Why LuLaRoe Clothing Could Be a Perfect Gift for an Autistic Woman

We’ve all heard of LuLaRoe or seen the printed leggings around the grocery store.  Many of us either know a “consultant” or a true legging lover. But how does that affect me, a young woman with autism?

Like many so-called “autists,” I hate certain feelings.  Many of us have issues with our clothes and how they fit us, but are often still expected to “dress like adults” out in public. I don’t like my bottoms to be too tight on my nether regions.  For me, this is not a problem in the summer because I can just wear skirts.  Winter becomes an issue when pants that aren’t sweatpants are expected of me. I wore jeans to school and out in public for many years because that is how my mother expected me to dress, but when I was in high school, leggings as pants became popular.

It wasn’t until recently, however, that I discovered LuLaRoe. Sure, there are YouTube videos and such stating, “LuLaRoe is crap!” or “Why I’ll never buy LuLaRoe again!” I didn’t let these videos deter me from ordering a pair off eBay, and I have never regretted it since.

If you’re not familiar with the feel of these leggings, let me describe it to you.  They have a very smooth and soft, but not overly soft, texture to them. They are tight, but very stretchy in every area and contain no elastic in the waistband, so they’re never too tight. There are a few different sizes which are anything from a child’s 2T to a woman’s size 24, but have a very universal fit to them. You can pull them up super high or leave them sitting lower on your hips depending on your preference. I leave mine lower so they are not in contact with my nether regions. They are also compatible with my hairy legs because they don’t rub against the hair roughly.

When I put my first pair on, I felt as if I was wearing pajama pants. They looked like regular leggings, but felt looser than all of my previous pairs.  I fluctuate in weight, so the universal fit helps me not feel bad about my weight gains because I don’t really notice them. I also like to at least look like I fit in, so these pants, which are available in thousands of patterns and dozens of solid and heathered colors, really help me feel like I’m blending in. I get so many compliments on my pants now. I feel like people are complimenting me on my secret pajamas! But for me, it’s not about having comfortable pants, so much as it is making my life more comfortable. As someone with autism, I feel very uncomfortable in many situations, so having comfort where it most affects me is crucial to staying cool, calm and collected in public.

I strongly believe all women on the spectrum should have some of these amazing pants in their wardrobe, although they also sell dresses, skirts, and shirts for women and girls (2T-3XL) and some men’s shirts.  One of their newest collections is Disney, and who doesn’t love Disney? Many of their shirts are loose like a t-shirt, but still look better than one. Lularoe even has a skirt with pockets! As a woman, I find this thrilling.

If you’re not sure whether you or the autist in your life would like these products, you should definitely do your best to connect with a local consultant or find what they call a “pop-up shop,” which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a shop that pops up for a short time, often in a mall (strip malls included) or local consignment events around town. My favorite place to shop is on Facebook because I can often find sales on items I love or create a post looking for a certain animal or theme (I often go for penguin or cat prints since those are my favorite animals).  These pants express so many interests, even some more unusual ones, such as flip phones circa 2001, music tapes, vintage items like telephones, food (doughnuts, cupcakes, and all sorts of takeout food), motorsports, and animals of all sorts.  There’s a legging for every person out there and especially for us autist women!