Poppy & Blush

A New Normal. Dressing After Spinal Cord Injury

After a spinal cord injury changed how I dressed, two linen pieces helped me find comfort, confidence and a way back to myself. I share the outfits that worked for me.

By Isobel · 29 September 2026

A New Normal. Dressing After Spinal Cord Injury

On the 4th of June, my life changed in a devastating way.

Whilst undergoing spinal surgery to decompress nerves that were causing chronic, debilitating pain, I suffered a spinal cord injury. The damage affected the nerves that serve my bowel and bladder, and those two areas of my body no longer work by themselves. It was shocking. It was devastating. And it changed aspects of my life in ways I could never have imagined.

I had to learn bowel and bladder care in order to function. I had to learn how to catheterise myself and manage bowel care daily - most likely for the rest of my life. I wear pads. I plan every outing: where are the toilets, when will I need to catheterise (three times a day), how long will I be out, what if something goes wrong.

And then there are the clothes.

Comfort stopped being a preference and became a requirement. No belts. No buckles. No stiff waistbands. No heavy or restrictive fabrics. No trousers that are hard to remove quickly. I have to think about whether something is loose enough that the outline of my pad won’t show, and whether I can get to the toilet in time without wrestling with a zip.

My pre-injury wardrobe simply didn’t fit my new reality.

A small trip, and a lot of anxiety

For the most part, I’ve stayed close to home since these major changes. But a dear friend suggested we go on a two-day, one-night city break.

As lovely as it sounded, I felt anxious. Building confidence in my new life - my new normal - has been tough. My mind filled with what-ifs: what if I have an accident, what if I don’t have the confidence to go to the restaurant, what if I can’t manage the art gallery.

Before the injury, clothes gave me confidence and brought me joy. After the injury, I didn’t feel that way at all.

Until I was gifted two items from Lintico.

I want to be clear: I never feature anything I don’t genuinely love and use, and these pieces have become exactly that for me.

Lintico describe their pieces as breathable, lightweight linen clothing with comfort for every day. And for me, that wasn’t just marketing. It was exactly what I needed.

Isobel walking along a country lane in her blue linen trousers and olive green top — Taking those first steps out in clothes that felt comfortable again.

The two pieces that helped me feel like myself again

The Lintico blue linen trousers

Close-up of the olive tunic with blue linen trousers — A closer look at the beautiful fabric and colour.

The first item was a pair of Lintico loose-fitting blue trousers with an elasticated waist. They were ideal for my care needs.

I felt good wearing them.

They’re stylish, and they can be dressed up or worn casually. The blue is attractive and easy to match with other colours... certainly with items I already had in my wardrobe.

But the biggest thing, for me, is this: the Lintico blue trousers are loose enough to accommodate my Inco pad without showing the outline.

They’re also that sweet spot of linen. Light enough to breathe, but not so flimsy that it clings. The fabric has a bit of weight to it, so it hangs properly and skims over everything underneath (which, in my world, is a big deal). The relaxed, wide-leg shape helps too: it gives you airflow and movement, and it just feels… safe. Like you can sit, walk, get in and out of a car, and you’re not constantly tugging at yourself.

And yes, linen creases, but honestly, I’ve come to see that as part of the charm. It looks relaxed and real, and it’s actually brilliant for travel because it still looks intentional even when it’s a bit lived-in.

The Lintico olive green linen tunic top

The back of Isobel’s olive green linen tunic, worn with a patterned belt and a knitted wrap — The olive tunic, with its easy sleeves and beautiful collar.

The second item was a Lintico tunic-style loose-fit shirt with a V-neck detail and three-quarter sleeves.

That sleeve length matters more than I ever thought it would. Long, loose sleeves get in the way when I’m using a catheter. Did I ever think I’d have to consider something that seems so trivial? No. But it’s part of my life now.

The Lintico top has an asymmetrical collar and a two-button detail, and the colour is a lovely olive green that complements the blue of the Lintico trousers.

What I love is that the neckline and collar make it feel like an outfit straight away, even if everything else is simple. And the way it’s cut means it doesn’t cling. There’s a bit of structure, but it still drapes in that relaxed, forgiving way linen does when it’s not paper-thin. The little pleat detail (that inverted pleat) gives you extra room through the body, so it skims rather than sticks.

Putting these two pieces on, I could feel my confidence growing because the clothes suited my needs.

A selection of blue linen trousers, shirts and shoes laid out for the city break — A few easy pieces laid out ready for packing for the city break.

Three outfits for a city break (and a confidence boost)

Outfit 1: Travelling

Olive green tunic with blue trousers and a gingham crossbody bag — The relaxed blue linen trousers and olive tunic, styled for ease.

Isobel walking in her olive green tunic, blue linen trousers and brown boots — Out and about in the travelling outfit.

With those two Lintico pieces, I set about putting together three outfits: one for travelling, one for dinner, and one for a gallery visit.

Lintico blue linen trousers
Blue long-sleeved animal print T-shirt
Lintico green linen top
Brown Chelsea boots
Wool jacket and scarf

Outfit 2: Dinner at a restaurant

Blue linen trousers with a white shirt, grey cardigan and gold shoes — A dinner look with the same blue trousers, a white shirt and grey wool wrap.

Detail of the grey cardigan, white shirt, blue trousers and gold shoe — The details: soft layers, gold shoes and an easy waistband.

Isobel outdoors in a white linen shirt, blue trousers and grey wrap — A little more confidence, one outfit at a time.

Isobel smiling in a white linen shirt, blue trousers and grey wrap, holding a drink — The dinner outfit, worn for an evening out.

Lintico blue linen trousers (again, because I felt confident in them)
Cream shirt
Triangular soft grey scarf with a brooch
Gold chunky slip-on shoes

Outfit 3: Art gallery visit

Olive tunic with animal-print top and blue trousers — Olive and blue, with a little animal print for the gallery day.

Isobel sitting comfortably in blue linen trousers, olive green tunic and brown boots — The loose fit let me sit comfortably, too.

Pale blue puffer gilet laid over olive green and animal-print layers — A pale blue gilet adds a layer for heading out.

Lintico blue linen trousers
Animal print shirt
Lintico green linen top layered over the shirt
Pale blue puffer gilet
Grey wool scarf
Brown Chelsea boots

Each outfit felt like a small step back towards myself. Not because clothes fix anything. They don’t. But because they removed some of the stress. They made it easier to move through the day without constantly worrying about what might happen.

What I’d tell anyone dressing with care needs

If I had to give anyone advice about clothing with a condition like mine, it would be this: go for comfort, and wear what you love within the confines of what suits your care needs.

I never thought I’d have to consider any of this, but by considering it, life becomes easier. I certainly don’t want to be scrambling around trying to get a belt undone or a zip down when I need the loo.

The Lintico trousers and shirt have made a big difference to me. They’ve given me the confidence I need: I feel good in the clothes, and I enjoy wearing them. Lintico has given me the tools to build a new wardrobe around my care needs.