Osteoporosis is a chronic condition in which an individual loses bone mass and bone mass density either as they age or from secondary medical conditions. Unfortunately this often will lead to bone fractures that are more common in the hips, spine and wrists. Bone fractures that happen in the spine lead to loss of height and sometimes a dowagers hump. These small fractures will affect the way an individual can sit, stand, walk and their appearance. Posture will be more stooped, which will affect the way in which a woman\’s clothes will fit.
Clothing won\’t drape the way it should and the length of a dress may be longer in the front and shorter in the back, making it appear as if the hem is not even. Women who suffer from osteoporosis often find it incredibly difficult to find new clothes and their old clothes to fit well. Here are a few tips to help disguise the difference in posture and bone loss problems.
Most department stores have personal shoppers. Because there is a greater awareness of special needs for individuals many department stores offer special options for their good customers. Personal shoppers can help an individual find clothing that fits best on their particular body type.
Another option is to find a good seamstress or dressmaker who can tailor make clothing to your body type. Ask for referrals from your friends and relatives in order to find a seamstress who can meet your needs. These types of alterations you probably don\’t want to attempt yourself unless you have had experience doing clothing alterations.
When shopping for clothes, look for necklines that flatter your body type and face. Anything which brings eye to the neck or upper body area will increase the amount of attention given to the upper body and face. Look for rounded or a slightly V neckline.
Shoulder pads were all the rage in the 1980s but well structured jackets and shirts today also include shoulder pads. Well fitted clothing using jackets, shirts and dresses with shoulder pad will help the material to fit better. Fabric stores sell shoulder pads in several sizes to improve the look of the dress.
Accessorize! Scarves, jewelry and shoulder bags take the eyes away from problem areas. If, however, your shoulder bag is heavy, it can throw you off balance and make walking more difficult. Instead invest in a backpack that helps distribute the weight more evenly. Shop around before you buy-there are many sleek backpack styles to choose from that you will find in the purse area and not the schoolbag area.
Invest in the right undergarments in order to help provide support and increase your comfort. You might need a personal fitting to find the right undergarments that work best for you but believe me it will be well worth your time. Using the right bra or shape forming underwear will help provide support and make moving around during the day easier.
Another fashion tip for those who suffer from bodily changes related to their bone mass loss is to try using shawls. While a scarf looks great around the neck a shawl casually draped over the shoulder or around the back can hide a multitude of sins caused by minute compression fractures in the vertebral column. Shrugs are another alternative. These look like a short sweater that opens in the front with cap sleeves. They may be just what you need to hide your changing posture.
For those who suffer from bone mass loss finding the right clothing can be challenging. However, by incorporating a few fashion tips into the shopping experience clothing doesn\’t have to be the struggle it once was.