Osteoporosis of the spine can lead to changes in the shape of your body. You may get shorter. Your upper back may curve forward, and your tummy may protrude. All of these changes can make it hard to find clothes that fit and look good on you.

Blouses and jackets may be too tight or pull across your back and shoulders. Collars may gape or bunch up. Skirts and slacks may ride up under your bust. Skirts and dresses may become too short in the back and too long in the front.

Looking good is closely tied to feeling good about yourself. That’s why it is important to find nice-looking clothes that fit well when you have osteoporosis. If you sew your own clothes, you can adapt clothing patterns or alter store-bought clothes.

The following tips will help you find clothes that look and fit better:

• Overall, wear clothing that is loose, straight or just slightly fitted.
• Look for blouses with jewel, rounded, slight V or soft cowl necklines.
• Choose tops and dresses with dolman or raglan sleeves.
• Add shoulder pads to jackets and blouses to reduce the appearance of sloping shoulders.
• Try a dress without any waistline such as a tent or A-line style dress. Some women like a tunic with slits on the sides.
• Look for jackets and blouses with back yokes or a box pleat in the back. Or try wearing a shawl or cape instead of a jacket or coat.
• Use jewelry and scarves to draw attention to your face and shoulders and away from your back and tummy.
• If you alter your hemlines yourself, look for skirts and dresses with simple straight hems. Avoid difficult pleats or wrapped skirt styles.
• Try different types of bras to find one that fits well and is comfortable. Some possibilities are a long-line bra, a sports-type bra, one that has straps that cross in the back or one that has a front closure.
• Try pants that have elastic instead of a zipper or a combination of elastic and a zipper.

The Magic of Scarves

Wearing a scarf is one of the easiest ways to hide a curved shoulder or back caused by osteoporosis. You can wear a scarf to fill in a gaping collar or neckline. A colorful scarf or one with a pattern you like can help you feel good and update the look of an outfit. A bold scarf will draw attention away from your shoulders and toward your face. A long scarf draped around your neck and flowing down the back will give you a longer profile and make you look taller.

You can find scarves in a variety of sizes and fabrics. Two basic shapes for scarves are the square and the rectangle, also known as the oblong. By learning a few tricks of folding, twisting or tying, you can add more style to any outfit. Be creative and have fun.