Looking Good
How you look can really boost how you feel. If you are clean, well-groomed and like what you are wearing, you'll most likely be more confident in your deailngs with people and feel good about yourself. If, for any reason, you let yourself go, your outer appearance will reflect your state of mind and others will notice what's happening as well. Whether you sit in a wheelchair or scooter, spend the day looking after someone or can't see your face in a mirror, you can still look good...and feel good.
Index
Clothing
Dental
Footwear
Hair
Nails
Make-up
Spas
Clothing - Local and Mail Order
By the time we reach our 60s and 70s, we pretty well know how we like to present ourselves to the world. We have established our style and fashion really doesn’t enter into it except for the fact that sometimes the things we love go out of style and we can no longer buy them.
Some women prefer a dressy look all the time; others... more relaxed. Some men wouldn’t think of going out without a shirt while others a fine with more casual wear such as a T or a polo shirt.
If you have a tough time getting to stores to shop there are people in Niagara who will come to you.
If you require specially designed clothing or special item chances are you can find a contact here. There are some pretty warm-hearted people in Niagara who’ll go out of their way to help someone who needs something really different or something that doesn’t exist but can help them get on with life. If you need custom-made clothing, we’ll also list seamstresses here who understand special needs.
Fashions for Special Needs
Gloria Zawaly. The store is located at 13A Albert St. W. in Thorold. Tel: 905-227-1200; Toll Free 1-866-621-1200; Fax Number: 905-227-1205 Website: www.fashionsforspecialneeds.com; e-mail: gzawaly@niagara.com
Visits to homes and long-term care facilities on a one to one basis. They deliver locally and ship across Canada and the U.S.A.. Stores hours are Tues - Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 to 4:00 pm, closed Sunday and Monday. After hours private appointments are available on request.
Fashions for Special Needs carries a large selection of fashionable adaptive clothing. They specialize in open back clothing for residents of long-term care facilities. Most of what they sell is designed by Gloria and sent out to home sewers to be made and it is all 100% guaranteed. They carry ladies' nightgowns, blouses; golf shirts, cardigans - all open back; men's nightshirts, shirts, golf shirts - again all open back. For those who don’t know - open back means the garment snaps together at the shoulders and the back is a large overlap allowing assistance for dressing and there is no need to force arms into the garment. Open back nighties for women and night shirts for men also allow briefs to be changed easily. They also supply unisex tracksuits and open back unisex undershirts; side opening pants; seatless pants; wheelchair jeans, wheelchair ponchos, Simcan diabetic socks (they stretch and have flattened seams); Tender Tootsies slippers and Watson's ladies' underwear.
Special Fashions
(905)680-2777 - specialfashions4u@yahoo.ca - Anne Larocque. A seamstress since high school, Anne began her business in 1995. She has had several stores but now works out of her home. Anne will come to you or you can go to her. She’ll ship to you or you can pick up or she’ll deliver. You can work on what you need in person or by e-mail or telephone.
Anne can make new or adapt your present clothing to your needs plus Anne and her husband, Robert, will work on specific problems regarding aids for daily living. For instance, they’ve designed pads for bed rails that hook onto hospital bed rails so that anyone flailing their arms or experiencing spasms doesn’t bruise themselves. They have also made hernia braces and for those with autism: weighted vests, blankets and lap packs. Anne has also made padded sleeves with cuffs on them so that people who are continually bumping into things, don’t bruise themselves. She’ll also put cuffs on nighties or pajamas for people who find their arms exposed and cold during the night.
If you have a problem that can be remedied through the use of fabric, why not ask Anne. Chances are she’ll come up with a solution.
Shear Comfort
3689 15 Road, RR 1, St. Ann’s, ON - proprietor: Leslie Comfort. Hours Thursday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; e-mail: herdatpineview@aol.com website: www.canadiancomfortalpacas.com Barn: 905-562-4252; home: 905-386-6151 (There’s a sign at 15 Road and Victoria Avenue that leads you right to the ranch.)
If you’re looking for something really warm, Shear Comfort offers all kinds of things in alpaca and a few items in wool. Located on Pineview alpaca ranch where Leslie and Bob Comfort keep about 120 top breeding stock alpaca, the shop features sweaters, vests, mitts, gloves, blankets, throws, duvets, socks, muffs, bed jackets, skirts, pants, you name it, all knit or woven out of alpaca wool. And, if you can’t find “it”, tell Leslie what you are looking for and she’ll know someone who can make it for you. Socks for tiny feet, one-armed sweaters, extra, extra large items or super small ones aren’t a problem. Yarn is also available by the skein. Alpaca is warmer and lighter than wool and doesn’t have the itch factor that wool does. It comes in beautiful natural colours ranging from black to brown, gold, even blonde and some if the items are dyed lovely soft colours as well.
This is a lovely place to pick out gifts to keep you or a loved one warm for a birthday, anniversary or Christmas.
If you’re interested in where the wool comes from, ask Leslie if you can see her herd. I did and my husband and I were treated to a two hour old baby with the longest legs I’ve ever seen on any newborn. My scooter took a licking going through the pasture but there are gravel paths throughout and these fascinating animals, indigenous to the Andes in Peru, are truly something to behold. Tours can be arranged by calling Leslie at the barn number.
My Top Drawer
(905)371-1272; e-mail: info@mytopdrawer.com
website: www.mytopdrawer.com
This store is fairly new in Niagara. They feature a large selection of women’s lingerie, sleep shirts, panties and bras that you might not find elsewhere including maternity styles. The store is totally accessible, if a bit tight because of the racks but they’ll move things for you. The large change room will easily accommodate a scooter or electric wheelchair. Staff is accommodating and knowledgeable. 3770 Montrose Rd. in Niagara Falls just off the QEW at Thorold Stone and Montrose Rd. (four doors from A&P).
Mail Order Shopping:
Sometimes you don’t want to go out or simply can’t find what you want. Here are several catalogue companies that sell good quality clothing, deliver quickly, and you can return anything for any reason. They are both based in the U.S.A. but I’ve found the quality is so good the items last for years through multiple washings.
Lands’ End
1-800-356-4444 or www.landsend.com
Sportier looking clothing for men and women and children: no iron polo shirts, tees and blouses, pull on slacks, warm sweaters, coats and jackets, lingerie, sleep wear, shoes, luggage, etc. Also a complete line of linens and home furnishings in a separate catalogue plus another catalogue just for men, one for working women and one for babies. Just call - it’s toll free - and ask them to send you a catalogue. If you buy something, you’ll be in their mailing list forever.
L.L. Bean
1-800-221-4221 or www.llbean.com
A huge selection of casual clothing for men and women, camping gear... even canoes and kayaks, tents ,etc. The clothing is good quality and I’ve found the fabric lighter than Lands’ End. L.L. Bean turtlenecks have a back seam which means the neck isn’t as tight as those sold by Lands’ End so if you have problem with tight necks you might try the L.L. Bean turtle necks.
Coldwater Creek
1-800-262-0040 or www.coldwatercreek.com
Dressier clothing including blouses, skirts, dresses, jackets, sweaters, Tee-shirts, tanks, shoes, purses, jewellery for women in classic styles and lovely fabrics. Some fabrics sold in the winter are too light for our weather in Niagara so make sure you pay attention to the fabric choices. Just call for catalogue. I’ve bought from Coldwater Creek and the quality is good, the delivery fast.
Dental
Smile With Confidence (Denture Clinic)
If you have missing or damaged teeth, new dentures will not only improve your smile, perhaps more importantly, they will improve your overall health. This can be achieved in the comfort of your own home, including nursing and retirement homes. The Midtown Denture Clinic at 117 ½ Welland Ave., St. Catharines makes house calls and offers free consultations. Its services include oral examinations and consultation; full, partial and immediate dentures; implant retained and supported dentures; denture repair; refining and rebasing of loose dentures; placement of the patient’s name in the dentures and soft linings. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and later by appointment. All dental insurance plans are accepted. Call 905-688-3543
Custom Shoemakers
Johnson Brothers Shoes
3015 Kennedy Road, Unit 6 in Scarborough, ON M1V 1E7
(416)297-8555
Most people can wear store bought shoes but for those who can't the search continues for a good shoemaker who can custom-make shoes and boots that fit like a glove and solve walking and foot pain problems. The people at Johnson Brothers Shoes start from scratch by taking measurements of your foot and then constructing the shoe or boot in the style you like. You can pick the type of leather and colour and they'll tell you if what you've chosen will stand up to the style you want. Custom-made shoes or boots don't come cheap but you get what you pay for. For further information or to book an appointment call (416)297-8555.
Hair
Linda McLean - hairdresser who comes to you
905-984-8827
Linda has been cutting and styling hair for 35 years. A longtime employee of a local salon, she now works out of her home, and she’ll also come to you. Whether it’s a wash, cut and set or colour and highlights or a blow dry and the curling iron, she can accommodate you. “Everything but a finger wave,” she says.
To book an appointment to have Linda come to you, call her at 905-984-8827 – leave a message if she’s out and she’ll get back to you.
Husna Ajmy - hairdresser, aesthetician
(905)935-5446 or hajmy@yahoo.com
Husna is a graduate of the Niagara Academy of Cosmetology in Niagara Falls. She will come to your home and has several services she can offer hair: wash, cut, blow-dry, roller set and set and she will cut men’s hair as well. Aesthetics: wax eyebrows, chin, upper and lower lip. Nail services: manicure and pedicure and she can provide the polish unless you prefer your own. She does not do nail extension.
Husna chooses to work with seniors and those with disabilities because she has been working as a personal caregiver for the last three years and finds she gets along quite well with everyone concerned. She enjoys it.
Husna’s tel. number is (905)935-5446 or you may e-mail her at hajmy@yahoo.com for prices and to make an appointment.
From Wellspring Niagara - places to buy good looking wigs in Niagara -
Spirit of Beauty, 52 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON 905-688-8866
Wigs U Want, 95 Charles Plaza, Welland 905-732-6758
First Lady Wig, The Bay, Pen Centre 905-688-4441 x 400
As we age, our hair tends to get dryer and in some cases grower more wirey. One tip that proved useful was to look for triple moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. I found that in Neutrogena brand but they have recently discontinued it. I'm looking forward to seeing what they replace it with. It has been a godsend for my aging, dry hair. Linda
Nails
Fingernails
Husna Ajmy - aesthetician
(905)935-5446 or hajmy@yahoo.com
Husna is a graduate of the Niagara Academy of Cosmetology in Niagara Falls. She will come to your home and has several services she can do your hair (listed above) but she also offers offer facial waxing of the eyebrows, chin, upper and lower lip and nail services for hands and feet. She will provide polish if you don't have your own.
Husna’s tel. number is (905)935-5446 or you may e-mail her at hajmy@yahoo.com for prices and to make an appointment.
Easy Nail Care
Nothing says, I haven't got time to look after myself, better than ragged, peeling, dirty fingernails. If you watch TV, you can easily spend an hour doing your nails in front of the boob tube and have lovely clean fresh nails all the time. The trick, I've found, is to have what you need close to where you sit so you just reach out and there it is. You'll need a good hour because you don't want to have to get up to do something while your nails are drying. Make sure you've done everything, like washed your hands and scrubbed your nails with a brush, before you sit down.
I have a little basket with nail polish remover, base coat, top coat and several colours of nail polish (all Sally Hansen - Shoppers' Drug Mart), emory boards, paper towels and OPI nail dryer atomizer spray. I've tried every type of nail polish there is including Dior, Almay, OPI, Este Lauder and Clinique and nothing beats Sally Hansen for wearability and price.
I keep my nails fairly long because I use them to help me pick things up. My thumbs are paralyzed so I have no grip and I often slip a nail under something on the floor to pick it up or between pages to separate them.
I pour the nail polish remover into the bottle cap and dip my fingertips into the remover. This works better for me because I have trouble moving the paper towel around my nails with my fingers. Little nail polish remover soaked pads are also available and are great if you're prone to knocking things over, spilling or have a tremor. They are also a must if you intend to do your nails while you are traveling.
Once all the old polish is off, I use the emory board to make sure my nails are pretty well the same length and none are jagged or have little nicks that will catch on things and tear them off. If they are getting ridculously long, I use the NailCare Plus manicure and pedicure set mentioned below to grind them down. I do not file the sides. Once the tips are all smoothed with the emory board, I use the base coat. Once dry, it's two or three coats of polish, letting it dry thoroughly inbetween. Sheer colours like cream or light pink might take four coats. Spraying with the OPI nail dryer works to set and dry the polish faster between coats. When everything seems fine and looks good, I use several coats of topcoat making sure to get the tips because they take so much punishment on the computer keyboard and get the hardest wear.
If you can, try not to use your hands for anything hard for an hour or so after you've finished to let the polish really harden. If you do have an occasion where the polish shifts, you might be able to smooth it with your tongue and it won't leave marks.
If you seem to get more polish on your fingers than on your nails, choose a light colour or a flesh colour that won't show if you go over the nail.
Doing your nails under a really good light can make all the difference between a professional looking job and a mess. Once done, your nails will look manicured and lovely for a week or more and... you did it yourself.
Toenails
Keeping your toenails looking great only enhances the look of your feet. Toenails grow a lot slower than fingernails so either a professional pedicure or a do-it-yourself treatment will last for a long time.
I use a wonderful tool that was called the PediPocket to do my toenails because my fingers and hands aren't strong enough to cut the nails or file them. It is now marketed as NailCare Plus.
It is a handheld device that lets you insert four different heads that either grind, polish file or clean out dead skin. I use a small pair of needle-nosed pliers that I carry in a case in my scooter basket to pull out the various heads as needed. I've had this device for maybe15 years and it is still going strong. My toenails are always smooth, short and finished. I don't particuarly want people to notice my strange little feet but if they do I don't want ugly nails to be the first thing they see. I do the same polish routine on them as I do my fingernails only I make the polish darker and don't apply as many coats. Usually lasts four to six months. The NailCare Plus is $39.95 USD available at www.medicool.com. Look in the diabetes section under footcare. They also have magnifying toenail clippers and some other terrific gadgets to help you take care of your nails.
See above for someone who'll come to your home to do your nails and They Come to You under Services for people who will look after your nails in your home.
Makeup
As we age, there's nothing like a really good magnfying mirror to let us see what's going on especially on our face, chin and neck. Young eyes see every wrinkle, blackhead and hair but old eyes often miss these things and they can all contribute to looking as if you don't care when in fact, you simply didn't see it.
If you are not sensitive or allergic to scent you may not realize that perfume can be a real problem to people who are intolerant to scent. Think twice about dousing yourself with baby powder, toiletwater, perfume or even heavily perfumed hair spray. You could be making people sick and not know it. Many, many cosmetics come without scent.
Clinique has a very good line of cosmetics that are perfume free. Their Body Butter is excellent for dry feet and elbows especially in winter and their concealer covers dark circles under your eyes, spider veins on your cheeks and beside your nose and oher blemishes.
For something a little less costly try the Marcelle line at Shopper's Drug Mart. They have an excellent moisturized containing sunscreen that I've used daily for 30 years. I've tried the really expensive moisturizers thinking they'd be better but always go back to Marcelle. Their night cream is also very good and not at all greasy. - Linda |