“Retirement” is a hot topic.

Data shows that Baby Boomers exited their jobs in greater numbers in 2020 than in 2019 with the pandemic being a contributing factor to this exodus. Retirement is changing the face of the work force.

Our feelings about retirement are a mixed bag. Some people can’t wait to retire; others can’t imagine doing it. Some people feel retirement is a privilege; others feel it’s a well-deserved reward. Some people feel the need to come up with a different word for retirement; others don’t understand why that matters. 

Whatever our thoughts about it, we can agree that retirement is a Life Transition, a point in time where we let go of what used to be and await what comes next… and where we wander some unknown territory in between. 

And, like any life transition, retirement demands some emotional muscle building, emotional planning. If you’re embarking on a retirement journey or even thinking it might be in your future, it’s never too soon to prepare. You can start by trying these suggestions on for size…

Rely on What You Know

You’ve experienced many transitions already. You’ve navigated your way around and through a lot of change. 

Think back to a few of those changes and think back to what carried you. What qualities did you develop that helped you through uncertain times? How have they shown up in other areas of your life?

Rely on those qualities now.

Heck Yes! and No Way!

Make two lists. One list is five things you love about your life right now. Your must-haves. One list is five things that must change (even if you don’t know how to change them, exactly).

Commit to doing one thing this week to celebrate something from list #1.

Watch for opportunities to chip away at something from list #2.

Repeat as you can.

Phone a Friend

• How do you define friendship?
• Who are the people in your life who are there for you?
• Who is someone you’d like to get to know better?

Answer these questions, reflect on your responses, reach out to one person and connect. When we’re faced with change, we need support.

Let Things Go

As we fly through the air with the greatest of ease, if we don’t release the trapeze bar, we can’t grab the one coming toward us. Sure, it means we free-fall for a micro-second (which can feel like eternity). But we must let go before we can move on.

Practice letting go with your closet, your garage, or your desk drawer. Release, purge, toss some of your stuff. 

Move on to other rooms, other belongings if that feels right. Have a farewell ceremony or just fill a trash bag. There’s no right way to release.

Along the way you’ll work the muscles that you’ll use when you let go of something bigger, like a job or work friends or daily office conversations.

And you’ll make space for the New. 

Dream a Little Dream

Devote some time to your imagination and let it run the show. Give your creativity a workout. Dreams are the cousins of your emotional muscles and are critical to a happy retired life… and using them is fun, too!

• List 5 places you would love to visit. Create an itinerary for one of them.
• You have one free afternoon and can spend it any way you wish. Write about that!
• Plan 5 acts of kindness and carry one of them out this week.
• Make a vision board that depicts your wishes and hopes for your retirement.

If you can’t dream it, it will never happen.

There are several ways to prepare for retirement that have little to do with financial planning but everything to do with building emotional strength.

You can prepare in advance, and you’ll probably prepare again along the path. The important thing to remember is that, whatever steps you take, it’s okay if they’re small. In fact, small steps are best.

Those small steps become the building blocks for a fulfilling retirement… whatever you choose to call it.

What are some ways you’re preparing emotionally for retirement? Have you done some “emotional planning” during other life transitions? Join the conversation!

As the Confidence Creator for Midlife Women, I offer a different perspective on how to get visible with your confidence and style. I’ve helped hundreds of women step into their power by defining and developing their style techniques and connecting with their true selves.

Midlife and beyond is exciting when you allow yourself to:

• An open mind
• Love your today body
• Continue to learn

An open mind attracts new ideas, unravels limiting beliefs and sets you up for receiving overall positivity. Your style doesn’t end in Midlife, and this is the time to really embrace what you love, where you are with your life and wrap it up in your style.

Loving your today body is what I call a green light behavior. It’s allowing yourself to do something that perhaps you’ve not done in decades. How long have you been waiting for the perfect body? I used to spend time chasing two bodies, my younger body, and my future body. And guess what, they never made an appearance. We have one body, and it’s time to give her the love and respect she deserves. And that includes dressing your shape as it is RIGHT NOW!

The willingness to continue to learn comes from an open mind. You have a positive perspective. It puts you in a completely different vantage point when it comes to possibilities that go beyond style!

Recently, I had the privilege of working with a Midlife entrepreneur who needed some help with how she was showing up for her business. She gave herself permission to have an open mind, love her today body and learn; the transformation she experienced was magic! She is now wearing colors she hadn’t dared to try, showing up in her business with confident energy and curating looks that align with what lights her up!

This can be you!

Let’s Get to the Five Significant and Surprising Tips for Dressing in Midlife!

Stop Blending In!

You aren’t invisible. One of the biggest complaints I hear from my clients is that they are tired of blending in. So, let’s stop this immediately.

Blending in is ideal for makeup, but not for the ambitious and confident Midlife woman you are!

There are so many options to be visible when it comes to your style, which by the way, is from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. You can start with making changes to:

• Your hairstyle
• Your hair color
• Your signature colors
• Accessories

You can go as bold as you want or as subtle as feels comfortable. Simply commit to making some small changes that work for you and ones that will make you visible and confident.

Celebrate who you are and make the connection between style and self-expression!

Add Style Details!

Style details make such a difference at any age. When I work with my clients to get visible, we ALWAYS discuss and add some fun elements to their wardrobe basics.

For instance, a white blouse is just a white blouse, right? Nope! And when you pay attention to these differences, you’ll like the result. Look for contrasting stitching, such as another color thread. I have a white blouse with navy blue stitching, and this small, unconventional style element dresses this traditional must-have up and looks just as fabulous with jeans as it does with a pair of palazzo pants!

Other style details include buttons (and yes, I’ve been known to replace buttons on jackets, blazers, and blouses), and I’m here to tell you, it totally changes the look.

The raw hem on jeans is another example of a subtle style element. I especially love a raw hem on bootcut jeans.

Remove Age Appropriate from Your Vocabulary!

Another question that pops up more frequently than not is, “Is this outfit age appropriate?”

What does that really mean? It’s an arbitrary statement that has nothing to do with our age. When we dress for our today body, we should focus on two things:

Fit!

The proper fit of your clothes is the first step.

You’re probably thinking, of course my clothes must fit. Let’s dive a little deeper on the meaning of fit. The fit of our clothes is how they work, not how they look on your body.

Some words used for fit include the obvious, loose, and tight. Gaps in your bust and waistband are related to fit. Just as if something is too short or too long, that also is part of the fit.

Flattering

Close your eyes and think about how you feel when you wear a certain blouse, pants, or outfit and feel really good? Do you know why you feel this way? It’s because these clothes are flattering on you!

In my opinion, we don’t use this word enough. When what you wear is flattering, it makes you happy. And what makes you happy makes you confident!

You know something is flattering when:

• You’re wearing your absolute best color(s)
• You are featuring one of your best features (aka dressing for your beautiful silhouette, your today body)
• Your style represents your personality

So, instead of worrying about what you should wear based on a number, focus on how it fits and how it makes you feel!

Define What You Value!

When I work with my clients, we go into great detail about what is important to them. What aligns with who they are? During this very eye-opening exercise, I let them know this is where they get to get real with what they love and weave it into their wardrobe.

I ask them to pick three to five words that best describe how they want to feel in their clothes. These words are used to build their signature style!

How does this work? Let me share with you how I want to feel in my clothes by sharing my three style words:

• Fun
• Edgy
• Put-together

When I am putting outfits together from head to toe, everything I wear must include some element of my words: fun, edgy and put-together. If it doesn’t, it isn’t in my wardrobe. It’s that simple!

This is how I help women fill their closets with clothes they love and love them back! When your outfits match what is important to you and how you want to look, this is self-expression!

Your style words are significant. They reveal what you value and can be easily conveyed in your style! Rather exciting if you think about it, right?

Change Your Narrative

Many of my clients start their sentences with, “I can’t wear that.” I ask them if they’ve ever worn something like this, and often, the answer is a resounding “No.”

When you start with what you can’t do, not a lot happens. And I’ll share with you what I share with my wonderful clients. We are simply looking for other options to connect you with your self-expression. If it doesn’t work, all you must do is take it off. It’s that simple!

I encourage you to try one or all these tips and see what happens not only to your style, but your mindset! Have fun!

How does your mindset affect your style? Do you think you have a lot to work on or have you found exactly what works for you in your 7^th decade and beyond?

Dorit Kemsley’s Embellished Cup Talking to PK

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 12 Episode 12 Fashion

To quote Dorit Kemsley herself.. this embellished cup is so chic. She has been coming in clutch with the embellished things lately. What’s next wind chimes?? This cup is great if you struggle with keeping hydrated because having a ~fun~ cup like this full of water would make it easy since it’s like an accessory to have at all times. Just be sure that if you happen to put an adult type beverage in it you are safe and drink responsibly…

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Bling Cup on eBay

Click Here to Shop it in White/Gold

Click Here to Shop Her Louis Vuitton Joggers

Originally posted at: Dorit Kemsley’s Embellished Cup

Lisa Rinna’s Pink Satin Shoulder Pad Shirt on RHOBH

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 12 Episode 12 Fashion

On this week’s episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Lisa Rinna apparently has a convo with Erika Jayne about her recent behaviour while wearing this pink satin shoulder pad shirt. And while antidepressants and alcohol may not mix well together, I think we can all agree that ’80s-style fashion and RHOBH most certainly does.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Also Seen on Erika Jayne:

Click Here to See Her The Attico Shirt

Originally posted at: Lisa Rinna’s Pink Satin Shoulder Pad Shirt

We had cruised on countless large ocean vessels, but never embarked on a small ship. River cruising was on our bucket list, and we were anxiously anticipating our Emerald 14-day Danube River Cruise itinerary going from Budapest to Amsterdam.

Travel was just resuming from the hiatus caused by the global pandemic, so we did not know what to expect. I was notified an hour before flying to the UK, where we were spending time visiting with our family before our cruise, that embarkation dates were being amalgamated and was subsequently offered the same itinerary on a ship that would be leaving three dates later than previously booked.

As both the travel agent and passenger, I had booked several cabins, so I was left frantic with coordinating and rescheduling hotels and flights and negotiating some extra cruise perks for my group. It was a blessing that my entire group were all able to juggle our schedules and embark on an experience of a lifetime. I would like to share with you my discovery of seven breathtaking ports from our cruise.

Budapest, Hungary

I was so thankful for the extra three nights we had in Budapest because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The vibrant city is divided into two distinct geographical areas that are separated by the Danube River: Buda and Pest. Several bridges transport folks from one to another.

Buda’s main attraction is Buda Hill where you will be rewarded from the top with the most magnificent views of the city and river. We ended up climbing Buda Hill twice because it was so incredible.

We stayed on the Pest side where you can walk for miles down quaint cobblestone streets to cafes and restaurants and explore Kossuth Lajos Square, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Castle Hill and all the other stunning attractions. We were pleased to discover that food and drinks are reasonably priced in the older Pest district, and we enjoyed sampling all the beer, wine, and Hungarian specialties.

Bratislava, Slovakia

We took a walking tour in the historic Old Town where stone streets connect walkers to the most stunning palaces, buildings, and structures, such as Bratislava Castle, St. Martin’s Cathedral and Old Town Hall.

There is also a fountain in the middle of the Town Square that served as a meeting place after wandering the Town. Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and it borders both Austria and Hungary. The pastries are simply divine.

Vienna, Austria

We hopped on a bus and enjoyed a panoramic city ride before stopping for our guided walk in Vienna City Centre. Vienna is inundated with the most architecturally impressive buildings. Horse drawn carriages transport tourists around the town centre where you feel you are living in a past century.

Our highlight in Vienna was attending a private Viennese Evening Concert at Palais Lobkowitz. The musicians were superb and demonstrated the time and commitment that it takes to be the best in the world.

Durnstein, Austria

We explored the small town of Durnstein on our own. The focal point is the hill-top castle that tourists can walk to. The town is surrounded by lovely vineyards and is well-known for wine growing.

Locals were predominantly dressed in old fashioned attire and shops sold all of their local specialties. We purchased apricot jam as apricots are plentiful in that area. I found Durnstein to be the loveliest and quaintest small town and one of my favorite cruise ports.

Bamberg, Germany

We enjoyed a guided tour of Bamberg with a local who recanted the most interesting stories. She advised us that the most expensive and impressive homes line the river Regnitz in Bamberg and are almost impossible to rent/buy, as those homes are passed down in families and never sold.

Lots of tiny bridges connecting the colourful buildings to one another are abundant in this beautiful town. Since 1993, old town Bamberg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rose Garden at the New Residenz is a top tourist attraction with gorgeous multi-coloured roses.

There are also 11 breweries and many of these quaint German towns are known for their smoked beer. We sampled homemade German sausages and pretzels that were most delicious.

Rudesheim, Germany

We ventured off on our own and first rode the chairlift that took us above all of the lovely vineyards to the top of a hill to the spectacular temple and Niederwald monument. Riesling wine is the top varietal made in this fabulous winemaking town of Rudesheim, and I was most excited to try it. I liked it so much that I bought a bottle to take home with me.

We then ventured off to the brandy factory where my husband purchased the Asbach Uralt brandy that Rudesheim is well known for. The town is simply breathtaking, whether walking along the cobbled streets, riding the chairlift, or looking down from the top of the hill at the monument, and I did not want to leave it.

Amsterdam, Netherlands  

We completed our River cruise in the lovely city of Amsterdam. We embarked on a private guided canal tour that showcased all the focal points of the city and its interesting history. I loved having modern conveniences once again, but still feeling all of the old-world charm. We spent our last day walking along the many canals and enjoying the outdoor cafes and amazing sights.

River cruising was an experience of a lifetime that fed my mind, body, and soul, and an adventure that I will be talking about for many years to come.

What adventure is at the top of your bucket list? Why have you placed it there? When are you planning to take it?