![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
- disability,
- fashion,
- links,
- me
Crip Chic
I've been going out in my wheelchair more recently, and also trying to get back into paying attention to my clothes (constructing outfits is a form of creative expression for me) Which has meant navigating the new and exciting world of wheelchair fashion.
As mentioned in this rather sweet article about design students making wheelchair fashion there's issues with pant length and stuff (mostly less of an issue for me as a short legged woman with an electric chair, though I miss wearing long skirts) but there's also more subtle issues with the meaning of clothes changing when you wear it in a chair.
For example I stopped wearing this threadless shirt saying "This was supposed to be the future. Where is my jetpack...where is my cure for this disease" after someone read it then gave me a look of intense pity and said "I'm so sorry!"
But being in a wheelchair isn't all about limits. I can wear pretty but uncomfortable shoes now since I'm not going to be walking in them. I've also been looking for tshirts with slogans which gain meaning from being in a chair: here's me wearing an "Also I can kill you with my brain" shirt and I also have a we were not meant to be octopus shirt.
This got me thinking about making my own sloganed tshirts. I don't know how many if any of these I would actually wear, but they were fun to come up with. I particularly enjoy subverting people's image of disabled people as cheerful, earnest, and harmless.
If anyone wants to take/adapt these ideas for themselves feel free.
As mentioned in this rather sweet article about design students making wheelchair fashion there's issues with pant length and stuff (mostly less of an issue for me as a short legged woman with an electric chair, though I miss wearing long skirts) but there's also more subtle issues with the meaning of clothes changing when you wear it in a chair.
For example I stopped wearing this threadless shirt saying "This was supposed to be the future. Where is my jetpack...where is my cure for this disease" after someone read it then gave me a look of intense pity and said "I'm so sorry!"
But being in a wheelchair isn't all about limits. I can wear pretty but uncomfortable shoes now since I'm not going to be walking in them. I've also been looking for tshirts with slogans which gain meaning from being in a chair: here's me wearing an "Also I can kill you with my brain" shirt and I also have a we were not meant to be octopus shirt.
This got me thinking about making my own sloganed tshirts. I don't know how many if any of these I would actually wear, but they were fun to come up with. I particularly enjoy subverting people's image of disabled people as cheerful, earnest, and harmless.
- Cyborg in progress
- Future cyborg overlord
- Bad cripple
- good cripple
- more machine than man
- your awkward stares only make me stronger
- Stairs! My archnemesis! We meet again!
- Being an inspiration: $10
Answering invasive questions: $50
Accepting unsolicited medical advice: $100
Crushing the feet of the unworthy: Free
If anyone wants to take/adapt these ideas for themselves feel free.
no subject
no subject
no subject
I'd wear that! :D
no subject
no subject
no subject
*(Not so much that she is 'recognizable crip character' as she's just generally awesome, there is a dearth of Oracle shirts despite a fair number of Gotham-fandom ones in general, and her sense of humor's right for 'em.)
no subject
no subject
Related to above, I'd be very tempted to put some EULA-like legalese fine print underneath. Something to the effect of "By choosing to be inspired/ask invasive questions/offer unsolicited medical advice/be unworthy, you are deemed to have read and accepted these terms and conditions." Or is that toooooo wicked of me? :-)
I do miss skirts. My wardrobe is full of longish, flowy, fish-tailed or asymmetrical skirts which looked GREAT on me when I was still wobbling around (the shared asymmetry between self and garment appealed to me--still does, I have quite the collection of one-shoulder tops). Now that I use the wheelchair 95% of the time in the house and 100% of the time outside the house, those poor lovelies just aren't getting worn. But wow, are my boots lasting! CHEAP boots, too, the kind that are inclined to fall apart after a year or so's use? Not if you don't walk in 'em. :-D
I'm vaguely thinking about jewellery lately, things I can still wear without interfering with pushing. (Well, perhaps 'interfering' is a bit strong, but I find the bumping of a ring or bracelet against the pushrims irritating.) Summer's here. Bring on the anklets! And I'm on the lookout for those upper-arm cuff things, you know? I like my arms bare when pushing, and it seems like they'd highlight the one part of my body where I actually have some visible muscle. I have some made out of stretchy rubber chainmail stuff which are fun, but I'm keeping an eye open for something a little more upmarket.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Yes, people will be all "So, should I...look away?"
no subject
no subject
no subject
Since I use a powerchair I don't have to worry about jewelry as much, though as it happens I just don't like wearing rings or bracelets most of the time. I've been pondering getting arm socks though, since my lower arms lie flat in full sun when I'm out and I don't always want to have to wear long sleeved shirts or sunscreen.
no subject
no subject