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Original poster

Dressing with kyphosis

21 replies

Greyandrare123 · 31/12/2023 00:07

Ive a hunched spine and crooked neck due to bones collapsing (cancer) and I wear a wig as my hair never grew back at the front and the rest is patchy.
My good parts are I have strong, good legs, a goodish boob situation but I look concave and bent.
I also have chronic dry eyes due to the meds I take which water (on drops) and a constant runny nose.
Im 54. I have good teeth.

Any ideas how to dress for my shape and disability. Hoods are out bec my wig gets jostled when I put a cross body bag on and the coats I have are too thick for backpacks.

Despite the above I am v well and want to feel good. I have good skin if I bit loose due to weight loss, nice hands but I feel lost. My wig is a pixie style which suits me but clothes feel and look mishapen as I have no real shape. Im like a ironing board with a hunch. I have no waist or a very short waist so belts are out. Im thinking tunics are the way forward for me. Skirts just bunch up on my no waist.

Where do I start? Im a size 16 ish maybe a 14.

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GarlicGiftsAndGlitter · 31/12/2023 03:48

This is really hard! I'm sorry to hear about your cancer, and delighted that you're now well. Happy new year!

I've been learning about dressing with kyphosis because my neck's collapsing and my mother's very bent. She wears a lot of gathered/pleated boat necklines, which is one of the most often recommended styles. Loose tops are also recommended.

The difficulties come from the way the extra volume in the back causes foreshortening in the front - hems rise up at the back and droop in front. Neat waistlines are impossible, and there's usually a protruding belly due to the curvature. Tricky. The only way to get clothes to fit is to make them from a heavily-adapted or self-cut pattern; even the armholes need re-positioning and reshaping!

Since you've got nice legs, I agree that tunics and shifts are the way forward - short, with lovely tights or leggings perhaps. If you can cut & sew or find an alteration service, I'd look at shortening the fronts of your garments so the hems run level when worn.

Gathered or pleated necklines are very flattering to the boobage. The advantage of those for kyphosis is, of course, that there's extra volume to spread over the back. I'm thinking about whether gathered, crossover necklines could be made to work: they're normally flat at the back. It's possible that getting a larger size and then pulling the front in might work, but I haven't seen this done (it might end up looking like you'd stuffed a spare dress down your bra!)

Creative use of interesting scarves is a no-brainer.

I've followed this thread in hopes that more people will have useful ideas. Thanks for asking the question.

ShippingNews · 31/12/2023 07:18

My thought would be to see a dressmaker and ask for some ideas. A good dressmaker can make you clothes which fit and flatter you , more so than anything you can buy off the peg. Good luck !

Mummyoflittledragon · 31/12/2023 07:55

As others have posted, I’d go for dip hem dresses and tunics. Jolie moi do a lot of dip hem dresses. This is an example of a shorter one https://joliemoi.co.uk/products/sylvia-longline-shirt-dress-red-animal?_pos=11&_sid=a33919e1d&_ss=r. This was the search. Not all the dresses are dipped hem on the search. But have a look at the website https://joliemoi.co.uk/search?q=Dipped+hem+dress&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage. Anything take your fancy? Maybe avoid anything too low cut on the top as you may reveal more than you want perhaps?

This dress is in the sale. https://www.johnlewis.com/adrianna-papell-satin-wrap-dress-blue/p110431757 Adrianna Papell is nice quality.

There’s quite a lot around. Roman for example. https://www.roman.co.uk/dipped-chiffon-hem-top-19008408

Sylvia Longline Shirt Dress, Red Animal

Refresh your everyday casual dress collection with this knee-length shirt dress from Jolie Moi. Accentuated by a self-tie belt at the waist, this dress is cut to gently skim the figure and has a more relaxed feel with a slender point collar and a curve...

https://joliemoi.co.uk/products/sylvia-longline-shirt-dress-red-animal?_pos=11&_sid=a33919e1d&_ss=r

DiamondLily · 31/12/2023 08:40

@Greyandrare123 I also have kyphosis due to longstanding osteoporosis. I have learnt over the years that actually fitted styles are better than some of the floaty tops suggested as they tend to hang off your back. I often buy tops and dresses from petite ranges as my shoulder to waist ratio is reduced, even though I’m not short overall ( 3 inches shorter than before diagnosis though) I wear tops to come down to my hips if possible otherwise I look oddly out of proportion. Suggestions to show off your legs with those fab leggings are spot on. I find wrap style tops and dresses suit me, and will also show off your assets! Suggestions to also use to local dressmaker for alterations are also good, or I do basic alterations myself- tops that have a button at the back neck and then a slit for instance can be improved with a small zip inserted. Oh and I’m also a fan of a jumpsuit. Good luck, I hope that you find styles to suit you 😊

nopuppiesallowed · 31/12/2023 09:26

I'm so glad that your cancer has been dealt with! I'll be watching this thread with interest as I also have osteoporosis (thanks to coeliac disease).
I have a suggestion for your eye problem as I had eyes which watered a lot and were always red. They were dry because of lack of oils - not lack of water. The eye hospital blocked my tear ducts but that made things even worse. After a lot if research I started taking starflower oil. Took about 6 weeks to kick in but it's been brilliant. The ones I take are from Simply Supplements and are 500mg. I've been taking them for a few years and really notice the difference if I run out of them.

Original poster
Greyandrare123 · 31/12/2023 10:09

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Im afraid I cant link as on my phone but Id like to say how much I appreciate the time and effort it takes to reply.
Will analyse each suggestion and let you know of my plan for a better put together, more confident me

OP posts:
Comtesse · 31/12/2023 13:12

I don’t have ideas about shapes really but one important thing to bear in mind is colours!

This could be colours that you love or colours that particularly suit you. Emily Innes on insta ia supposed to be good for colour analysis. life is too short to wear dreary colours all the time, right?

Another idea is to buy clothes in a consistent colour palette so you can mix and match. I built up a black/ cream group, a navy/ white group and a green one. That’s an effective way of getting more bang for the buck with clothes you already have, rather than say a purple top, red trousers and a beige coat that don’t go together.

OwlWeiwei · 31/12/2023 13:22

My son works in fashion and also has kyphosis - born with it. Most of the time, he just wears what he likes and doesn't let the spine issue bother him. But a lot of what he likes is brilliant at disguising the issue. He chooses quite thick fabrics: chunky knits, cord, denim, cotton velvet, well tailored wool jackets. Good structure over the shoulders helps. A shoulder pad allows the fabric to skim rather than cling to the shape of the back.

Avoid clingy soft fine fabrics

GoldEarrings · 31/12/2023 13:25

Wonderful to hear you're healthier now.
I think short hair emphasized nevk, shoulders and back so I suggest a long wig, mid back with lots of layers and movement so the hair doesn't just hang flat straight down on the back of your head. This will create volume to balance out the curve of your back from side view. Open mid thigh cardigans in the darkest shade of your outfit or loose shirts tucked into fitted jeans, cropped jackets in denim or otherwise would also be good but pair them with wide trousers or skirts with a lot ot volume or at least A line. I wouldn't wear fitted jeans or a pencil skirt because it will emphasize the difference in side profile.
I think scarves, experiment draping them differently, maybe as a pashmina pinned with a brooche could also work I think.
I would also try a brighter lip colour, sparkly bracelets or earrings to draw the eyes to your face and pretty hands.

GoldEarrings · 31/12/2023 13:28

I imagine a blazer in black or navy, cami and fitted jeans or trousers both in a light shade and some heels, blazer sleeves rolled up with a nice stack of bracelets and a large shoulder bag in tan, you could add a small scarf to thr bag which is will draw the eyes away from your back. For winter it could be a thin sweater and ankle boots with thermals underneath the jumper and jeans. Add a scarf and a hat, gloves.

GoldEarrings · 31/12/2023 13:49

Mary Berry has a back issue, maybe you could see which of her looks you like. I wasn't keen on the bomber jackets she wore but I can see the volume blurred where her back curves. Maybe tops in a loose flowy fabric that elasticate around the hips but drape the torso like a gypsy top or a balloon top with elastication hemline.

If your shoulders curve down maybe some light shoulder pads would help make the clothes drape more evenly.
I think boat neckline would suit you.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 31/12/2023 14:16

I've got a patient with the same issue who always looks great. I've noticed that she tends to wear longish cardigans with shawl collars and (smart) coats with hoods, with the hood not up, so on her back. I think both help distract the eye from the kyphosis.

MaloneMeadow · 31/12/2023 14:41

DD had kyphoscoliosis so a similar sort of issue. I really feel for you as it made finding clothes that she actually liked and which fitted her so difficult. She was very self conscious so always hid her curve as best she could.

She pretty much lived in skinny or flared jeans/leggings and and oversized jumpers. These hid her curve best but also having the contrast of the tight bottoms vs oversized jumper gave her a bit more of a waist (poor child has my square figure!!)

UnaOfStormhold · 31/12/2023 16:16

Not what you asked OP but Margaret Martin has some great tips for moving in ways that protect the spine and reduce worsening of kyphosis - might be worth a look.

Original poster
Greyandrare123 · 01/01/2024 22:20

Ive read all your messages and want to say thank you again.

  1. The high low hem is something I will look for and the suggestion of a long yet shaped cardigan is a good one as I have a blue one like that which I wear a lot. I need to stop with the boxy T shirts.
  2. The hair idea is interesting. Having had a long hair system in place for 4 years I liked my long hair and felt it was a good distraction. Then a chemo change meant the hair I had slipped off my head. Oddly people comment a lot on how stylish my pixie looks and how it makes me look younger. Yet all I think about is my neck on show both front and back and how my head doesnt sit straight on my shoulders. I may go back to the longer style for that v reason.
  3. Ive never worn shoulder pads and its a great suggestion to make things flow down my back even maybe jumpers. Ill ask my SIL who sews if she can design some. Yes to non flimsy fabrics. I get that totally.
  4. Never thought about the hood being a disguise but yes now its been mentioned I do feel more confident with a hood.
  5. I may stick to leggings, jeggings and tights for now as I have some cool boots. One pair that receives the most compliments is from Pavers!
  6. Ive managed to de sentitise my ears and enjoy wearing earrings now so will carry on with that and it draws attention to my face and not my neck.
  7. Im hopeless with scarves. If they are high up round my neck at the back I can feel my wig moving as I only tape it at the front. I doubt my hair will grow back now. It fell out at chemo 1 nearly 5 years ago and never grew back and I am always on some form of treatment. The system worked but you need hair to attach it to otherwise its a version of a wig again.
  8. Ill deffo look at the excercises. I do resistance bands and weights so always looking for something new. Ive been pain free for 4 years now and my bones are stable and healing well. Thanks to science.

You have all been instrumental in helping me find my new normal after I wobbled there due to an exposed neck. Thank you!

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