I've always had a keen interest in clothes and dressing to the best of my ability, stoma or no stoma. I won't say a keen interest in fashion because fashion is fickle and fleeting for the most part. I would say I'm influenced by trends but I'm not a slave to the latest must be seen ins. For a start unless you are a natural size 0 (lucky you) not all the latest cat walk / high street cross overs are going to suit you or fit you. And I think we can all agree on one thing, whether you like my style or not, I ain't no size zero! ;)
There are many fashion icons, a word I feel is bandied around a little too liberally these days but, there's the obviously iconic Chanel suits, Pucci prints and Birkin bags and as much as I love them they are a bit beyond my means. But there's always been a dress that I've wanted. I love DVF wrap dresses, I remember how sexy and womanly Cybill Shepherd looked in the film Taxi Driver. They have been a fashion icon since the early 70's and have been worn by Hollywood royalty and actual royalty since then. The wrap dress is such a simple and elegant design. I wasn't sure it would suit me to be honest, they are a jersey material in general, and often jersey isn't a friend of the colostomy bag.
My very lovely husband insisted I give one a go (probably to shut me up going on about them I suspect ;) ) so I went into a Diane Von Furstenberg shop at the weekend, I spent an age trying to find the right one for me. I kept getting sidetracked by other styles, most of which had buttons (buttons really aren't my friend presently as my boobs are bursting them open. A nice problem to have I was assured by the incredibly slim, gorgeous and very petite Brazillian shop assistant, she said women in her country pay a fortune to get them, I did have to point out that they probably weren't lining up in a hurry to get the huge gut and thighs that go with them as in my case! hahahahahhaha.
I finally settled on this wrap dress, although it could have been any of them, they are so comfy, so flattering and very very wearable. Dressed up for a night out or down for day wear. You don't need to buy a DVf wrap dress of course, they are a staple in most stores, I really would recommend giving one a try. They hug in your waist and accentuate your bust and the bonus for stoma wearers is you get a double layer of fabric where you need it and a belt tied at the front to cover any other remaining visible outline of the bag. I know I'm going to walk tall (all 5' 3" of me) knowing there's nothing to see.
The Wrap from Diane Von Furstenberg, Shoes from Christian Louboutin. Smile all my own :)
I've often shied away from styles like this, thinking my shape was too lumpy and bumpy, but these dresses really are designed with women's bodies in mind, unlike most high end designers who seemingly despise real women and want us all to look like prepubescent boys.
Long live the Wrap, its been here for the last 40 years so I think we're safe.