Ostomy is in Fashion
I am honored and humbled to be invited as a regular contributor to the Hollister Secure Start Services eNewsletter for 2017! While sharing some fashion tips and secrets, I will provide insights and revelations that will cover some of the challenges we encounter every day as part of this grand family of people with ostomies. I hope to encourage you to fulfill your dreams while living with this condition, that’s invisible to almost everyone around us, but certainly known to those like us who feel the stigma of our stoma on a daily basis.
And now comes the exciting part! “What should I, could I, wear today to make me feel beautiful again on the outside while healing on the inside?” Welcome to “Ostomy is in Fashion!” and get ready to Wear It Out by Manny.
With the arrival of summertime, it’s time to be colorful no matter our size or shape. Be courageous and try on some turquoise for the day or a shade of lavender. Soft pastels are very comforting and provide that splash of color to lighten things up. Remember—fashion is for everyone!
Warmer weather means it’s time to continue to shed the heavy materials of winter. Put away your flannels and bulky cover-ups! Then break out the linen and cotton. These are two of the ideal summer fabrics. To stay cool in the warmer months, the idea is to allow for the maximum amount of air to pass through a fabric. Generally speaking, lightweight fabrics wear cooler than heavier ones. Spring and summer are times for lighter materials in both appearance and feel. The obvious practice is to reflect the warmer colors of life, while trying to keep the body as cool as possible. Fabric makes the biggest difference in body temperature regulation, limiting how much you sweat. The colors you choose are up to you, be bold—show the world some of your inner spirit by bringing it to the outside!
After professing my love of warm weather fabrics I am always asked where to acquire such items. Paul Stewart and Suitsupply do an excellent job of incorporating seasonal fabrics into their collections. Lands’ End and Zara also have a few jackets, pants and shirts in linen. Given my own talent and expertise for custom and made-to-measure garments, I would recommend places like Wear It Out by Manny, or any other tailor that carries seasonal fabrics.
So, don’t forget, during the warmer months, linen and cotton fabrics are your best friends and keep the lining to a minimum. And, remember, we are all beautiful...inside and out. Ostomy IS in Fashion.
What do you wear to feel beautiful?
Send us a photo of yourself “wearing it well” and you may be featured in an upcoming eNewsletter.Email us at securestartnewsletter@hollister.com.
Experience Manny’s legendary couture on Facebook@WearItOutbyManny or his website WearItOutbyManny.com.
Financial Disclosure: Manny Cuevas received compensation from
