As the seasons change during the year, from autumn-winter to spring-summer, that’s the time we’re most likely take a look at our wardrobe and wonder what we will wear to suit the weather.
Likewise, at different times of our lives, we might need to re-evaluate the way we dress, either for improved comfort (hello flat shoes!) or confidence (hello killer heels!).
Those times might also include a change in lifestyle and family, new employment, periods of weight loss, hormonal shifts during perimenopause or moving to a different location in the world.
All of these elements might be the catalyst to make adjustments to your usual outfits to suit the situation in order to feel more comfortable, both physically and mentally.
In today’s article, I’m sharing some handy wardrobe tips for dressing during perimenopause and menopause, and I’d love to hear your own ideas and advice in the comments at the end of the article so please do share what has worked for you, too.
If you’re not sure what stage you are on your perimenopause journey, tools like a menopause quiz can help identify specific symptoms and guide lifestyle changes, including those related to clothing choices.
Here are some simple adjustments you can make to your outfits to keep you feeling comfy, cool and confident:
Shape and style
Hormonal changes during the perimenopause change the way that your body stores fat, including where it settles on your body. This may lead to your body type completely changing and you’ll therefore have a different shape to dress.
So, if those button-front skirts no longer look cute over your tummy or the hipster jeans are just too tight on the hips, it might be time to have a look at different ways of clothing your body shape and ditch those things that have started to cling in the wrong places.
You might find that your waist is no longer the narrowest part of your body – it might be the empire line around your ribs instead. In which case, you can ditch waist-cinching belts and allow dresses and tops to skim your body.
But it doesn’t loose doesn’t have to mean un-shapely: you’ll get bonus points for choosing super-flattering pieces with an empire waistline that cinches in under the bust and flows gracefully down to a midi or knee-length.
Plus, a great way to get some shaping is with tailored items, such as blazers, trench coats and shirts, which will bring a bit of structure to the silhouette. But stay away from tight tailored trousers and pencil skirts, which may prove to be too restrictive and the waistband could dig in, making you feel uncomfortable.
Similarly, those tight jeans you’ve always chosen may prove to be too tight around the hips and stomach now. So choosing a pair with a more casual, looser fit will be more flattering and much more comfortable, allowing the air to flow around your body to keep you cooler.
Cool materials
Which brings us nicely on to staying cool. Hot flushes are a widely documented symptom of the menopause so let’s be prepared for those moments with the clothes we choose.
Of course, loose clothing is going to feel fresher than skin-tight pieces: just think about the outfits you’d wear on holiday in a hot country and that’s the kind of thing we need to be including in our everyday wardrobes too.
Floaty dresses, loose shirts and wide-leg trousers will all help to keep you a little cooler. But the main improvement you can make to stay cooler is choosing natural fabrics.
Natural fibres such as cotton, silk, linen, bamboo – and even manmade technical fabrics with cooling properties (often found in sportswear) – will help to wick moisture away from the body if you find yourself getting hot and sticky. This will keep you much more comfortable than if you’re choosing clingy elastane, acrylic and polyester.
While we might think of choosing stretch fabrics that flex with us in order to feel more physically comfortable when dressing our new body shape, it’s unlikely that this will help to keep you feeling fresh.
Instead, you can combine the benefits of stretch and stay cooler during hot moments by choosing wide-leg cotton or linen trousers with a comfy elasticated waistband for flexibility. It’s win-win. I personally always choose fresh linen or cotton clothing from Marks & Spencer, as I’ve found that their clothing is thoughtfully designed and easy to care for.
Transitional items
I have some items that get put away for the season – such as my fairisle festive jumpers in the summer and shorts in the winter – but there will be transitional items that will see you through each month and these are the ideal building blocks of a capsule wardrobe.
Likewise, there will be some transitional items you already have in your wardrobe that will still work perfectly well during perimenopause and menopause.
Firstly, let’s look at the labels and make sure we keep any item that’s pure cotton, linen, bamboo silk or even wool and cashmere. Yes, they might be thicker knits but the natural fibres will still absorb sweat and keep you feeling cooler when a hot flush hits.
Then, consider which lightweight and floaty items you already have in your wardrobe, as these will also be ideal for building a new wardrobe around. Choose those figure-skimming items and ditch the too-tight and clingy pieces.
Also, if you know you won’t be wearing them in the future, it’s time to remove them from your wardrobe and donate them. It’ll only make you feel disappointed if you’ve got a wardrobe full of pieces that you can no longer fit into or comfortably wear during the menopause.
Permission to shop
Then, we’re on to the fun section – it’s time to shop. If you’ve take out items with synthetic fibres and ditched anything too clingy, there will inevitably be a few gaps in your wardrobe, so have fun filling them!
When you shop for new pieces, choose items that will fit and flatter your new body shape to make the most of any new curves you have. And try to stick to those light, loose natural fibres and figure-skimming designs to keep you feeling comfortable and confident no matter what stage of life you’re in.
And be sure to have fun with it – choosing pieces with gorgeous colours and patterns that you love will boost your mood when you get dressed in the morning. With fluctuating hormones, mood can also be affected so why not try some dopamine dressing to keep you feeling upbeat.
I hope these ideas will help you to boost your wardrobe and be ready for any occasion during the perimenopause and menopause. Please let me know in the comments below what changes you’ve made and any brilliant clothing pieces you’ve found that have worked well for you, I’d love to hear your wardrobe hacks ands tips. 🙂
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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
