How to Create a Comfortable, Cozy, and Chic Surgery Recovery Wardrobe

Before my surgery, I spent some time creating a comfortable, cozy, and chic recovery wardrobe. I wanted options that would be soft, easy to put on, and loose-fitting for extra comfort. Since the clothes I usually wear are more structured and close-fitting, I made some strategic purchases online a few weeks before my surgery. I thought I’d share my recovery wardrobe choices here with you, and perhaps they can inspire you to create your own collection.

I didn’t want to redo my wardrobe completely, but I did want to have a selection of clothes that I could choose from that would be both comfortable and pretty. Recovering from surgery is a physical and emotional process, and one of the ways that I support all aspects of recovery is by wearing clothes that I feel pretty in.

Soft and Comfortable Clothing for Recovery

When I was recovering from my lumpectomy, I gravitated toward clothes that were comfortable, cozy, and easy to put on. I wanted to be able to get dressed without needing too much help. Additionally, I wanted to feel surrounded by comfort. Soft was a must as I was choosing fabrics.

Since I was having my lumpectomy in the middle of summer, I needed clothes that were easy to put on but lightweight. Layering would be essential because I didn’t know if I would be hot or cold throughout the day. Button-up shirts are easy to put on, but all of the ones I had were long-sleeved and weren’t loose-fitting.

For my previous lumpectomy, I purchased specially designed shirts with drain pockets. But- I didn’t need drains after that surgery, so I didn’t wear them as much as I thought I would. I had these shirts still available for me, so if I woke up with drains, I knew I could use them as well.

As I was thinking about buying clothes this time around, I wanted them to work for me during and after my recovery. I spent some time searching on Amazon, and I’m delighted with what I picked. And- I’ve continued to wear the tops even after recovery.

I thought I’d share my recovery wardrobe for the first few weeks after my lumpectomy. In another post, I’ll also go into more detail about the bras I wore for the first few weeks.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links I’m sharing are affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission if you choose to buy something on the list.

Color Palette for Easy Mix and Match

Before you purchase anything, I recommend considering what colors you like to wear regularly. As you assemble your recovery wardrobe, choose colors that will work well together. I decided black would be my base color, and then I would accent it with pink, burgundy, and white. These all worked well together, so I could put together multiple outfits with a few basics. You might decide that navy or chocolate brown would be a good base color, and then you could pick your accent colors to go with those basics. This recovery wardrobe will be temporary- so you don’t want to have many different items that don’t go with each other!

Recovery Tops

I started planning my recovery wardrobe by thinking about tops to wear. I needed soft and easy-to-put-on shirts that wouldn’t be too tight around my surgery area. I knew that the area they would be operating on was close to my armpit, so I also looked for shirts that were loose in the arm openings.

Button-Up Tank

My first task was to find a top that I could head home from surgery in. This needed to be a front close shirt that was loose fitting. Like I said before, I have plenty of button-up work shirts, but those weren’t going to cut it for surgery recovery.

I discovered a loose-fitting button front tank on Amazon. It was available in several dark colors, and when I read through the comments, other ladies had used it after their breast surgeries.

This tank was perfect. It was soft and comfortable. The fit was loose, and I could tie the ends in front or tuck them into a pair of pants. I loved how soft the material felt on my skin. It was almost like wearing a soft pajama shirt.

The cut of the armholes was just perfect for me. Sometimes, tank tops can have large arm holes that show too much of my bra on the sides. This one was sized just right.

The neckline was quite flattering, and the buttons were easy to manage. It was nice that there weren’t too many in the front.

The only thing I needed to adjust on this top during the first week of surgery was to put a small safety pin above the first button to raise the neckline a bit. The bandage that I was wrapped up in would peek out a little bit if I didn’t do that.

This top is available in many different colors, so I’m sure you’ll find one that works well for you! I chose black and red- because those colors would coordinate well with the other recovery clothes I planned to wear. The red is much more like pink- so don’t buy it if you’re looking for a true red. The care instructions recommend hand washing, but I have been washing and drying it in the machine, and it has held up just fine.

Dolman Sleeve Shirts

I also decided to buy some loose-fitting dolman sleeve shirts. My surgery was going to be on the outer edge of my breast, closer to my armpit, so I wanted to get some shirts that wouldn’t be tight on that area.

I discovered a three-pack of these dolman sleeve shirts that met my needs and came in colors that I liked! I ended up choosing the black, white, and wine 3-pack. These shirts were soft, loose-fitting, and comfortable.

I love the black and wine shirts, and I still wear them regularly! I will say that I wouldn’t choose the white color again. The light color revealed my bra’s front closure more clearly than I would like.

Open-front Loose Cardigans

I purchased two open-front 3/4 sleeve cardigans made of super soft t-shirt materials. These were perfect to layer on top of the button-up tanks and my dolman sleeve shirts. I loved how soft they felt on my arms and how easy they were to take on and off. I didn’t need to get up from bed to put them on.

These provided just the right layer of warmth when I was getting a little chilled- especially in the cold doctor’s offices during my post-op appointments.

I decided on a black and wine color- but these also come in many different options, including some fun prints!

Comfortable Pants for Lounging and Napping

Most days during my recovery, I wore my black or dark gray yoga pants. I usually reserve these pants for working out, but they proved to be quite comfortable for recovering as well!

I didn’t buy these on amazon, but I have linked a few choices here if you’re looking for a jumping-off place. Yogipace has some nice options, and they offer various inseams – which is important to me because I need petite pants.

If you would like to go for a looser fit, here is one, also by Yogipace, that looks soft and comfortable. . These also come in a petite inseam.

Scarves for Extra Chic and Warmth

I also had some lightweight scarves that I added to my recovery outfits when heading home from surgery and when I was going to my post-up appointments. These were already in my wardrobe, so I didn’t need to purchase them this time. If you’re heading into surgery in the fall or winter, adding a more substantial scarf could also be a nice touch.

Here are a few lightweight scarves that I found. I haven’t purchased these exact brands, but I thought I’d include a few options. I like oblong scarves because they are easier for me to style than square scarves.

These lightweight silk blend scarves have many patterns to choose from. I also like these with embroidery detailing.

If you are looking for a winter weight option, you could consider one of these pashminas. I have this pashmina, and it is enjoyable to wear. I really like the paisley pattern on it! I also like these solid ones, but I haven’t tried this particular brand.

Put your Recovery Clothing Somewhere Easy to Reach!

Once I had all the items for my recovery wardrobe ready, I put them in an easy-to-reach section of my closet, all in one area. I knew I didn’t want to be hunting for the clothing on the top rack of my closet, especially right after surgery.

I enjoyed the simplicity and comfort of my recovery wardrobe. Every day, I felt supported and pretty as I got dressed. Having some comfortable, cozy, and chic clothes to choose from made me smile, even as I was dealing with the challenges of surgical recovery.

Do you have any ideas for pretty and chic surgery recovery clothes? I’d love to know what worked for you!