Today was the holiday luncheon for my golf league. I wasn’t going to attend, but I’m trying to socialize more and make friends. The luncheon was not as much fun as actually playing golf, but I had a good time. The biggest deal was seeing everyone all dolled up.
No one recognized me, because I stuff my hair under a hat when I play golf. Nobody knew I had all that gray, and they had never seen it down. This was maybe the second time this year I blow dried my hair. I thought it came out great, but I don’t plan to start that business up on a regular basis.
Makeup is not my thing … which is great for retirement. Cheaper, faster. Men look good without makeup, right? I’ve never understood the need to paint our faces. That said, for special occasions, I will put on a bit of tinted moisturizer and some blush. I also fill in my eyebrows with a pencil and brush. I’m sure mascara would look fabulous, but I hate it.
Some people say gray hair without makeup washes you out. Color me washed out.
I’m not into Christmas, so it would be unlike me to wear a Santa sweater or snowman earrings. There was a lot of that going on, and everyone looked happy, but I stuck with my basic black and blue. The jacket and tee are leftovers from work. I bought the jeans at Kohl’s earlier this year.
The boots are kind of a funny story. I’ve had them since Texas and expect to have them forever. They are nice quality leather. I noticed when we went wine tasting at the vineyards, most of the women wore jeans tucked into boots. I started copying, and I’ve had tons of compliments. I swear, one woman wanted to lick them. Sometimes it is nice to fit in.
As I was exploring my closet, trying to figure out what to wear, I tried on several outfits from work. They felt alien. I didn’t want to purge my closet during the first year of retirement. Now that I’m in year two, I’ll probably donate some and re-purpose the rest.
There may not be much left by the time I’m done, but then I don’t need a whole lot. Athletic clothes for summer, athletic clothes for winter and a few outfits with jeans. Jammies!
Well, I do love the high-tech stretchy fabrics and lust after a lot of the clothes at Athleta (seriously, that could be my whole wardrobe). However, until they decide to appoint me brand ambassador and air drop me gift baskets of clothes, I only shop there for items I can’t find anywhere else.
So, yes, you likely will spend less money on clothes after you retire. I prepared several years in advance by erring on the casual side of business casual. For colors, I stuck with neutrals that could easily be mixed and matched.
Before I bought anything, I’d ask myself, would I wear this in retirement? I wanted clothes that transcended the workplace. I also avoided dry clean-only clothes to save money while I was still working, knowing it would come in handy down the road.
Everybody is different, and I say wear what you want. But even if you are a super fashionista, you can dress yourself in retirement on way less than it took to keep you stylish at work.
Love your style and your hair, very similar to mine. Don’t like decorating myself like a Christmas tree.
Hi Rebecca — I had to laugh over decorating myself like a Christmas tree. That is the preferred look for many. And I’m all for it — just not for me! I’m comfortable wearing sort of boring clothes.
Gorgeous! Great style. Love your beautiful hair.
Thanks, Tracy!
Love your look! I struggle with the make up or no, too. I have gray hair also and feel naked. But I have toned way down. Glad you went to the luncheon and had fun. I dress everyday, at least in jeans or sometimes cute yoga stuff. My deal in retirement is active wear that feels good. I just bought 6 bralettes and sports bras (I like that they don’t slide off my shoulders) on Poshmark VS brand, for less than $60 total. I ogled stuff in Athleta, Nike and Lululemon and was incredulous how much they charge for a sports bra!
Yes, I can understand how some might struggle with the makeup thing. I was never into makeup, so going without at this stage of life is that much easier. As for dress, I like your idea of active wear that feels good. I guess I’m not as much of a fashionista as I thought, because I like sort of boring clothes in standard “black and blue.” As for bras, sports or otherwise, that’s one thing I don’t miss following my mastectomy without reconstruction. A little bonus for an otherwise unpleasant surprise!