Dressing For Casual Comfort: Bright Tees, Comfy Shoes, Relaxed Fit Jeans, And Hoop Earrings

Monday, March 3, 2025

Dressing For Casual Comfort: Bright Tees, Comfy Shoes, Relaxed Fit Jeans, And Hoop Earrings

In the early '80s, when my girlfriends and I hit the bar scene for a night of punk rock and dancing, I never left my house without my hoop earrings, Candies slides, sparkly shirt, and the tightest jeans I could squeeze into. In fact, the jeans were so tight that they had to be zippered while I was lying flat on the bed. If you're anything close to my age, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. There was always something special about getting ready for the evening---the anticipation I felt with my friends as we applied layers of mascara and blush to our faces, curled and teased our hair, and spritzed ourselves with Charlie cologne spray.

As much as I embrace those wonderful days of my youth, I'm so happy I don't feel the need to torture myself with uncomfortable fashion just to impress people. Once I hit menopause, the last thing I wanted to wear was anything tight or made with heavy fabric (not a great mix with hot flashes) or wobble around in stilettos that might cause me to twist an ankle. No thanks!

Like so many other menopausal and post-menopausal women, I dress for casual comfort. This means lightweight tee-shirts, comfy shoes with great arch support, relaxed fit jeans and of course, a small pair of hoop earrings to finish the look. My husband and I spend a lot of time on the road in our RV, so comfort is of the utmost importance for me. Although I'm post-menopausal, I still experience the sting of hot flashes, so I prefer wearing clothes that are timeless yet have breathable fabric to minimize sweating when the hot flashes hit. Colorful tee-shirts are perfect for this, and I can match them to just about everything in my closet.

And let's face it---metabolism just isn't the same after menopause (I think mine packed its bags and moved out of the country!), so those pesky extra pounds I've gained over the years prevent me from visiting the skinny jeans aisle at the department store. I'm all about stretchy denim now because the soft pants feel like pajamas and allow more freedom of movement. Unlike the tight Jordaches I wore in the '80s, I can actually sit or bend down in my relaxed-fit jeans without cutting off my circulation!

Arch support footwear has also changed a lot since the days of our granny's orthotic shoes. I have several pairs of cute slip-on/arch-support shoes that I wear for all occasions---dinner out with friends, relaxing at home or exploring the walking trails at our campsites. Unlike my stiletto collection from the '80s, these shoes actually help keep me balanced, and they never cause blisters. I could dance in them all night!

Easy accessories are important, too, and that's why I love all my hoop earrings. They never go out of style, and they match EVERYTHING I wear. Most days, you'll find me in a colorful cotton tee-shirt, my light denim jeans, some comfy slip-on shoes, and a pair of glittery silver or gold hoop earrings to accent my face.

Lovely gold crossover hoop earrings

That punk rocker girl I was in the 80s may not approve of my post-menopausal fashion, but who cares? All that matters is that I'm rocking the comfort look while dancing to the Ramones and flashing a smile now instead of fanning a hot flash!

*****Disclaimer: This partnership is between Responsival and the Menopausal Mother blog.