Nights it is...

Dancer Girl really wanted to try and go without the brace at night when her hours were reduced.  We tried for a number of weeks to make it work but we both quickly realized that we were juggling her busy schedule and brace-free activities so much she was in it most nights anyway to get her hours in.

So she wears it only at night now.  It seems to be working alright most nights. And, she even got a weekend free of the brace at a youth retreat up in New Hampshire recently.

Now that she is in it mostly at night her need for clothes that fit over the brace has been reduced.  The ones she has still fit fine though so if she needs to she can wear it during the day and still have it be nicely concealed. (The line at her waist on the photo is from a belt, not from the brace. The sweater was found at TJ Max).

Maybe our next post though will be what she chooses to wear over it at night... haven't done the pajama post yet!

Under the brace, for boys...

Someone asked a question on one of our posts about what to do about clothes for boys in a brace since most of the information found online is for girls. Great question...

She was specifically asking about what to wear under the brace. I suggested looking for "seamless tops for boys" and stumbled across a few ideas that I thought I would post for others who may be struggling with this as well.


Look for ...seamless or minimal side seams

             ....tight fitting style so it doesn't bunch under the brace

            ....not too thick because it will be warmer in the brace already

            ....tanks are probably best but short & long sleeves may also work in colder weather depending on what is going over the brace


Here is what we found so far - we will keep looking! (most of these are t-shirts rather than tank tops)


Boys sizes

Smart knit kids (t-shirt)

Fun and Function tees


Teen/Men's sizes

Jockey Seam-free crew

Sierra Trading post t-shirt


Expensive, but...

Winter Kids base layer, long-sleeved top (boys/teens)

Spanks control tank (men)

Macy's One Flack Jack seamless tank (men)

Macy's body shaper seamless t-shirt (men)


NOTE: I realize this last group is pricey but it made me think that you might be able to find something similar but cheaper in the performance wear section of a sports store, especially on the sale rack, or a similar section in discount stores like TJ Max or Marshall's...

Please feel free to comment with your own ideas if you have come across better options!

More Summer Clothes for the Boston Brace

We have now had a few days of really warm weather and are looking forward to many more.  Dancer Girl is still able to handle layers with her Boston Brace although there have been a few days where she ends up fairly hot.  We are looking for, and starting to find, some options for getting rid of some of the layers she usually prefers while still maintaining optimal brace coverage.




This short-sleeved dress we actually found at TJ Maxx!  It is a knit fabric with a subtle stripe design and mixed weaves.

Dancer Girl is wearing it with leggings in this photo but you could easily go without for a cooler feel.

She also opted to wear a lightweight sweater overtop.


You could cover it up with a denim jacket for cool evenings and a more casual look.
















This next outfit works both with the denim jacket layer and without.


Dancer Girl likes the extra layer for more security in hiding the brace but it is not necessary as you can see in the photos.



These items were all found at Kohl's.











This is a fun, flowing, loose-fitting, pretty summer dress from Kohl's.  It comes with an attached slip/camisole layer so you could go without a cover over the brace if you want, if it doesn't snag the fabric.

Dancer Girl is wearing a cream colored Sugar Lips seamless tank under her brace and opted to go without an extra brace cover layer.  It worked well.

She started the day wearing the lightweight green shirt as a coverup along with some leggings.  But taking off the jacket/top also worked well and it was nice to have the option as the day warmed up. She wore this to church and I doubt anyone knew she had a brace on underneath and she got a number of comments on her cute outfit!

Summer Clothes for the Boston Brace

Summer is on it's way!  Today it is near 80 for the 3rd day in a row!  Not entirely typical for New England in May but we are certainly enjoying it!

We bought a few sleeveless summer items for Dancer Girl recently, from Kohl's and H & M.  More are likely on their way as we figure out just what will work best for the warmer weather.



The first is a summer dress from H & M.  It is black with tiny white flecks.  The waist is a thin elastic which provides some fullness as well as a waistline.  It hides the brace lines beautifully because it is dark, has a pattern, and it isn't tight fitting.  It would also look cute with a white or black cropped sweater, or even a denim jacket.  Dancer Girl is wearing a black Sugar Lips seamless tank under the brace.






The second is also from H & M.  it is a flowing tank top, black with small white zigzag stripes.  The pattern hides brace lines amazingly well and the fabric is nice and light. She is wearing the same black tank under her brace for this one.  It looks good with jeans, shorts, or a skirt.  (The jeans in this photo are from Kohl's).








The next three outfits are all from Kohl's.  We found a pretty, flouncy sort of tank top but the back is too revealing for the brace (it has lace and almost a racer back style). BUT, by putting this fun white denim vest jacket over top she found she can wear it with the brace. She was very happy.



This vest is likely going to be a popular item to cover up brace strap lines on days where another layer won't cause her to wilt.






This next one is a very pretty, almost sheer fabric. Dancer Girl is wearing a Sugar Lips seamless white tank under it in this photo but you could also go for one that is more off-white to match the lace.  Because of the delicate fabric she is also wearing another tank/cami over the brace.

The fabric flows so it hides the brace even though it is almost sheer and a light color.  It isn't as concealing as darker colors might be but she is happy enough with it.  The top did come in darker colors (orange and navy blue I think) but this was her favorite.





This last one looks like two tops but it is just one - the layers are attached along the shoulder seam. It is a lightweight fabric and the colors & design do a great job of hiding brace lines.


We know the hot summer days could prove to be rough, but we are on our way to being ready.  Dancer Girl still needs more shorts - she only has one pair right now that fit over her brace!!

What to Wear Under Your Scoliosis Brace

Being comfortable in the Boston brace depends a lot on what is going on underneath it.

There are more options than we realized for what to wear under a scoliosis brace.  However, it does require some trial and error to get the fit and feel that is right for you.  Hopefully this post will be helpful to get you on the right track to comfort!

Basically anything under a scoliosis brace needs to be:
1. smooth without any wrinkles (stretchy and tight fitting)
2. free of thick seams or, even better, seam-free
3. thick enough to provide skin protection and not get ruined by the brace
4. thin enough to not be too hot 
5. long enough to run the length of the brace
6. high enough in the armpits to provide protection there
7. nice looking and/or stylish


TANK TOPS:

Option One: The doctor gave us a few Boston T tank tops which are seamless, thick and stretchy.

Pros:  - it has a flap to cover the high piece in the armpit
          - it is thick, tight-fitting, seam-free, smooth, and stretchy

Cons: - it is very thick and Dancer Girl gets hot in it
          - the armpit area is getting all stretched out of shape
          - we can only order them through the doctor or orthotist
          - the color choice is very limited (white and grey I think)
          - they are not stylish



Option Two: One of the first options we came across was a seamless tank top by Sugarlips.  They are not designed specifically for scoliosis braces but they were recommended by many girls who wear a back brace so we gave them a try. We purchased both "the original seamless tank"and the "misses sizing" or "slim fit" tank, as well as a "seamless long camisole"

Pros:  - they are SO SOFT!
          - they are seamless (and really soft)
          - they are stretchy, form-fitting, and smooth (and soft!)
          - they come in a variety of colors
          - they come in two basic youth/adult sizes and in kids sizes

          - the slim fit/misses size fits perfectly under Dancer Girl's brace
          - Sugarlips has other seamless products - camisoles, t-shirts, leggings

Cons: - they don't have the flap under the arm
          - you can't throw them in the dryer or they lose their softness
          - the tank doesn't quite come up high enough in the armpit
   
Our take:  We really like this super-soft tank and it is cheaper than specialized options (although still more than the average tank).  It doesn't quite go high enough in the armpits to provide complete protection but Dancer Girl is finding that to be "OK" as she gets used to the brace in general. We love the assortment of color and style options and again, they are really soft!


Option Three: (NOTE: Apparently these products are no longer being made. Hope has gone off to college and is no longer in her brace - congratulations Hope! I will leave the review up though in case someone comes across a used Hope's Closet item).

Another one that comes up a lot in web searches is made by Hope's Closet. Dancer Girl wasn't too sure about the style with the bold stitching but many girls would like the fun look I am sure.  In the end we did try one tank top because it claims to have fabric that reduces sweating - sort of like high performance athletic wear.


Pros: - it is a soft, silky material
          - the seams are very flat (but there are seams)
          - it is stretchy and form-fitting
          - it comes in two styles and a variety of colors
          - it comes in a few different sizes
          - the arm hole openings go up high into the armpit and have a double layer to provide protection from the brace
          - proceeds from every purchase go to the National Scoliosis Foundation

Cons: - Dancer Girl didn't end up liking the material's feel under the brace
          - she didn't think it reduced her sweating at all, or help keep her dry by wicking away moisture
          - the seams did irritate her skin a bit even with the flat-lock stitching
          - the armholes were too tight and caused serious rubbing and red marks
          - at $30 per tank it is expensive, especially when it didn't work right for us.

Our take: It is clear a lot of thought went into this product and I really wanted it to work.  In the end though, it wasn't right for us.  If we tried again we would get a bigger size and see if the arm holes work better and if the stitching didn't irritate the skin. Many girls seem to really like these though so I wouldn't rule it out if you are searching for this material, style, and look.  Maybe try a bigger size than you think you need.  If it works and lasts it would be worth the cost for reduction of discomfort.


Option Four and Five:

BraceBuddies Body Sock

I just came across this option today.  It seems like a good one, created specifically for girls wearing back braces.  They say each tank top is custom-made to fit right and ask for specific measurements.  They cost around the same as the ones from Hope's Closet ($30 or so).  If we find we need another option to try, this one will be on our list. We will blog about it if we get one and welcome comments from anyone who has tried the BraceBuddies Body Sock!


Tilly's Seamless Cami

This is another option we have heard of recently. They are not made specifically to wear with back braces but they are seamless.  They come in a variety of colors and sizes, included kids sizes.  From the photos it looks like it won't come up high enough under the arms to give much protection though, but it might be worth a try since the price is pretty good ($9).


INTIMATES:

UNDERWEAR:

We were told to have Dancer Girl wear her underwear up over the brace.

                      Yeah.      Right.

That was clearly not going to happen!

Her current underwear was not working - the seams and bands of elastic were too thick, causing red marks on her skin.

Fortunately we had just recently found some smoother fitting underwear she was wearing for dance and it turns out it works great under the brace too. So we stocked up!

She is wearing a brand called "Barely There" which we found at Kohl's. They are probably available elsewhere too. The waistbands are very thin and flat and have no seams.  The leg bands are also very minimal in thickness. The material is soft and stretchy, and they come in a variety of styles and colors. PERFECT!


BRAS AND SPORTS BRAS:

Dancer Girl prefers the sports bra style because of the softness and comfort and there is no clasp in the back.  We thought this would be an advantage for the brace - no wires or thick bands, etc.

However, some of her current ones actually had thicker bands than we realized and were incredibly uncomfortable in the brace.  The bands were also very wide so went too low and interfered with the brace all around, not just in the higher armpit area.

Yesterday we found a solution at Kohl's - a minimal sports bra style (called a "bralet") by Lily of France. The band is thin and the style is very comfortable.  They come in a two-pack in a variety of colors.

NOTE: The "Barely There" brand also makes a wireless thin band bra style called Custom Flex Fit.  Dancer Girl tried some on but preferred the Lily of France ones because they are more of a sports bra style.  I could see the Barely There ones being good though for a more traditional bra style.

Scoliosis Clothing: Part 3

We have found our local Kohl's to be a great place to find a variety of items that fit over our daughter's Boston brace for scoliosis.

Here are a few items we have found for cooler/cold weather;




This is a fairly light fabric but in a dark color to hide brace and velcro strap lines.  It looks nice over a tank top.  The belt adds a waistline that is otherwise hidden by the brace. The shirt can be worn without the belt for a looser fit.









A denim jacket is a great layer over shirts, tanks, long-sleeved tops, etc. and hides the velcro straps well, allowing you to wear a shirt underneath that might not otherwise be a good fit over the brace.  Styles come in a variety of lengths.  We found this one hid all the back straps well.  Shorter ones may not do to the same job so make sure it is long enough.








This pairs a nice, thick, warm sweater with a long-sleeved top.  The sweater has some texture to it with different woven patterns and can be worn open or closed.  The length hides any trace of the brace in the back of the pants.  The shirt has a wavy design on it, front and back, that do hide the brace lines well even without the sweater overtop.








Button-down casual shirts are a terrific layer over t-shirts and tank tops.  They can be worn either open or closed and many have the option of rolling the sleeves up and fastening them in place for a shorter-sleeved look.  These ones have some subtle lines and shape to them which can be seen best from the back.





For more clothing suggestions, check out some of our other posts:
In Scoliosis Clothing: Part 1 we posted about pants we found at Kohl's that work well with her brace.
In addition, Scoliosis Clothing: Part 2 talks about tops we found at H & M, another store where we have had success shopping for brace-appropriate clothing.

Scoliosis clothing: Part 2 (Tops)

Thanks to various blog posts from other teens with scoliosis (see the sidebar for links to some of those) we knew to look for the following when we went shopping for tops:

1. Colors, textures, patterns, and stripes are your friend.
2. Loose, flowing clothes over a tank look very nice.
3. Dark colors can often hide the velcro strap lines better than lighter ones.
4. Layers are a great way to mix and match, and also hide the straps.
5. Wear tops below the hip to hide any brace lines in the pants.
6. A belt can help define a waistline that is otherwise covered by the brace.
7. Try a size up (or two depending on the style) from your regular clothes.

H&M shopping spree:

Sweatshirts and sweaters are a great coverup but don't have to be boring.  We found this nice soft woven one with a hint of a stripe pattern.

If Dancer Girl put her hands in her pockets and pushed down a bit it did pull the sweater in the back and showed the straps, but if she is just wearing it casually it hides it all.




This is a lovely, light, flowing peasant top style with a simple tank underneath.  It is airy so won't be too hot as it gets warmer out.  It came in a few colors but Dancer Girl liked this one the best.  It is long enough to cover any brace lines in the pants.









This is a similar idea for style but adds the element of a pattern to further hide any brace lines.  The material isn't as light as the pink one above but is still not heavy so is a good option for Spring or Fall weather.









Dancer Girl loves this T-shirt.  The pattern in front hides any lines from the brace and it has a slightly slimmer fit to provide some shape but isn't too tight.  It didn't do a great job though of hiding the straps in the back as you can see in the photo.









BUT, if you add a cute denim jacket as a layer you have a nice outfit!  The jacket is from Kohl's and was purchased earlier, but H&M had a good selection as well. A different jacket or sweater with short sleeves would also look cute with this outfit if you don't want long sleeves.









This is an oversized style loose fitting shirt over a tank.  The stripes do a nice job of hiding the velcro strap lines in the back even though the material can cling a little.  The sleeve style looks like it would be quite open along the sides exposing the brace, but in fact the fabric goes right up close to the armpit like a regular shirt.






And finally, we found this cute, silky tank top for warmer weather.  It can be casual with jeans or dress it up with pants or a skirt. The length covers any brace lines on the pockets and the loose fit and small pattern hides the velcro straps.


Many of these tops also fit without the brace, just a little more loosely.  If you are OK with that then it makes wardrobe changes less frequent.

It was clear that there are lots of style options for wearing over her brace so this was a very encouraging day.

Scoliosis clothing: Part 1 (Pants)

What to wear, what to wear... this question takes on new meaning when you have a back brace.

When Dancer Girl first got her brace it was clear the immediate need was for pants.  Her current t-shirts and sweatshirts would suffice for covering the top short-term but none of her pants fit over the brace.


The fashion challenges:
1. The brace extends down in the back, sort of mid-pocket range.
2. The extended piece wraps around one hip.
3. It has a higher part right into the armpit on one side.
4. There are three large, bulky velcro straps in the back.
5. Dancer Girl is very tall and quite slim.


Our fashion solutions for pants
1.  When possible we got the same or similar pants in two different sizes - one for in brace, one for out. That way, if she needs to take the brace off she can avoid a complete wardrobe change.

2. Bigger pant sizes for the brace can mean wider legs.  If you want to go for a narrower leg, try jeggings or pencil style.  They are harder to get on and off in the brace but do still keep a slimmer look so it's a trade-off.  A slimmer styled boot-cut can also work well and will be easier to get on & off.

3. Darker colors were better than lighter ones for concealing the lower part in the back.

4. Designs on the pockets also help conceal the line of the brace in the back.

5. A belt is good to help keep the pants in place - it provides security and can look good too.

6.  I have read on other blogs that some girls like to wear leggings, yoga pants, and other stretchy materials over the brace.  Dancer Girl is not really into those styles outside of dance class but I would imagine they could work quite well with a longer top that covers the bottom part of the brace.


Problems we encountered:
1. We bought a really cute pair of pants that fit over the brace but find that when she sits down the waistband is just low enough that it falls below the bottom velcro strap.  It gets caught when she stands back up.

2. It was very tiring for her to get pants on & off with the brace on in a small changing room.  Make sure you have lots of time to spend and take breaks if you need it.

3.  Not all sizes are created equally!!  Even within the same brand, different styles sometimes fit very differently.  Grab a range of sizes and styles before heading to the dressing room!

4. She is two sizes apart in her brace and out, but we found that a fit over the brace didn't automatically mean a smaller size would fit well without the brace.

5. She has to pull the pants higher over the brace than she would otherwise wear them to get it over the bottom velcro strap.  That makes the pants a bit shorter so you might need to search for longer styles.


Stores and brands that have worked for us:
1. For pants we have had our best luck so far at Kohl's.  They have a great selection and often have items on sale.  Plus, with a Kohl's card you often get 15% off just for using the card.

2.  Wallflower brand faded bootcut jeans, (the "Curvy" line ironically!), was a favorite - trendy but not over the top.

3. Other brands we found that worked include: Rewind, Lauren Conrad, and Sonoma.