Typically, I go through what the Edies would call four Costume Changes a day, which might seem excessive, but I don’t see any way around this. But this week, on Wednesday, I had FIVE Costume Changes, which felt like a perfect topic for today. However, my main motivation for this post was something that I will probably talk about at more length later, and that is that as much as I love clothes, as much as I love Costume Changes, I and my perimenopausal body have been experiencing a bit of a wardrobe crisis of late. As you know, I am a firm proponent of feeling good in my clothes at all times: if I don’t feel beautiful, or at least really cute, then the clothes are wrong. This has been a bit harder to swallow lately, so I decided to record my Wednesday Costume Changes to rediscover my love of clothes.
- Costume Change #1: The Workout Outfit. The first outfit of the day is for my yoga practice, followed by a Peloton spin class and strength workout. It consists of a yoga tank and crops, plus a tee since it’s chilly in the mornings. Since the house is asleep at this time, I had to rely on the one full-length mirror in the house, the one beside the guys’ squat rack. I don’t know how to move the bar, which hits at face height when I’m standing, so hence the awkward posture. Also I don’t know how to take a good mirror selfie, which explains the maniacal facial expression.
Listen, I’m a sweaty gal. When I work out I am dripping, and my clothes could actually be wrung out, which leads us to…
- Costume Change #2: The Dog Walking Outfit. Obviously I can’t leave the house in wet clothes, because a) it’s gross, b) it’s cold, and c) I have some semblance of dignity and self-worth. It’s also chilly in the mornings, so in addition to a fresh yoga tank and pants, I have on a sweatshirt, leg warmers, a bum warmer, winter jacket, toque, and mittens. I also have brand new Timberland boots that are so comfy and warm. As a note, my older son said admiringly, You got Tims! and I, Canadian cool girl that I am, wondered why he was talking about Tim Hortons. TIMBERLANDS. They are cool, you guys, university student approved. I’m not a regular mom. I’m a cool mom!
- Costume Change #3: The Regular Life Outfit. On Wednesday I wanted to accomplish exactly two things: a Superstore grocery shop, and 1500 words on my novel’s second draft. I got both of those things done in this sweater and jean combination. These (non-Timberland) boots and puffer jacket are perfect for Kelowna November: the temperatures are just north of zero, and this outerwear is warm but not overly so.
Anyone who knows me will be alarmed to see that single banana on the countertop behind me. I know! That’s why I was heading to Superstore! Not to worry, this is what it looks like now:
- Costume Change #4: Girl’s Night OUT! Listen, it’s pretty rare and remarkable for me to go out on a Wednesday night, but the Squad and I were going for dinner and to see the community theatre production of The Golden Girls – The Laughs Continue. We all know how I feel about the Golden Girls! Not one of us realized until we were actually there that it was a drag show. Wait a minute…I think that’s a man was the thought that went through my mind after the show started. Wait a minute…I think they’re all men! Again, not a regular mom. A cool mom. I don’t like to judge based on appearances, but if I did, I would say that at least 80% of the audience also didn’t realize it was a drag show. Well, lots of laughs had by the Squad, and it was a great excuse to wear a dress and heeled boots.
- Costume Change #5: Stop! Pajama Time. I always wear a coordinated pair of pajamas, and it’s the holiday season, which calls for festive jammies. My husband gave me these for Christmas last year along with matching socks.
Speaking of perimenopause, my feet don’t get cold anymore like they used to, but I like to apply foot cream at night, and wearing socks helps to absorb it. Also, I don’t like leaving lotion footprints, nor slipping on the floor, so the socks stay on until I’m actually in bed.
I hope you all have a fabulous, fashionable weekend! xo
Nicole, your costumes are such goals – in your pictures, you always look so stylish and put together! I’ve been trying to balance rethinking my wardrobe from a uniform / personal style perspective (Lazy Genius inspired) with my own perimenopause challenges of not loving how what I loved in the past looks on this version of me. It’s a journey… sigh haha! PS: I bet that Golden Girls show was hilarious!
Lindsay, you’re right – things I used to love just don’t suit me now. I am going to write a whole post on the topic but for now I will just say – thank you for your very sweet words!
Well, first of all- you look SO CUTE. You look great in all your outfits. I do know that menopausal (for me) challenge.) People will tell me how “thin” I am, and I’m thinking “luckily you can’t see me without clothes on.” This whole “stomach” thing is annoying.
I love, love, love, love your holiday pajamas and socks! SO cute and festive!!!
Hahahaha Jenny, I hear you. The stomach thing is such a thing! Although you don’t ever look like you have a stomach on you from all your running photos with crop tops, I have to say! But I know what you mean, it’s a whole different story these days.
Your going-out dress is fab. I always love that lotus (?) necklace on you!
And I think that’s why you’re so fit, because you really workout! I never work up that much of a sweat with my leisurely walks and yoga and consequently don’t have the strength or tone.
So excited about the growing novel! XOXO
Maya, I wear that necklace almost every day, it’s my favourite!
I also don’t sweat when I’m walking or practicing yoga, it’s just when I’m doing my cardio that I become a sweaty betty.
Cute, cute. I know that you like your costumes by the smiles on your face. Happy Weekend!
Thanks Ally, happy weekending!
I love this. I like all of your outfits; as always you are tres chic. Cool Mom indeed! As you know, I have very few outfits; I am like the exact opposite of you at the moment, and wear one outfit for five days! 🙂 Actually, I do have an outfit I wear for runs, and one for indoors and/or regular errands, but I don’t really have an everyday outfit. I am still carrying everything and until I get home, it’s yoga pants for now. I am looking forward to wearing jeans like a real human! My only saving grace is that I do NOT sweat that much, but I still change out of my running clothes when I am not running. Also I now have a washer which is a huge plus.
I was worried about your banana stash and am so glad that you stocked up again! How was the drag show? I remember friends going to Asia SF in San Francisco which is a restaurant with a drag show, and them not realizing what it was until they had sat down. There were some funny stories about that afterward! (PS some of the men are very good looking ladies and sometimes it was hard to tell that they were in drag!)
Kyria, I’m sad to say the drag show was not great, Bob. It was really dirty, which is not a deal breaker for me because I enjoy dirty jokes, but it was kind of “cheap dirty” rather than clever dirty, if you know what I mean. There are only so many pearl necklace jokes one can take in a two hour span. Also a whole plotline was devoted to Sophia making extra money by selling LSD-infused cheesecakes which was just…dumb. For one thing, LSD? Who does LSD anymore (maybe someone does but it felt like a stupid plotline). But I will say the voices and costumes were perfection, and Blanche was rocking the stilettos like nobody’s business.
So, this is a question I wonder about people who keep matching sets together. How do you organize that? If someone gave me so much as a matching top/bottom pajama set, I would go into spasms of worry about how to store them so that they are always together. Do you have a giant closet? A dresser with an entire drawer dedicated to matching sets? How does this work? How do you keep track of a PAIR OF SOCKS just to go with the pajamas? So many questions. I just want to know how some people are organized and I wander about life in a daze.
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, and one I am happy to answer. So yes, I do have a dedicated drawer, and a long time ago Gigi clued me in to the best way to store jammies – you lay them kind of flat together and then roll them up so that the top and bottom are always together. I wrote about it here and there’s a visual aid: https://girlinaboyhouse.com/2024/01/five-for-friday-the-five-ws-of-rest-edition/ Also in terms of socks, I have a basket full of fuzzy socks beside my bed that are ONLY used for when I’m wearing jammies, to keep the lotion on my feet. I just choose a pair and I have lots of colours to go with my jammies.
You are just the cutest! I hear ya on the menopause body and its effect on your wardrobe. We call it a fashion crisis at our house, and they are a regular occurrence.
It is absolutely a crisis! I’m in the “oh no, I need new clothes” part of the crisis.
Fabulous, but man, that’s a lot of laundry 🤣. I generally wear only two outfits: pajamas after my night time shower and my daytime outfit which is yoga type pants and shirt (workout shorts in summer). If I have a hubby date or GNO (girls night out) I’ll wear jeans and dressy top. I generally only wear my black Skechers.
I workout twice a day and never sweat, unless I’m outside in hot, humid temps. I’m either just lucky or not working hard enough 🤔
I love all of your outfits and the fact that you wore 3 different pairs of black boots in a single day. I am tempted to buy some Tims for myself. Good to know that the Gen Zs approve! I have Sorels right now but they are getting old and I’m due for a new pair.
I’m definitely in the “struggling to dress this changing body” stage of life, hence the order of 3 new dresses (well, 5 total, I’ll send 2 back).