Style 1102: How To Make Your Compression Garment Look Good!

(if basic styling would be considered 'Styling 101', this is on a whole 'nother level - hence the course number '1102' in the title.. just in case you didn't get it. ;)

Most people think I've just completely embraced this compression garment and have been rocking it with pride. That's semi-true, but maybe the more factual answer is… I have no choice. So when the going gets tough, the tough puts on complementary ensembles!

There's really 2 main ways to make a compression garment look good:
       1. Cover it up. 
       2. Rock it like you own it!

Here's some examples of how I've been doing each….

1. Cover it up.
While this one can kinda suck in the summer time due to added layers and the sweat factor, it's also has its benefits - such as doubling as a body shaper and making your stomach look flat after devouring nachos & wings. #winning

Since the garment itself is already so tight and clingy, when I'm trying to camouflage it I opt for looser more flowy pieces.

2. Rock it like you own it!
Due to the rising temperatures in NYC I've probably been opting for this option a bit more lately. For the next few months if you see me around you'll likely see me in something closer to the following…

Also, sportswear seems to do the best job of blending in with the garment and lets be honest, that's like 95% of my wardrobe anyways. Now I just have a legitimate medical excuse to dress in stylish gym attire all the time. Take THAT casual friday!

I'll try to post more clothing options as the seasons change again.
If anyone who see's this has also been in a similar circumstance, I'd love to hear about how you styled yours & coped with the ordeal.

Xo,
L

WTF is a 'Compression Garment'?! (& more…)

Oh hay guys,

I'm sure you're all wondering what a compression garment actually is, and how it's going to help me… well, luckily I'm here to answer those pressing questions & more.

*pics after the jump*
(i always wanted to say that, I'm such a legitimate blogger. did i even use that saying properly!? i just tried to look it up on urban dictionary and really not sure, but fck it. i wanted to use it, so i did.)

WTF is a compression garment?
I like to describe my compression garment as essentially just a fancy pair of Spanx. If you've never had the luxury of seeing it in person that's really the easiest way to imagine them. The only difference is mine were made custom to fit like a very tight glove (think OJ trying to pull on his glove - that's me trying to get this thing onto my body every morning) and made from a thick mesh-like material so there isn't as much give as a pair of Spanx.

So what does wearing this fancy garment do for me, you ask?
Basically it's so tight that it keeps my skin taught at all times, helping to flatten my scars and make them flush with my surrounding healthy skin - keeping the scars from getting raised, bumpy, or keloiding. The ultimate goal is that when my skin is done 'healing' in 1-2 years my scars may just be discolored or a bit of a different texture, but not raised or sunken in like a lot of burn victims you've likely seen on TV or in movies. 

Sheesh, how long do you have to wear this thing?
1 YEAR. 1, long ass fcking year. Wahhhh.
Every day, 23 hours a day - i get to take it off for 1 hour while I shower. yay.

How bad does it suck?
Ok, well the truth is it didn't suck at all in the beginning. In fact I was actually excited about it. It was such a relief to go from doing my own wound care every single day (please refer to my 'Things that Suck' post) to just having to slip on one garment. It actually made me more mobile, I could get out and walk more, I wasn't having to worry about my ace bandage slipping down my leg and exposing my freshly closed wound throughout the day - you get a really awkward reaction from people when that happens - and I felt like a had something 'hugging' my skin at all times. It made me feel more secure. 

Now it's been about 2 months of wearing it and yea ok, you know what...it kinda does suck. It was also cool outside when I first got in it and now it's slowly eased into full on summer in NY (aka it's hawt as hell). Speaking of….

I've also had to incorporate these nice silicon sheets into my garment which seem to be helping, but really blow to upkeep. I have to wash them every day, sometimes twice a day, and place them onto my scars before I pull my compression garment on, but after i apply lotion. It's a timely process every morning before work and every night before bed. The worst part is, the silicon doesn't stick to you.. it's just like thick rubbery sheets (think Dr. Scholls 'gellin' shoe inserts) that you place on you skin, then the compression garment wrinkles and rolls them all up, then you have to pull and prod at your garment once it's on to try and straighten them out. I have one for my leg, and one for my stomach. Exhausting.

& yes, yes it does suck VERY MUCH SO having to go to the bathroom with all this on. 
I'm sure you were all wondering. 

disclaimer: i feel obligated to say 'excuse the underboob', but really i've exposed you guys to 90% of my charred body at all levels of healing, so really a little underboob really shouldn't be that much of a *gasp* moment at this point. pshh. get over it, it's 2014.