Rediscovering your sense of self and personal style after a single or unilateral mastectomy goes beyond fashion—it’s about confidence, self-expression, and feeling comfortable in your skin– again. A great way to achieve this is by curating a wardrobe that flatters and adapts to your new shape. Whether you decide to live flat on one side, opt for breast reconstruction, or prefer to wear a breast form, these survivor tips will help you get started on your own personal style journey.
Go Back to Basics: Bras, Camisoles and Lingerie
Let’s face it. It is hard to feel comfortable (or stylish) in any outfit if your undergarments don’t fit or feel right. (Right?) One of our favorite companies, AnaOno was founded by a breast cancer survivor, Dana Donofree. AnaOno is a “chest inclusive” lingerie company with beautiful, sexy and extremely comfortable post mastectomy bras, lingerie and loungewear designed for all types of chests. Her unilateral bras can be worn with or without a breast form and come in a variety of colors and styles.
Rethink Your Wardrobe Staples
Your closet doesn’t have to undergo a complete overhaul. Instead, focus on adding pieces that provide comfort and flatter your new silhouette including:
Create Balance in Your Silhouette
If you’re looking to create balance in your silhouette, consider these style tricks:
Tailoring: Your Secret Weapon
Tailoring can transform the way your clothes fit, giving you a polished and confident look. A seamstress or tailor can:
Bring on the Glam
Accessories are an easy (and often inexpensive) way to enhance your look and to shift focus. Some of our favorites are:
Finally, it is helpful to remember that your style should reflect you. Don’t be afraid to experiment or try something traditionally out of your comfort zone. Recovering from mastectomy surgery is hard physically and emotionally. Be patient with yourself. For more recovery and cancer lifestyle tips, read our survivor blogs in our series, Know and Tell.
Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance