From the red carpet to the stage, adaptive fashion is all around us—learn what it looks like in the spotlight.

Since humans first started wearing clothes, there have been countless new trends and styles. What counts as fashionable may depend on your hobbies, habits, or even the time of year, but adaptive fashion trends are gaining a much more prominent place in the public eye.

Adaptation in fashion helps disabled children and adults to feel comfortable and confident, but sometimes, adaptive fashion can do a whole lot more. In this article, we will explore some of the most prominent examples of adaptive clothing in media and pop culture. 

5 Famous Examples of Adaptation in Fashion

Every single year, the news is eager to focus on adaptive fashion and the power behind it. From Forbes to InStyle, you can find the same general message across countless articles—adaptive fashion is the future, and it is an approach to fashion that supports all, not just some. 

These headline-grabbing examples show the power of adaptive clothing and the growing visibility of the disabled community.

Selma Blair’s Love for Chic Adaptive Clothing to Support Her Needs With Multiple Sclerosis

After receiving her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, actress Selma Blair began to learn firsthand about the power of adaptive fashion. On set, her costume designer made custom adaptive fashion, highlighting the many different places where adaptive clothing can support disabled children and disabled adults. 

Blair has continued to discuss the need for adaptive fashion, focusing on both clothing and accessories. Proudly walking down the Red Carpet with a stunning custom cane that pulled her entire look together, she graced the world with a truly grand entrance. 

Since then, she has called upon top designers to celebrate adaptation in fashion for the millions of disabled people around the world.

Danielle Sheypuk Taking to the Runway in Adaptive Wear

While models have been walking down the runway for years, model Danielle Sheypuk decided to show off her fashion in a new way when she rolled down the runway in her wheelchair for New York Fashion Week. Sheypuk’s cerebral palsy diagnosis may have changed her life, but it never changed her love for fashion. 

Her start at the event was not what she hoped—she learned very quickly that the show was not actually wheelchair accessible. However, she did not let this stop her from making a stunning entrance that shook the world and changed the way that many people look at fashion.

Her outfit, which was made and selected to accommodate her needs as a wheelchair user, was picture-perfect for her big day.

Tommy Hilfiger’s Adaptive Campaign and Designer Clothing Line

Known as one of the top designer brands around, Tommy Hilfiger has always been popular among fashion lovers. In 2017, they made it clear that they wanted to support all fashion lovers, including those who required adaptation in fashion to be able to enjoy their styles. 

Their initial campaign turned into Tommy Adaptive, a highly visible and cherished addition to the world of adaptive clothing. Ease of use, comfort, and helpful modifications are all a part of their core design goals, and you can see these clothes out in the world and on models too.

Lolo Spencer’s Adaptive and Stylish Red Carpet Debut

Before landing her role in “Give Me Liberty,” Lolo Spencer was hard at work in other ways. She worked as a marketing manager, and she spent her free time advocating for the rights of disabled people—a passion that was fueled in part by her own experience with A.L.S. 

Spencer landed a lead role despite the fact that she had never acted professionally before, and she was all too happy to roll with the punches of a new career launch.

After putting in the work to make the film shine, she was on to bigger, better, and bolder things. Thankfully, she had a talented adaptive stylist who knew how to help her look her best using a variety of adaptive fashion trends. Little changes, like shortening a black coverup for a swim shoot so it wouldn’t get caught in her wheelchair, highlight the power and convenience of adaptive fashion in action.

Ready with her outfit, her motorized wheelchair, and her candid attitude, she continues to dazzle audiences.

A Broad and Inclusive Victoria’s Secret Show

Adaptive fashion comes in all shapes and sizes, and for adults, that means adult looks too. During the 2023 New York Fashion Week, Victoria’s Secret placed a bright and powerful spotlight on disabled adults with its adaptive fashion debut. 

Placing members of the disabled community front and center is something that society has struggled with for a while, but this brand took a bold step forward to change that. Their show included models with a wide range of disabilities, including women with prosthetics and wheelchairs—and a new line of medical-friendly adaptive clothing to bring chic new looks to disabled women who want something cute, comfortable, and sensory-friendly too.

Adaptive, Stylish, and Here to Stay—Adaptation in Fashion Continues to Steal the Show

Creating more visibility around the disabled community is essential to helping people feel seen and heard. Each year, modern media continues to prove that magic happens when disabled people are able to show their true selves and wear clothes that were made to support their bodies. 

At Nasir + Idie, we believe that adaptation in fashion isn’t just for celebrities and models—it is for everyone, including disabled children and adults. To learn more about adaptive clothing and how we help our customers dress for success and the unique needs of their bodies, explore our collections today.

Wearing the fashion you love builds confidence, whether you’re playing on a playground or working in an office, and we are happy to help you wear what you love.