Anyone make/modify/refashion clothes? fat/flat/post-surgery

@LisaAlissa - Thank you!

I've never heard that term, but I googled it and read an explanation, and googled images. Quite a few of them I really like.

Those do seem to be the appropriate styles. And it's funny, my personal "what I like" has tended that way for a couple of years, but I had nothing like that, can NO WAY afford to buy the very pretty ones I see for sale, and doubted my ability to pull it together. (I'm talking about what might be called "boho" styles that were most of what popped up, though I also love the kind of country-ish ones, and what I'm actually considering making is much simpler and a little sleeker.) But it's pretty much all good.

I think I'd get funny looks at Church, but I'm not going to be able to pull off the sleek styles I usually see there. (It's an ethnic Church) They will love me anyway. If I can manage it, it will probably be an asset at work, at least as long as it remains in style. My only other concern regarding wearing is comfort - I live in Florida and these look mostly very warm.

I didn't think of asking on a sewing forum, but I guess that's the most reasonable thing. Except I read a page or so, the ladies there are so much more knowledgeable, I don't know if I'd fit in. My questions might be a little too elementary too. But I'm definitely interested in that discussion, thank you. I might get braveenough to participate.

Thanks for the suggestions! I've collected a ton of images on Pinterest (I'll post my link) but some are just for the sleeve, or the neck, or whatever. Some I post comments, notes, most I don't. I'm just gathering ideas and thinking, but I've got some clothes to start modifying and I'll have to get started.

I appreciate replies and will be happy to share. It might go a little slow, because I think I'm also developing lymphedema, and I can't get in for another month (it's been going on for two weeks already) and so I'm going to have to devote a certain amount of time to trying to deal with that too.

I've actually discovered a few pieces, I'm SO GLAD I grabbed a crocheted long vest-like thing that's just two front tails, really. And sleeveless tunics are great. But I've long disliked wearing sleeveless because of big upper arms, and over the past year they've just gotten bigger, and now the LE swelling, ugh! So I need a layer under or over that provides some kind of sleeve coverage.

My head is spinning, but I'm working on it. And yesterday when I tried on pants, my belly was smaller! But then it seems to have swelled again. I look pregnant and breastless. I'm starting to worry that something is actually wrong with the belly swelling coming and going a bit ...

Anyway my Pinterest board (used to be various breast cancer resources, but now has hundreds of clothing and accessory pins) is here ... http//www.pinterest.com/AHomesteadHeart/survivor/

I've done a little but not much yet. I ended up with lymphedema in both (upper) arms, trunk, and especially one shoulder/upper chest area. It makes it ridiculously hard to find clothes to fit and look decent in.

I live in Florida and it's summer so I wore a scarf only once or twice. I'll plan on fall/winter.

I wear mostly loose, sleeveless (ugh!) tunics over leggings or capris around the house or going to physical therapy. When I go to Church or somewhere I want to look better, I prefer a butterfly-style tunic that is long, flowy, and loose with large armholes and open sleeves. (I'm still having my arm wrapped so it's very bulky and needs big armholes.)

Based on what I like (swollen trunk means I don't want anything fitted on top) I'm working on some refashioning into tops similar to the ones I found that I like. I bought some patterns too, but not started sewing since the LE is slowing everything down. But I'm finding non-fitted skirts make cool tunics when attached to a yoke-area from another shirt (I'm liking t-shirts or men's dress shirts) and I recently saw an idea of using fabric in a scarf-like gather to make the yoke-front. I'm planning to try some ruffles across the bodice tops for camouflage too. If I wasn't swollen in the shoulder and able to do off-the-shoulder (dog ears might be an issue too) then I'd have even more flexibility.

I've given myself sort of a crash-course in body type dressing (at least for my own body) so I'm wanting to change everything. I was dressing all wrong anyway. Fortunately a lot of my clothes are suitable for re-makes and Goodwill just had a super-cheap sale where I just concentrated on fabrics - cotton voile, silks, etc. I wish I'd found white because I have designs I want to add but no luck there. I find I'm gravitating to jewel-tones, especially purple, turquoise, fuschia.

If I could get the LE under control and didn't have this belly, I could have fun dressing. Kind of discouraging that I exercise a couple of hours most days, don't overeat, and still don't lose any weight. :P

Because of the swelling, the shoulders are not so big on me as they probably would be (I'm 5' tall too) but the necks are often HUGE. Somd I'm thinking of how to modify (especially if they have a decorative yoke) but so far I just wear a camisole and sometimes attach a "modesty panel". I had to do that sometimes before mastectomy. My scar shows in all my nightgowns/pajamas, etc.

I don't think people in general notice me being flat much or if they do I'm just oblivious. They often ask about my arm being wrapped. The only one who commented was actually a friend and she seemed rather bothered that I'm not wearing any prosthesis. I tried on the knitted knockers once but didn't wear them. The bra threatened to ride up to my chin lol. I might consider a prosthesis for a very special occasion, and I don't know how to handle a bathing suit around others, but so far I just get dressed and go. I am enjoying not needing a bra. A wear a cami if my shirt is sheer, but if it's not too low-cut and not see-through, sometimes I just wear the shirt. That part is very freeing

oh, wow, thank you. That actually helps me a lot.

My surgery was only just over 2 months ago, and I guess I haven't figured out much. I have lymphedema issues too (more part if my trunk than my arms) so maybe keeping 2 drawers full of bras is pointless. I thought they might work someday with foobs. But I hadn't thought about lymphedema. My CLT has just started to mention compression shirts - I'm having to do a little at a time and we've only ordered for one arm so far (and not everything for that). Maybe I should forget the bras.

I was between a D and DD, depending on who made it, so going from that to sunken means NONE of my clothes fit well, except one tunic given to me that didn't fit before. I started reworking my clothes, but then had to have my arm wrapped so I stopped, since I couldn't try things on to know how they will fit when I'm not wrapping, and hopefully this part won't last long enough to need to dress it (beyond 3 shirts I found at the thrift store 3/$9.99 that were perfect - SO thankful for that!).

So I'm kind of in a holding pattern till I know what will happen with the LE. I was feeling bad for not having more sorted out, but for less than 3 months post-op I guess I'm not doing too bad.

I might look for some yoga shirts. I'd not heard of them. And I guess I'll go ahead and pack up my bras, and consider getting rid of them. The LE is worst just above my scar line so bras are probably a bad idea.

Thanks again

btw, if a person has a flat chest, a Buddha belly, and reasonably nice legs, a shirt rather like this looks good as long as it's cut long enough to cover the belly, and works with leggings or close-cut pants (NO flared pant leg!). It also works in the same way with a very fitted skirt like a pencil skirt, or a slightly flared trumpet. It does NOT work with a-line skirts, which all of mine were, unless you want to look fat all over. And the fabric of the tunicmust drape well, being neither stiff nor clingy.

(Maybe you already know all this, just tossing it out there for anyone who might like to know.

I'm learning. Slowly.

Dolman sleeves are great for large upper arms when the lower arm looks good. As for me personally, I wouldn't go with a fitted sleeve of any kind because I have to wrap for lymphedema, but not everyone has that problem. Except for that, I love dolman sleeves. Though just SLIGHTLY longer than these are more flattering for most people. 3/4 or so usually looks great. Just under the elbow sometimes doesn't

The front of the tunic is good if you have a flat belly. Honestly, I'm finding that dressing without breasts if you are thin is not difficult at all, and many current trends are MADE for such a body. Dressing without breasts if you aren't thin is much more difficult. Tunics work, but they need to be not so straight cut, close fitting, and high hemmed on the front. (The brown tunic you posted above is also too high in the hem for a big belly, but if lengthened in the front as well is good.)

Many tunics I see are long in the back, short in the front. That doesn't suit my body at all - best for very thin people who want to show off a flat belly and hide a flat derrière. Myself, I look for even hems, or else low in the front (must fall below my belly) but it can be higher in the back for me. I just have to be sure the bottoms aren't too tight if the back hen is too high.

Not sure what kind of opinion you were looking for, but that's what cones to mind to me.

hi Momime,

Please forgive me, I didn't mean to make less of your problems either. It seems we all have major body changes to deal with and learn to accept in ourselves.

I would think drapey fabrics would be your friend as well? Something not too closely fitted? A lot of the tricks that disguise no-breasts might help in the case of your ribs being too thin as well - cowl necks and such? Maybe a light scarf tied in different ways?Just as with my body type, I'm sure cooler weather will be easier!

I haven't done any studying on a thin frame, just wished mine was more so. If I wear the wrong thing, my chest is sunken and I seem to have a ridiculous belly. The lymphedema doesn't help - arms are too big and torso is lopsided. But we all have challenges, surely!