Dressing for Sensory Issues: How Your Clothes Feel Matters More Than You Think

I’ve always been sensitive. And I don’t just mean emotionally — I mean sensitive in all the ways.

But growing up on a sheep ranch in the backwoods of Idaho, surrounded by tough, masculine men, sensitivity wasn’t exactly something to celebrate. More often than not, the word sensitive was thrown at me like an insult. I learned pretty early that being sensitive was the worst thing I could be. So I did what many of us do — I tried to bury it.

Over time, I got really good at tuning things out. I believe that the opposite of mindful is dissociated, and that’s where I spent a lot of my childhood. No one taught me how to sit with my feelings or work through them, so I simply disconnected.

And when you disconnect from your emotions, you end up disconnecting from your body too.

I stopped noticing how I felt physically. I was the kid who waited until the last possible second to go to the bathroom. The kid with mysterious bruises from bumping into furniture. I don’t remember a lot of my childhood because I spent so much of it checked out.

What does this have to do with clothes?

When you get good at ignoring your discomfort, you ignore everything that makes you uncomfortable — including your clothes.

And here’s the thing: I truly believe all of us have sensory issues to some extent. We’re just often too busy, overwhelmed, or distracted to notice how they’re affecting us.

Through therapy, mindfulness, and a lot of self-work, I’ve started reconnecting with my body — and I’m realizing how much my clothes were impacting me.

Here are some of the things I can’t stand:

• When a bra strap won’t stay up
• When synthetic fabric clings to my sweaty skin
• When a waistband is too tight
• Hair on my neck (solved that one!)
• When my bare thighs stick to a plastic or vinyl seat
  

These aren’t exactly painful experiences. But they still chip away at my comfort, my mood, and my confidence throughout the day.

A mindfulness practitioner might tell you to simply notice these sensations without judging them — and that’s great advice. But I want to take it a step further:

Pay attention, and use what you notice to make intentional choices.

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How to start dressing with sensory awareness

Give yourself a little extra time when you get dressed.
Before you rush out the door, take a few moments to check in with how your clothes feel on your body.

Notice the small annoyances.
Is something digging in? Clinging? Scratching? These “little” discomforts build up over the day.

Make mental notes.
Start to track what feels good and what doesn’t. This will help you refine your wardrobe over time.

Shop with your senses in mind.
Personally, I no longer buy synthetic fabrics — even when I’m thrifting. No matter how cute a piece might be, if it doesn’t feel good on my skin, I won’t wear it.

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Personal style isn’t just about looks

When you dress in a way that honors your sensory needs, you’re building a wardrobe that truly supports you.

Because style isn’t just about what people see — it’s about how you feel in what you’re wearing.

And when your clothes feel right, it frees up so much mental and emotional energy for everything else in your day.

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Want support in building a wardrobe that feels as good as it looks?

I’d love to help. Explore my style coaching and sustainable design services [here].

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