Trying To Remain Stylish With A Cast - YouLookFab Forum

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Trying To Remain Stylish With A Cast

krishnidoux

Veteran

Ok, a week ago was surgery to help with a bad hallux rigidus situation that had progressively prevented me from wearing most heels and pumps. Literally, felt like I was walking with a golf ball inside my foot at all times. Lasted an hour, I was out, it went very fast and very very well, minimum pain, but... now whole foot black and blue, of course, and air cast. For two weeks. (Then, said the doctor just before the operation as a calming intravenous solution had been installed through my arm, It will be large shoes pretty much throughout the rest of Spring and summer... "and you should be back in normal shoes right in time for fall" (Whaaaaaaat?). At least I can dance again in 6 weeks.

I've iced my foot pretty dutifully and must report minimal swelling. So I may have a chance to wear heels on my 50th this summer.

I'm trying to make the most out of it. Here is my interpretation of trying to incorporate aircast bootie into my style. WIW to teach this week and to a Easter friendly gathering tonight.

Pic 1: with black leather moto trying to be badass
Pics 2-3: with a more classic cropped zip-up jacket (which I ended up wearing)
Pics 4-5: WIW tonight. I matched the bootie's grey hue to a heeled patent pump, it was a success, people thought it was pretty funny.

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39 replies

Latest reply was from carmen

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh no!! But oh yes, you do look stylish! And what a smile. You really are making the best of it. I do hope the cast is off in time before the weather heats up. And I am sure it will be worth it in the long run!

ChrisM

Veteran

Super cute! Love the yellow cropped jacket - I can see that being put to a lot of good use as the weather warms up! I hope your foot heals quickly!! All summer in an air cast? Ugh -

JAileen

Veteran

You actually look really cute with your boot. Last year I broke my toe and could only wear flip flops and some toe ring sandals. I hope you heal up soon!

Anonymous

Oh K- I so feel your pain- literally, I have been through 9 foot surgeries since my teens and none were easy to deal with..... then last year I was trying to avoid colliding with unattended child - the kid was fine- me not so much- broke my foot in 3 places! My “foot wear” was equally as fashionable lol. I had to wrap it in a scarf for a wedding...to funny.
You are amazing though. You have put together such stylish outfits no one notices the boot. And you look like you have no problem accommodating the difference in height between “boot” and shoe. Btw- Love the #4 top. Keep up the good work at staying chic while wearing that monstrosity. And remember ice is your friend and you can still “dance” sitting down ( did that at the wedding too)
Big healing hug coming your way.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Cast Chic!

krishnidoux

Veteran

efbgen, what a story! I am so sorry you had to go through this... so many times too. I can appreciate how much it must have hurt. I hope your foot is better now. And that you have freedom in footwear options. The top in 4 is new - I went for some shopping therapy but it was so cheap! $12 at H&M. I wonder if it will last, but for the moment it looks good. I've had luck at that store with dirt cheap items that turned out to be workhorses for a while (another item was another v-neck wooly almond green sweater). You are correct about the difficulty to match boot and other shoe height. Since flatwear is too low, a little heel is actually more comfortable to manage. It's very hard to hit perfect height but luckily I have a pair of boots that does so I can wear that when I go on longer "adventures". Hugs to you too!
JAileen, so sorry to hear this. It must have sucked to no end. I hope your toe is better now and that you have more footwear choice for the summer ahead.
Chris, thanks! It's not a new jacket (Pink Martini, bought circa 2012) and I don't wear it regularily but I am glad I have it when I do. A strange piece like that. I think it's due to the fact that it's not the most climate appropriate for where I live: it's a spring or fall dry day item reallly, something that tends to be sparse here. Too bulky to be under a winter coat, and much too thin as a coat, unless the thermometer rises above a (sunny) 5 degrees Celsius. Also, the cast should come off in 2 weeks, just no pumps until fall said doctor, although I am icing, compressing and elevating like mad.
Suz, thank you! It will be worth it, I think so too. I can't wait to put on my long discarded - but stored away - expensive shoes again. I asked the doctor if I would change shoe size and he said no, except I might find my present trusted pairs could prove a little big in the area where the spur was removed because they would have stretched there. Well, that is certainly a problem I'm looking forward to have! My left foot regularily bruised and blistered in all kinds of other places rubbing abnormally against the shoe due to the difformity. I hope that is over too.

Anonymous

You are succeeding and look cute with the boot

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think the badass version works great with the cast. There's something apocalyptic about these modern cast boots.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I think you look very stylish,it’s ski boot chic really isn’t it.So Glad the op went well, look after yourself whilst it’s healing and you ll be back to dancing and high heels before you know it.

Bijou

Veteran

You look fantastic in both of these. I think you are onto a winning formula with the grey shoe that sort of matches your cast. However, the all black look is my favourite, just so lovely on you.

I hope your foot recovers quickly and you get to wear the sorts of shoes that you want to on your birthday. Good news that you will be back dancing in no time!

Jane

Veteran

Yikes, sounds very sore but 'at least' you have the bragging rights with the bruising. It will be so good to get those beautiful shoes out, and so good that in a few weeks you will be back dancing again.

Great outfits. The jacket in 4 is a super colour, and I like the scarf at the neck. The moto in 1 looks great too.

Anonymous

You make it work. Best wishes on the healing and follow up heeling.

Toban

Veteran

Your outfits look so great on you that I really don’t notice the cast. You’ve got a wonderful sense of self that shines through your clothing choices. Wishing you speedy healing.

Anonymous

K- regarding your new H&M find (#4 )that looks wonderful on you. As I mentioned on a recent post- it amazes me when people can combine high end and low end pieces to produce an outfit with flair and panache. I am not always successful but I try. Apparently you are- yay.
I agree that when these pieces are a “hit” they are a total hit and find they are frequently worn and worn well (feel confident & compliments) it gives me a boost to think my costs per wear is pennies or less.
Btw- I thought all the outfits are very well put together and look great on you. I do love that #1 look of leather jacket and dress too. These are all keeper looks and will be even more awesome when you’re back wearing the other half of the footwear.
Just goes to show- you can’t keep a stylish lady down ........or in- happy adventures ( but don’t overdo too much too soon- be Goldilocks- lol- just right

Mainelady

Veteran

Congratulations on the success of your surgery! You can now focus on healing. You will always be stylish. People are going to notice your smile first, your bad assery and other outfits next and your cast and big shoes last. The cast and big shoes are temporary. Your smile and authentic style are timeless. Carry on and be fab!

krishnidoux

Veteran

efbgen, Mainelady, those are such nice things to say. Thank you!

Katerina

Veteran

Krish, you look beautiful in all three outfits. Admire your cool style. Love the necklace in the first two outfits - looks great - and the outfits are your usual fabulous bad ass style! No 4 - 5 blows me away - what a gorgeous and interesting outfit, really sophisticated combination! The short yellow jacket is fabulous and it looks fantastic with the striped sweater and the scarf + the white jeans. You look stunning! And the last stylish touch - matching shoe and cast is fab

I wish you speedy recovery and sending healing thoughts to you! Hugs!

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I love that leather jacket!

karen13

Veteran

You look wonderful in all. That yellow jacket is gorgeous on you. Glad to hear the surgery was a success and that you are being diligent with Your after care. Don’t rush the healing! Feet take forever to heal, but it will be worth it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You poor thing. Sending healing thoughts - AND you look fabulous. #4 is KILLER.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I’m so worried that I might eventually need this surgery too... hope you recover fabulously and quickly.

krishnidoux

Veteran

LOL Angie for a second my one-tracked mind read : "#4 is a PAINKILLER"! But I'll tell you, your blog surely is one! Thank you for your kind words.
Katerina, Karen and UmmLila, thank you for your positive messages. It's encouraging me to put together more cast-adorned outfits, and since putting new outfit together is a past time I love, it will help me ride over those convalescence's boring moments. Thank you!
UmmLila, that's funny, because I remember very well reading another member here a few years back - it might even be 8 or 9! She had posted a WIW in which she was celebrating her "first days out of the cast, but it was well worth it". This young mom was mentionning something insanely long like 3 months or something, and I thought ouch! How did she manage poor thing, and, I wish this is never me...! But in the back of my mind I knew it could, one day, as my left foot had already started bothering me then. Well here I am now and it's absolutely not that bad.

DonnaF

Veteran

Krish, you’re looking great! Since you said you will eventually be able to wear heels, it looks like you had a cheilectomy? I also have hallux rigidus, but the doctor said surgery would involve fusing the joints which didn’t strike me as much of an improvement and no expansion in my footwear options. I am 15 years older than you so don’t know if my age weighed into his assessment. Please let us know over the next weeks and months how your recovery goes. What do you do about stairs?

Kari

Veteran

Heels and a cast? You should earn a special style badge.
I hope that your healing goes well! You look beautiful. I especially love the first outfit, simple and chic.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Donna, that's exactly what they kept telling me for five years. Meanwhile I was living with a golf ball in my left foot and the pain would wake me up at night.

I insisted and insisted with my GP, had X-rays done twice. And finally, he sent me to a foot surgeon, who told me it was not to late to operate and push back any fusion. He also immediately gave me a cortisone shot, which literally changed my life by taking the constant pain away.

Cheilectomy is the name of the surgery I had. It involves removing the extra bone that the body produces because of arthritis. The bone spur is an attempt from your body to fuse shut your toe, to prevent it from moving. So you progressively lose mobility in your big toe and it affects your walking and other activities (because this process happens in pain). Last summer I tore a calf muscle on opposite leg, and am convince it is partly due to the right leg compensating for left leg's poor function - due to pain. And the muscle tear was WAAAAY more painful than this recovery. So, all and all, I'm really happy that I finally got the surgery.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Re: stairs: yes, at first I would take them on, not really giving it a thought... then got into less elegant situations where I had to hang on to the rail for dear life. Then something even less fun happened, since I kept touching all these rails all the time - I work in a school - I immediately caught a cold...

So now I seek for elevators and if there are none, I take my sweet time.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Well, that's rotten news, but with some silver linings: glad to hear the surgery went smoothly, and you are looking very stylish despite the big-foot cast!

Style Fan

Veteran

Glad to hear the surgery went well. You are still looking very stylish.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Krish, your attitude is so positive and so wonderful!

I could not agree more with your hypothesis that an injury in one foot can eventually cause all kinds of problems either in that foot, leg, or on the other side of the body. Our bodies go out of alignment, trying to compensate, and all hell breaks loose! In a smaller way I have experienced similar. Ever since a trauma to my right toenails, my foot/ leg on that side has been out of whack in increasingly troublesome ways. Trauma, followed by long-term nail fungal infection, that seemed better but was not, then plantar fasciitis in that foot, and finally a recent knee injury...it is all connected!! I am healing slowly from all of these but it is a process, for sure.

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