I bought what are seriously some of the best quad-friendly and SEXY! (who woulda thunk-it) shoes last week.

Here are they are: “Lisabelle” Mary-Jane’s by Guess. And they come with fashionable Velcro straps! Now that, my friends, will win me over everytime ($59.99 at Macy’s).

- Tiff

While flipping through a Reader’s Digest last (while week waiting for my van to get fixed), I ran across this intruiging build-your-own-dress website called Dress by Design. For $200, you can pick from 6 different styles, hundreds of different color and fabric options, and create the perfect dress.

I really love this idea. It’s an easy way to get just the dress you’re looking for, without the hassle of going out and driving around for naught. Now, if I only had a fun event coming-up, then I just might get one made for myself.

- Tiff

Even though we’re all wheelchair-users, our needs regarding clothes still vary person to person. I know that for me, since I’m 5′10 with really long legs, and I sit all day, I need extra-long inseams on all of my pants, but not every other gimp is like me…

I also need:

- A long torso in my shirts so they don’t ride up, exposing my belly.

- Non-bell/flowy sleeves.

- Skirts that aren’t above the knee.

- No long jackets; they just bunch-up behind my back.

- Fabric that moves and no bulky seams.

- No itchy fabric like wool.

With that said, what do you look for in pants, shirts, jackets, etc, when buying clothes for your non-standing lifestyle?

- Tiff

Channel Mariah Carey from Cribs (remember her extensive pink babydoll collection in her NYC condo? Crazy, yet impressive…), and head on down to Target for…

Tiff’s Target Buy of the Week! (a new weekly blog series)

This week I’m featuring the new line of babydolls by Gillian & O’Malley, which Target is selling for V-Day. I came across this “Young Pink” chiffon babydoll for $19.99 yesterday afternoon, and my inner-girly girl nearly peed her pants. For shiz.

Impulse-buy forthwith!

So of course, I wore it to bed last night and was even MORE pleased with it. Why? It fit my fake boobs (yes, I have implants) like a glove! And let me say right now, that that’s not an easy task….

With the light-as-air like pink chiffon ruffles sitting on my lap like a perfectly frosted cake, and the tiny pink bows pressed up against my bosom like a festoon of hungry leeches….it felt like it was custom-made (did I mention it comes with a matching pink chiffon thong?!). I felt like Marie Antoinette at her most decadent.

I bought a small. Sometimes tight ‘n snug is a million times better than roomy. And I think most straight men would agree

- Tiff

Who’s the wheelchair-girl that’s constantly reminding all the other wheelchair-girls out there the neverending importance of accessories in our wardrobe? That’s right. That would be me And today, in early January, it’s a perfect time to remind all of you the current trendiness and ease that is the Pashmina scarf (yes it’s back). But BEWARE, it’s only IN right if it’s tied in a very specific way (see image to the left. Image courtesy of Esprit).

Now, I’m no knot-expert by any means, but I’m seeing fashionistas everywhere donning these things. And it dawned on me the other day what an easy add-on this would be, and look great while you’re at it, for women in wheelchairs to utilize. So go out and buy yourself a brand new brightly-colored thin Pashmina to add to your Winter/Spring wardrobe this year. You’ll be glad you so, especially on your laundry days

- Tiff

One of the best ways to look hella sexy from that wheelchair of yours is to bare your shoulders. Yup, that’s right…I’m talking about those slinky and sometimes sexy, off-the-shoulder tops. They’re great for holiday occasions, nighttime events, and of course, summertime.

We sometimes need a fresh viewpoint when deciding what areas of our bodies to accentuate from our chairs. It’s not easy. Lucky for you, I’m here to be that person for you.

While we sit, our chest, shoulders, and face are the first thing that catch people’s eyes. Knowing that, bare shoulders (and wearing your hair in a casual up-do along with the top) is a freakin’ great way to show the world that you still got it. You can’t show off the booty, you can’t strut like a supermodel, but you still CAN bare your shoulders and show some skin.

So go ahead and do it….bring out your inner sex-kitten!

- Tiff

There’s nothing that makes me giddier than gorgeously unique jewelry, that’s also cheap. And 1928 Jewelry fits the bill.

Just check out their Manor House Beaded Drop Earrings (pic to the left) for $26.00. With their Victorian-look, paired with ”simulated” amethyst and pearl (which help create the dropped-effect), make these babies look like they’re genuine antique jewelry that’s worth 4x the amount.

Have fun browsing! Their jewelry is simply gush-worthy.

- Tiff

Hats: A covering of the head. A way to retain body heat. And of course, a lovely head decoration, a.k.a., the most fabulous accessory (next to printed stockings) that fashion has ever seen! w00t!

I’m lucky. I have a hat face (or at least people have been telling me so for years). They could be lying, boosting my ego, but who cares, I’ve developed a fetish for hats and it’s sayin’, friends Let us also not forget how majorly kick-ass hats are in the “Easiest Way to Look Stylish from a Wheelchair” department.

With that being said, my hat fetish was fully appeased this Fall when the “Cloche” style hat from the 1930’s  returned to the runways. I want one bad. Correction: I REALLY want a vintage one, but I can bet you a pretty penny it’ll cost me a bit more than Nordstrom’s $118.00 version.

So hey…know where a girl can get a cloche hat on the cheap?

- Tiff

With the onset of Fall, comes for most women in my age range, the time (or the excuse rather) to venture out to our local favorite malls, in search of several new outfits for the change of the season. With Fall invariably comes cooler weather (unless you’re lucky enough to live in a part of the world where it never gets cold. Then boo on you), and each season, the most powerful designers of the world - Versace, Gucci, Guess, Issac Mizrahi even - create new lines of clothing that less-expensive retailers, Macy’s for example, replicate for half the price, then sell to us.

But for the cheapest of the cheap fashionistas (points to herself), even Macy’s is usually too steep for our budgets. Instead, we shop at Target, discount stores like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and even Nordstrom Rack. I refuse to pay over $30.00 for a top, and over $50 for a pair of pants or a skirt. I make an exception for shoes though (they’ve my weakness). I’m willing to pay close to $100 for a pair of round-toe stacked, Steve Madden heels if they’re cute enough. And accessories? $15.00 max; and that includes hats, jewelry, purses, scarves, etc. Thrift stores are my best friend actually when it comes time to purchase new accessories. They always seems to have the coolest, quirkiest accessories that actually make a fashion statement. There’s nothing I love more than buying a weird, strange item that actually “works,” and is something that no one else is doing. Wheelchair or no, as you can see, I refuse to let my disability put the brakes on my love of fashion. What can I say? I’m vain. (Hey, at least I admit it. Unlike some people…).

It’s no easy feat however looking good from a wheelchair. It takes a lot more time and effort and above all, PROPER FIT, to make yourself look good while sitting down 24/7. My goal since 1996 has been to perfect the art-form of looking good while seated; and I think I’ve come damn near perfectly close in knowing about everything there is regarding this subject. Being OCD definitely helps in this area of my life; it helps me cover all the ground so to speak.

I published an article here on Disaboom regarding this very subject entitled, “Wheelchair Fashion Manifesto,” that you should definitely check-out if you’re looking for some pointers on how to cohesively make fashion and being in a wheelchair look totally hip.

OMG…aren’t these just about the coolest thigh-highs ever created?!

StockinGirl sells these “Tattoo Parlour Thigh Highs” for $22.99, but since they’re so incredibly unique, they’re on back-order.

Something tells me these stockings are worth the wait though….

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it once again: The absolute best way to dress-up otherwise atrophied paralyzed, skinny legs, is to go the printed tights/thigh-highs route.

You can thank me later

-Tiff