Pinterest predicts that Athflow is the key upcoming fashion trend in 2021 and I call it A boon in flowy disguise for all the lymphies. There couldn’t have been a better piece of news for all the lymphedema patients. It is not that Lymphies did not know about Athflow before. Interestingly, we can even claim to be the official ambassadors of this new trend. Loose, flowy comfortable outfits, pants with flair large leg holes, soft comfortable fabric are the requisites of a good lymphedema outfit and Athflow gives us all of these.
What is the Athflow trend?
In early 2000 came a trend named Athleisure which means casual, comfortable clothing designed to be suitable both for exercise and everyday wear. It got an overwhelming response from the fashion world. For once, it felt as if the solution to the oversized limb has come, but the Lymphies yearned for a modification even in the comfy Athleisure. What if Athleisure had an additional attribute to it – flowy.
And Voila! The trend ‘Athflow’ has come up with that additional attribute.
So, what exactly is Athflow?
Athflow is a combination of Athleisure and flow, which together give us flowy trousers, casual jumpsuits, comfortable house dresses, over-sized outfits, soft outfits, co-ord outfits two pieces.
According to Pinterest, Athflow includes outfits which are professional enough for the office, stretchy enough for the yoga mat, and comfy enough for the sofa.
Reason for a sudden surge for Athflow style outfits
This style has emerged from the sudden lifestyle shift due to the Covid 19 pandemic. People could not go out. The work from home culture soon geared up and adapted by all. Now everyone needed clothes which were comfortable yet presentable. This led to innovation and experimentation in dressing styles.
Key elements of Ath-flow fashion
- Dresses with flowy appearance: This includes dresses with Aline and baggy silhouette, raglan sleeves, Granny dress, drop waist dress, Harem, kaftan
- Soft Fabric: Soft fabrics such as cotton, linen, even velvets, and knits are used to make comfortable yet stylish outfits.
- Flared trousers: The slouchy trousers with wide legs, bell-bottom trousers, palazzo, leisure flared pants, pleated flared pants are going to be the new trend.
- Casual House dresses: shift dress, wraparounds, tunics, maxi. In short, anything which is comfortable enough to nap in yet chic enough to go out.
- Over-sized outfits: over-sized sweaters, tees, coats and sweatshirts, baggy loungewear, bomber jackets, baggy hoodie, Suits with over-sized blazers, super over-sized sweater dress.
- Personalization: It can be called the summing up point of Athflow. The trend is all about personalization of style, which is comfortable but not compromising in style.
Why is the Athflow trend a boon for Lymphies?
Living with Lymphedema is not easy. Lymphies have always suffered from a lack of options/choices for outfits. Whether it is leg Lymphedema(like mine) or arm lymphedema, shopping for clothes is a frustrating affair.
Lymphies need comfortable clothes to let the affected limb breathe, clothes which allow better lymphatic circulation in the affected leg.
At the end of the day, when we don’t find anything satisfactory, we opt for oversized clothes, flared pants (even though the whole world is wearing skin fit jeans), and flowy dresses.
That is what we have to wear all the time- whether in the office or at home. Now when the whole fashion world is going gaga over the Athflow trend, it is a good sign for lymphedema patients because soon the shops- whether online or offline- will be brimmed with the flowy, comfortable dresses that we have struggled to find.
Finally, a trend which is professional, casual, comfortable, and fashionable all at the same time. From no-choice to lots of choices, 2021 seems to be promising for us
