There’s an actual moment that sneaks up on so many women when your style collides with perimenopause: you wake up one day and your go-to pants are suddenly tight in places they never hugged before. That blazer you loved? Now, feels like a sauna. Your bedsheets require more regular turnover due to night sweats. Welcome to perimenopause – where your hormones shift, your body rebels, and your closet starts gaslighting you!
More than 1.3 million women enter menopause each year in the U.S., and perimenpoasue (the 5-10 years before that big milestone) often arrives like an uninvited guest with a suitcase full of unwanted surprises: night sweats, sudden weight redistribution (hello, midsection), skin sensitivity that make your favorite fabrics feel like sandpaper, and the most inconvenient moments of ‘flame on’ that conjure pictures of Fantastic Four’s Torch. Oh, and yes – your style confidence can take a hit right along with your estrogen levels.
So, what’s a woman of a certain (powerful, fabulous) age to do, given that forty-two percent of women between the ages of 50 and 59 never discussed menopause with a healthcare provider?
Grin, bear it, and level up.
When your style collides with perimonepause, here’s the action plan: first, embrace fabrics that breathe and stretch. Think bamboo, Tencel, modal, soft knits, athletic-inspired materials, viscose, silk, linen, and chambray. Second, reconsider silhouettes: structured doesn’t have to mean restrictive. Wrap dresses, wide-leg pants, and elevated matching sets are your new best friends. Third, layer with purpose: a lightweight blazer or kimono adds polish without overheating you, and most importantly, can easily take on/off as your internal thermometer changes. And, don’t forget about accessories – they always fit, and they do the heavy lifting when your basics are feeling, well, basic.
Now, let’s talk money. Yes, adjusting your wardrobe will come with a cost bump – but it doesn’t have to bankrupt your retirement or your style. Most clients see about a 15-22% increase in clothing spend during this life stage because they’re reevaluating fit, fabric, brand, and functionality.
Expert advice? Invest in 2-3 power pieces per season (blazer, bottoms, breathable blouse) and supplement with more affordable staples. Spend on structure and fabric, save on trends. Style should evolve with you, not fight you.
Perimenopause isn’t the end of chic – it just signals upgrade time. With the right mindset (and a stylist who gets it), you can reclaim your confidence, adapt your wardrobe, and walk into any room looking like the seasoned powerhouse you are. Hot flashes and all!
- Expert PMS (perimenopause meets style) tip #1: invest in a few silk v-neck camisoles along with these other nicer, but longer camisoles (preferably with stretch) because they are ideal solo, but also work great to layer, and can go year-round!
Drop back in every six to eight weeks for a new wardrobe item specifically for you, or some other fun style treat I’ve discovered that will help make the transition painless and stylish, at the same time!
