I’m in the midst of a fashion rebranding I didn’t know I needed
If pop stars can change everything about themselves, then I can, too
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Bombshell musicians Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and Zara Larsson all have something in common. They’ve all massively rebranded, which is when a company or celebrity changes their overall aesthetic, appearance, or sometimes even their mission and purpose. These singers have all been in the game for years, but all three recently changed their entire look, including their hair, costuming, and makeup style. They’re very pretty, but now, all three are show-stoppingly stunning.
My own appearance had taken a backseat for a long time. I was pregnant for nearly two years, gained more than 100 pounds, ran a business 12 hours a day, relocated to a new city, became sick with immune thrombocytopenia in 2018, and then nearly died from atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) two years later.
I’m far from being a pop star, but that won’t stop me from learning something from the changes they made. Busy, business-owning-mom life reduced me to black yoga pants/leggings, tank tops, and sweatshirts. I’d been dressing for comfort — dark colors to look skinnier and plain things to not draw attention to myself. But reflection during an afternoon on the beach in Antigua and people watching at the infusion center changed that.
A new me, top to bottom
When I became permanently ill, I was at my lowest point. I probably looked like a step above death. My eyes were sunken, my cheeks hollow, and I was covered in bruises. But at my infusion center, I found myself in awe of women who were fighting for their lives, yet still dressed like they were headed to church.
I started with my makeup by adding new techniques and colors. Next was my hair. I wear wigs because the Soliris (eculizumab) I take for aHUS causes my hair to fall out. I’m now going with a different style that has a lighter color and accessories to complement my rounder face.
The most exciting part of all this is my change in clothing. I threw out 90% of the yoga pants, tank tops, and sweatshirts, and replaced them with sundresses and maxi dresses. Now when I head out, my look usually includes a carefully selected dress that fits me perfectly, with jewelry and shoes to match, a flower or headband in my hair, and carefully applied eye makeup with a black, wing-tipped liner.
I’ve been completely shocked at the responses I’ve gotten. People stare, ask where I got the dress from, tell me I’m beautiful, and so on. It’s exhilarating. I look like a completely different person now, and I get attention and compliments everywhere I go. I actually enjoy going out every day and look forward to these new, quite foreign interactions with people. Who doesn’t like a stranger telling them they look “stunning?”
Being chronically ill makes me feel like crap every single day, but receiving compliments everywhere I go has an instant restorative effect. It doesn’t change how I feel physically, but mentally and emotionally, I do feel better. That’s huge for my mental health and drive to function. It’s absolutely been the rebranding I didn’t know I needed.
Note: aHUS News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of aHUS News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to aHUS.
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