What to Wear

One of the best things about retirement is you no longer have to wear the work uniform.  Maybe you had a prescribed uniform such as a service company or restaurant uniform, a nurses uniform, or a police or fire fighter uniform.  If you worked in construction, you needed pants and jackets for the work and weather.  Even in offices, there is a dress code with suits and dresses and the dreaded nylon stockings.  

Now you can focus on comfort and casual clothing.  You can wear clothes that are YOU!   What do you prefer?  Pants, leggings, skirts, or dresses; heels or flats; sweaters, t-shirts, tunics, or blouses.  

I find a great freedom in being able to wear whatever I want, every day.  I never have to think about what is appropriate for office wear.  I don’t have to pack up shoes to wear with my outfit, after changing from winter boots.  Like many people, I worked in many offices with fluctuating temperatures, so I always dressed in layers.  While I still like to dress in layers, now they are a bit more funky than they would have been for the office.  

If you go on Pinterest and enter “casual retirement outfits” you will find thousands of entries.  Check out these style icons, all with a unique look in their post-60 years.  

Of course, being retired also means having less disposable income.  So you are not likely to go out and buy a new “retirement” wardrobe.   Fortunately, you likely had a weekend or day-off wardrobe, that you will use more frequently.  

I am a great believer in thrift and consignment shops.  The first thing to do is gather up your gently used, still stylish work clothes and head off to your local consignment store.  I did that a few months before I retired and made over $100 on clothes I knew I would not wear again.  Be aware that consignment stores generally look for “in-season” clothes, so you may have to make several trips throughout the year to get rid of all your items.  They also like brand-names, and clothes (and purses and shoes) that are gently used.  

Anything that is not suitable for consignment can go to the thrift store.  Drop off your items at the donation centre, and then head on in the front door to see what treasures you might find for your new casual style.  

There are lots of articles on the internet about down-sizing, and clearing out.  Retirement is a great opportunity to do that with your wardrobe.  It may take a while to clear out the old, as you come to learn what you wear on a daily basis, and how many items you need to keep for special occasions.  Eventually you will have a wardrobe that works for you. 

The beauty of retirement dressing is, it’s truly all about you and what makes you feel good!