Store Style #1...

I had the idea that I might go store-by-store and post clothes from stores that I like that you can wear with a back brace!
Let's start with my favorite, Forever 21....

The key to dresses is to have a full skirt and a defined waist line.

Shirts need to be a little loose at the bottom, and they need to be high enough to cover the top of your brace. The second top (the mint green one) might need a sweater over it, just for more security).

Skirts need, like dresses, to be full (meaning they're pleated, or flowy...in other words NOT skin tight), and they need a belt or elastic waistband usually. They shouls hug your waist right above where your brace hips are.

Shorts need to be a size or two above what you usually wear, and should be loose. You can wear tight shorts, but you'll want a long shirt to cover them up!

I hope this helps! All of these clothes are available from Forever 21's website or store:

forever21.com



Another Scoliosis Blog to Follow!

A girl named Ellen commented on my last post and said she started her own scoliosis blog! She has some cute outfits posted, so go check it out

thebracekase.blogspot.com

~*~Ava~*~

To All the Girls Like Me

Hello, everyone!

I received a few emails recently from some very sweet girls saying that this blog has helped them and inspired them, and I really can't say how much that means to me!

I haven't posted in a while because of the usual busy life stuff. But I definately do plan to keep posting, because scoliosis is still a part of me, and always will be.

I want all of you to know that you are not alone. And that hearing from you reminds me that I'm not alone either.

It's been a few years since my brace, and I'm ending my junior year of high school soon. I think it's time to show you who I am now - and how scoliosis has shaped me (haha no pun intended).

So here are a few pictures of my style now :)

So there you have it! Me, past the brace. :)

Honestly, without scoliosis, I would not have been interested in fashion. But now I love it, and want to pursue a career in it.

Things happen for a reason - God works in mysterious ways.

Please feel free to email me anytime or leave comments, and tell me what you want me to post! :)

~*~Ava~*~

Fashion Inspiration!

Hello! I just emailed a girl some pictures of outfits that she wanted advice on, so I thought I'd share some new fashion ideas.


The scarf and jacket over a simple, fairly loose shirt is simple and fashionable.




I just bought a cape similar to this at Modcloth, and just realized how perfect - and on trend - it would be for a brace! Just wear a long sleeved shirt underneath, and pair it with jeans and cute boots! There would be no sign of the brace at all.


Wear this loose tank over a tight one, add some long necklaces, a big ring, and jean shorts. Viola.
     Remember that not everything has to be loose - you can show off your waist with tops and dresses that are cinched in the middle. Trust me, people aren't looking to see if you have a brace. It's the last thing on their mind.
     Sometimes certain outfits don't work out, but keep looking! Get out there and find your own style. Because of scoliosis, I want to major in fashion in college. Everything happens for a reason.
     Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Another Cool Scoliosis Blog

Here's an up-and-coming scoliosis help blog: 

 http://plastic-corset.blogspot.com/

Margaret's got some awesome outfits and posts, so go check out her blog! :)

Fashion Feature: Jeans

~*~Jeans!~*~

This is basically what my jeans look like! They're Opal Low Rise Jeans from Charlotte Russe. They're pretty low on my waist, but they worked with my brace well. Low rise jeans are probably the best choice for a brace. The only problem I had was that if I bent straight over, the back of my jeans would pop under my brace.

They fit me really well, and I still wear them! As long as I had a shirt that was long enough to cover the back, I was fine.  

 

Flare, Bootcut, Skinny... it shouldn't make a difference. It's only the very top that matters! The rest can look however you want. 

What NOT to wear:

Jeggings! These would make it sooo much easier to see your brace. (And they're not very flattering anyway.)

Nicole Marquez - True Inspiration

Nicole Marquez is a dancer from Mississippi who was living in New York until she accidentally fell 6 floors outside her apartment, and wasn't discovered for days. She came to speak to my school last year. Some teachers knew her, and we had all been praying for her for months.

When she spoke at out school, I was amazed at her absolute determination to get her life back.

Here's her amazing story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThCK-93wAME