot, l have been known to remove the leggings. I sometimes wear maxi dresses and skirts.

firstly i apologise for writing, but i'm worried that my 22 year old granddaughter has lipodoema. I cant broach the subject as she hasnt realised it herself. But time is going by - three years now -I realised and spoke to her mother- who told me to shut up and not mention it again. when she isnt getting any GPs advice. I'm sure she will question her shape one day - i know there's no actual remedy but she should be getting some profesional advice i feel so worried about her and helpless everytime it see her. i apologise again for writing .

I was waiting for a train at Berwick Station a few years ago and there was a very beautiful young girl wearing a jersey maxi dress with trainers. She had a photographer with her so I assumed they were doing a photo shoot. I remember thinking how great it was that it was now acceptable to wear trainers with dresses given that I can only wear Crocs, Ugg boots and trainers. Word of warning about Snag tight. Much as I love them and so wish they’d been around years ago given that I’m such a weird shape that I was never able to find tights that fitted me, their delivery service is very very slow at the moment and I’ve just had an email apologising first the fact that my order is taking much longer than usual to get to me.

Whiff

Smintie love the dress and you are an inspiration for anyone of any age who has a false limb. Hope you feel proud as you should be .

I know even in this day and age people face discrimination if they are different. I was born disabled I have all my limbs they just don't work like they should but it doesn't stop me doing what I want. I have a dress but trousers are easier for me to deal with plus I fall over and no one wants to see my knickers 🤣

Thank you. I agree, no one should be made to feel discriminated against. We should all be able to wear whatever we want, without feeling judged.

I have dreadful looking feet and search all over for sandals that cover the worst bits. Now I have also developed thread veins on my legs but I still wear dresses although always longer ones - my knees aren't up to much either! Go for it, put on a dress and be comfortable.

I agree with the posters on here who use fake tan/tinted moisturisers. I use them all the time in summer. Wear your dresses and enjoy them.

I love wearing dresses although don't often do so. My legs are awful so no knee length ones for me! It's all very well to say that no one will notice, but sometimes photos get taken at events and then it's a shock to see how dreadful you look. Years ago, in the days of short skirts, someone took a photo of my mother and me with our identical tree trunk legs on show and it had a permanent traumatic effect on me I'm afraid!

Most of us do not go around staring at others' legs, ankles or feet. I agree with Monica there.'

If you choose a darker shade of knee length stockings or tights to wear with a dress, then your legs won't look so pale.

If you don't want to wear stockings or tights, then don't worry about your legs being pale. It is not healthy to sun-bathe after all.

Hello Nannafizz, just to get you started and not spend too much money experimenting can I suggest you have a look on Vinted for maxi/midi dresses?
I’ve bought a lot of clothes on there, new with labels and others in excellent condition for a fraction of the cost of high street clothing.
I wish you well, and I’m sure you will enjoy the experience.

Womens fashion at the moment is really drab and unflatteing.

The dresses are horrible. No design flair or sexiness. They look like something from the last war ir the cast of Dinner Ladue. Really naff.
It's like a uniform they all wear.

Along with their dead straight or scraped back hair and heavy, clunky wite keather trainers

I don'r

Are pinnies, you kniw pinafies going to be the next fsshion item?

I’d love to be able to wear a dress but I look like a man in drag! Wide floaty trousers are the way to go, or capri pants. Yes and ( fake) tan your legs and moisturise , paint toenails or wear closed toes ( I do)

A lovely midaxi with a nice white pair of trainers , I wear this combination all the time . The dress length hides most of my wobbly knees and legs and the trainers hide my feet . Palazzo pants are also gorgeous if youre tall .There are some lovely floaty styles around . I also have a few maxi skirts with elastic waists which i mix and match with different tops .I love Roman Originals , every style under the sun and not expensive . Fitflop rally trainers , very comfy for problem feet and not clumsy looking with a dress
It's easy to get into a habit of trousers especially during the winter and then feeling self conscious of your legs. Go for it , I'm sure you'll look gorgeous.

Remember Jenny Joseph

I’d rather not, thank you very much. I have no intentions of growing old like the dreadful woman in the poem and I’m sure that’s not what feminism is all about.

I don't know about wearing purple (as in the Jenny Joseph) poem, but my GS has been asking me to dye my hair purple again, like I did during lockdown!

Furzeacre579, thank you for your questions. I agree that you are right to be concerned about your granddaughter. Sadly, because lipoedema affects almost exclusively women (although a very few men do have it), it has been something of a Cindarella condition as far as the medical profession is concerned - even today not that many gps know about it and are often very sceptical about it. Nurses are often much more helpful. It is a condition that affects between 5-10% of women and has been known about since the end of the second world war yet, until recently, hardly any research into it and most of the research that has been done has been funded by Facebook lipoedema groups. Can you imagine a condition that affected between 5-10% of men being so unknown and unresearched over the best part of a century? It is a hormonal condition that is generally hereditary and gets worse with each hormonal change. It typically first appears in puberty and starts with the "treetrunk" thighs. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better the chances of intervention taking effect. I didn't even know about it until 2014 when I read an article about it in the newspaper and the light bulb switched on in my head. By this stage, l had been through puberty, four pregnancies (one was a miscarriage) and had just had menopause. Because of this, I had developed lipoedema almost everywhere it was possible to get it. My legs are affected all the way down but, for me, the areas l dislike most are my saddlebag hips, large bottom and abdomen. I am around size 14-16 and many affected ladies are far larger. Far too many doctors dismiss lipoedema as obesity - it is a common co-morbidity of lipoedema - and tell you to eat less and move more. If only it were that simple! Please, please carry on trying to get your daughter to see the problem. You could always join one of the lipoedema groups on Facebook for some ideas, too.

I live in dresses in the summer. They are all very long so you can only see a bit of leg. Footwear is crocs or trainers mostly.

I'm 5'6" and find midi dresses are great for disguising bruising on legs. Ifnit a dress why not consider whute legged trousers. Some look like a dress when standing together. Just go for it, who is going to be inspecting your legs anyway.

Lovely longer dresses around. Go for it 😊🌸. You could wear a nylon pop sock if fancy. My friend does that

What a good idea wearing thin leggings with long dress. Trendy!! . White or cream
Another style I like is boots that are above ankle, also light ones. Look great and often it isn't that hot anyway. I know we have been lucky. Great with thin long denim dress too
You can reinvent

What about some leggings under the dress? I has to do a small boat journey midsummer and thought navy leggings under a nice loose dress looked grand. The dress was shades of muted green but there was navy in pattern.

nannafizz - have a look at the websites of One Hundred Stars and Kit and Kaboodal. You're sure to find something that attracts you there. Follow the excellent advice of many on this thread, use a moisturiser on your feet and legs, nail varnish if you feel better. Let the air get to your skin and soon it will feel and appear much happier. Nobody is really looking at your ankles, all in your imagination, so enjoy the summer.

Thank you so much everyone , so many great ideas . I will definitely throw caution to the wind and wear a dress!

Definitely draw attention upwards in ways that are comfy, a light scarf draped that goes well with mid calf for me. Love the current dresses as they've lost those puffy sleeves of 1/2 years ago, and plenty of room if you choose well for the tunny you wish was smaller.

tummy!

After reading your post, I got my dress out, bought it a couple of years ago but did'nt think I could wear it. Any way, it looks lovely now. Don't be afraid, if it's maxi it will cover up anything.

Honestly life is too short to worry - loads of lovely dresses out there and my secret to comfort under dresses are those long shorts undies abit like cycle shorts available everywhere - and whatever footwear you fancy. Pedicures are a nice finishing touch and so relaxing - have fun shopping for your new dresses😍