INCLUSIVE STREET STYLE (the versatility of the white-tee)

Non-conformity is a magical thing. Individuality is a beautiful thing. It's especially great when you have no choice but to create a 'new identity' or a new way of self-expression. Trends are trends and most people say 'they don't follow trends' but, in some way, we're all influenced by them. Even if we don't know it. However, you doknow it when you literally can't replicate a trend straight from the pages of a fashion magazine or blog - because the muscles in your feet don't work - i.e you're feet can't grip onto/into sky-high heels or even open-toed flat sandals. Or pull-on boots don't work either because you need something solid encircling your ankle. The amount of time I've wasted sitting in shoe stores trying to pull on, zip up, fasten, walk in shoes that were either too high and too flat...is ridiculous. Little shoe shop girls buzzing around, curious as to why I am wearing a plastic splint around my foot and half-up my leg - they never get the hint. I'll never forget the day Dad, the walking stick and I went shopping in the city - I was still under the guise of my 'incapacitated leg' being a temporary hiccup. We went into Nine West and I spotted this luxe pair of gold heels with a gold chain as the T-bar...kind of like these. I put them on and stood up with the assistance of Dad and the shop girl and my right ankle just gave in. The muscle required for me to stand in those heels was M.I.A. I laughed it off, asked Dad to buy them anyway, convinced I'd be donning them within 6 months. Those 6 months came and went. I don't know even what happened to the beautiful heels. 

So - I could go on and on about the different things I used to try - ways to pull off the trend 'of the moment' but it's pointless. There's been mountains of tears, frustration and anger over the years. Operative phrase - used to. It took me a few years but I began to accept it - I'd have to find alternatives that were still 'stylish' and still me. I didn't retreat into a corner of sales bins, Juicy Couture tracksuits or maxi-dresses. I've found the feminine, with a hint of the masculine works for me. I love it. Black, white, and denim are my staples but I find time for the occasional printed shirt and short 60s style dress with flat boots. I don't hide my scarred arm or brace. It makes for interesting, albeIt, sometimes uncomfortable social small talk - especially when I can't shake hands and hold a champagne simultaneously. 

Carly Findlay from Tune Into Radio Carly wrote a post about everyday style, Styling You and inclusion - check it out here.

I've collaborated with fashion photographer Mette Kortelainen  from flounce.fi/ to show honest style. Splints and all. Hemiplegia (right-sided paralysis) still affects me so I didn't hide it in these photos. No photoshopping the 'flaws' out here.

Hope you like it.

A GIRL'S WARDROBE - THE TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS

Sometimes it's the 'trivial' things that affect you the most. My brain injury (let's call it the B.I. from now on) inadvertently forced me to change not only my writing hand (but I love now being a member of the lefty club) but also my entire outward identity - my style. A lot to comprehend when you are a 19 year old girl, who's also a journo student wanting to write for Vogue. I've got long legs and used to show them off in little skirts, little dresses, little shorts and sky-high heels. I was simply a young girl. A young girl with almost waist-length hair and a habit for spending most of my money of clothes and shoes.

Waking up from a coma with a shaved head was the start of my transformation. Over the following year it was shaved before most operations so the surgeons could reopen the nasty scars on my skull. Every time my hair would start growing back - they'd take a big chunk out of it. You could almost say I started the trend of half-undercut pixie style hair, all the way back in 2004. Ha.

When the occupational therapists and physios finally got me out of the wheelchair and 'walking' - I assumed I'd be wearing heels again in no time! I think I ignored the subtle sideways-glances between therapists whenever I verbalised this goal. Velcro sneakers were the hospital's recommendation. Plenty of people benefit from wearing these and that's great - but going from heeels to velcro was hard to bear. Right-sided paralysis is the reason - i.e. no muscle working in my right ankle or foot. Long story short - I refused to wear velcro (stubbornness can be a good trait) but I grew tired of waiting around for the nurses to tie my shoes in the morning...so I had to teach myself. It is possible. I still get the shocked looks from people when I do it. If something like shoelaces is preventing you from leaving your hospital room - you find a way around it.

Just like the laces, unless I wanted to greet the male nurses and therapists with bare nipples in the morning, I had to work out how to do up my own bra. It's pretty simple, lay the bra on the bed, do the little latch-thing up and put the bra on, already fastened, over your head. Easy. Anyway, enough about my morning rituals. Basically, I've had a style transition from being a 'girly girl' to a kind of an androgynous/red lipstick/b&w/skinny jeans/leather/boots/cons/minimalistic/classic/tees/tights/occasionalbrightcolour/60s shift dress wearing girl - if that makes any sense. Which I'm sure it doesn't. My wardrobe is 77% black and warm - that's why Melbourne and I are a perfect match.                          

I've always wondered if 'all of this' would be easier if I was a tomboy who didn't care about material things like their wardrobe - specifically high-heels. Then I stop angosing over it and realise, it'd be hard regardless of the situation you're in. You just have to work around those difficulties and find your own solutions. Forgive me for using this corny cliche but it's so appropriate here - 'where there's a will there's a way'.