By Cienna Ditri (@chronicallypersevering)
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- Style is my form of self-advocacy.
I don’t “dress around” my chronic conditions or disability — I dress with them. My clothes share the story of my body: some days call for softness and stretch, others demand armor and touch of sass. Whether it’s an oversized trench or a corseted knit, every piece I wear is a reminder that my body and my life are chic.
- Functionality is the foundation of elegance.
Adaptive fashion doesn’t need to whisper; it can make a statement. I love when practicality feels like luxury: magnetic closures hidden in sharp tailoring, accessible fastenings that look like couture detailing, silhouettes that move with you instead of against you. Fashion should never ask you to choose between comfort and confidence. Fashion is supposed to be fun. Fashion is truly for every body.
- Accessibility isn’t extra.
For me, accessibility isn’t an extra feature, it’s the design baseline. I want to see adaptive pieces styled with the same editorial eye as any other collection. Until inclusion feels seamless: on the racks, in campaigns, & on the runway, fashion isn’t truly finished.
- Representation isn’t a moment — it’s a movement.
Real inclusion means disabled creatives in front of the camera modeling, behind the camera in the studio, at the design table. I’ve seen what happens when our voices shape the narrative; it’s not tokenism, it’s evolution. Our community online proves it every day: when we’re visible, the entire fashion conversation expands. Keely Kat-Wells said that our community “isn’t something to be donated to, but something to be invested in”. We are a massive buying power and brands need to take notice.
- Imperfection is the new polish.
I share my fits, my fatigue, my hacks, and my genuine life full of ups and downs because fashion should reflect real life, not an airbrushed fantasy. The scuff on a loafer, the way a mobility aid matches an outfit, that’s where authenticity lives! My style isn’t about hiding what’s hard or overcoming it; it’s about embracing it and making art with it.
Fashion, at its best, is lived messy, intentional, and full of movement. I don’t need permission to take up space in this industry, just like you don’t need permission to take up space in daily life. You aren’t too much, you aren’t extra. Embrace life and embrace YOU. Personally, I just need great tailoring, a swipe of mascara, and the reminder that perseverance can be painfully stylish. My conditions are chronic, but my style is iconic.
- Style is my form of self-advocacy.
