About five years ago I was forced to reconsider what “comfy clothing” meant. Up until then it had been a rotation of stretchy sweatpants, flannel PJs, and joggers with generous waistlines. But couch-creature attire lost its blissful simplicity, as fears of itchiness and chafing started looming over every fashion choice, from workwear to even those innocent lived-in sweats. That’s what adult-onset eczema will do to you.
Since I was diagnosed, clothing has become a fraught ordeal. Getting dressed—something that was fun and creative on the best mornings—was now daunting. I have to think critically about everything I’m thinking of wearing and determine its irritation potential. I must use fragrance-free detergent exclusively, and carefully avoid dryer sheets, fabric softener, and any other scented products. (This was logistically difficult, since I live in a laundryless walk-up apartment, and also emotionally draining, as I’d be forced to confront my skin flake-caked, bloodied, ointment- and lotion-stained clothes more frequently.)
Before I even put anything on, I have to slather on myriad lotions and prescription ointments, and cover up bloody wounds with first aid gauze, paper towels, and tissues—just to prepare my skin for clothing. To then have to stand there, practically naked, resisting the urge to aggressively scratch my skin, contemplating the risk/reward of various outfit options? It was utterly awful.
My eczema has significantly improved since then, thanks to a litany of medications, including clinical trials. But I’m not 100% eczema-free 24/7. I’ll always need to be cautious about clothes—what they’re made of, what they’re washed in, how they fit—to help curb flare-ups and manage existing ones. And summers will always be especially tough: Humidity does uncomfortable, rashy things to my skin and makes it even more sensitive to clothing. I’ll have more dramatic reactions to fabric, seams, and snugness in hot, sticky weather. So when I learned about a new brand making basics, from tanks to leggings, expressly for people with eczema and sensitive skin, you can imagine my relief.
Saint Haven launched in fall 2018 with a collection of staple pieces made from a buttery proprietary fabric that’s cut and sewn in the smoothest, least itchy way fathomable. It came out of founder Jacqueline Sacks’s own frustrations with apparel options for her kids: “As a mother of three, I set out to find a fabric that would ease my one daughter’s discomfort from eczema and my other daughter’s sensory processing issues that make tags and coarse fabrics problematic,” she says. That involved nearly two years of research and development, 19 prototypes, and a partnership with an ethical manufacturer in Portugal on a material called Saint Haven Soft. It’s made from pulp of beech trees, which are naturally moisture-wicking, spun into an ultra-fine textile that’s dipped in a nontoxic enzyme and colored with nontoxic, environmentally friendly dyes. The result is eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and, yes, quite soft.
Of all of Saint Haven’s basics, it’s this simple dress that has changed the way I get dressed.
Saint Haven Women’s Softest T-shirt Dress
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Dubbed the Softest T-shirt Dress, it’s versatile and breathable, almost like a better-than-naked nightgown. I got mine two and a half months ago, and I’ve been wearing it multiple times a week—with a high-waist skirt (instead of a wedgie-inducing bodysuit or a shirt that constantly rides up), tucked into pants, underneath an otherwise itchy sweater or jacket. It’s also a genius travel piece that scrunches down to the size of a pair of socks.
Saint Haven Women’s Softest T-shirt Dress
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The design came from crowdsourcing during the R&D for Saint Haven’s launch. “We spoke to our family and friends and found that everyone experiences comfort in different ways,” Sacks says. “Some women enjoy more snug-fitting leggings, while others prefer a more relaxed pant to lounge in, but we unanimously heard that the Perfect Fit Tee struck just the right balance, with both its fit and the drape of the fabric. Thus the Softest T-shirt Dress was born.”
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