Starting Over at Sixty??

Well, it finally happened.

After a year of trying my best and failing miserably, I lost my job just before the holidays.

As in terminated

This is a job I had for more than six years, but only a year in the most recent location. I was able to transfer when we moved to west Florida last year, and it's been brutal ever since.

So, it was expected, but still devasting, hurtful and humiliating.

Worse, it means the loss of not only income, but health insurance.

I'm sixty, and will be sixty-one soon. I don't want to be brooding and negative, but what the H-E-double-hockey-sticks kind of job am I realistically going to be able to get?

I did say a while back that this is an exciting age because I can start a new career.

Yeah.

So much easier to write than to actually do.

I have zero confidence, zero motivation, and zero idea of what even interests me that I can do and get paid for at this point.

The rubber has met the road, folks, and my tires are flat.

Dressing Age Appropriately, or What Was I Thinking?!?!

Admit it.

We've all done it.

Bought something that looked so cute on the model on the website, convincing ourselves we can pull it off because everything on the body is still more or less in place, if a little softer.

And this purchase is so darn affordable.

AND, it will inspire us to lose that stubborn 5 pounds and start working out again.

Problem is, even if we do manage to achieve our weight loss and fitness goals, sometimes the garments we've purchased still don't look right because they are meant for a younger woman.

I mean, how many 60 year old women do you actually want to see in a skin-tight knit dress, stopping 4 inches above the knee, and sporting a plunging back?

More importantly, do you really want to BE one of them?

Some things are just better off not being worn by a more mature woman.

Not because we CAN'T, but because we just SHOULDN'T.

I'm no fashion expert, but I think "inappropriate" is only one word that describes the phenomenon of trying to cling to youth by dressing too young. Other words that come to mind are tacky, tasteless, clownish, slatternly, and skanky. Just my opinion, mind you.

So back to the dilemma of having made the now much-too-late-to-return regretted purchase.

First, be ruthless in your assessment. These are not assets to either your life or your wardrobe.

They are the wardrobe wasters, the closest crammers.

These adorable bargains end up occupying valuable real estate in our closets, still new, unworn, with tags attached, mocking us.

We can't throw them out. They're still NEW! We can and sometimes do donate them, but it's always a donation made with feelings more of grudging remorse than true charity.

Here's where the alternative of selling your new, unused (or barely worn) items becomes attractive. You can make at least a fraction back of what you paid, while knowing your items will be worn and loved by someone willing to pay a little something for them. (Or, someone who will try to resell them for more, but who cares?)

And, you regain space in your closet, to boot! (Or, FOR boots, as the case may be!)

To assure you I know that of which I speak, here are just some of MY #whatwasithinking regretted purchases, currently listed for sale on eBay:

(And, if you're still not convinced I'm right, please head over and bid!😊)

$15.90 NWT Anthropologie Dolan Left Coast Collection Bodycon Stretch Knit Dress Size PXS

$15.90 NWT Ann Taylor Ruched Sleeveless Bodycon Black Polka Dot Dress

$15.90 NWT Ann Taylor Blue Ivory Polka Dot Layered Tier Dress 0P

$29.99 NWT Ann Taylor Black Lace Overlay Sleeveless Special Occasion Dress Size 0P

Letting Go and Moving Forward

This week, I've been extremely blessed to sell three of my never worn Diane von Furstenberg dresses on eBay.

I still have this one, ending in less  two hours,

and this one, still with over four days to go.

Needless to say, I'm delighted, but also disappointed. After all, I spent literally 5 times or more than I'm selling anything for.

That these dresses are now out of my closet and soon will be in someone else's who can and wil wear them IS a win.

But, I keep asking myself, how did I let this get so out of control in the first place?

The answer is simple really. I have been carrying an image of myself in my head that is distorted and destructive.

Distorted, because it's based on what I looked like and the shape I could easily maintain ten years ago.

Destructive, because I've spent literally thousands of dollars on clothes I can truthfully advertise as NWT (New With Tags), because they have been hanging in my closet, unworn, since the day I bought them. I'm not well off financially, and this kind of wasteful spending has hurt us. A lot.

I have to let go. Not just of the physical things cluttering up my life, but of the unrealistic self image and the destructive pursuit of a smaller dress size than is really healthy for me.

It's hard. I don't feel that different the way I did a decade ago. But, I am older.

I want to be the best me I can be.

Even if that is a larger size me than I might want to be.

Deals on DVF

Okay.

This is a shameless self promotion post.

I'm REALLY into Diane von Furstenberg's iconic wrap dresses, which are timeless, ageless, appropriate for almost any occasion or venue, and figure-flattering. They look great on stylish women of all ages.

Over the past couple of years, I purchased some that didn't fit or look quite right on me, until I finally found my ideal style, the New Jeanne Two.

Problem is, I never got around to returning the ones that didn't work out for me.

So, now, I'm selling them on eBay. My sloth is your gain!

Check out these two beauties, available on eBay now: DVF New Julian Two Size 4, Halo Petal $54.88 and DVF New Jeanne Two, Size 2, Wave Deep Night $159.00. Both are Brand new items with tags still intact and originally sold for $398.00. I'll be listing more items soon! Happy shopping!!

Diane von Furstenberg New Julian Two

Diane von Furstenberg New Jeanne Two

Sixty is NOT the New Forty

You know what I hate?

That phrase, "Sixty is the new Forty."

No! Sixty is sixty.

And it's fabulous!

No more trying to be someone else, or to live up to someone's idea of who I should be.

No more caring if I run out to the store in yoga pants and no makeup that I'll see someone I know.

No more trying to starve myself down to a stick-thin size when I actually look better with a little meat on my bones.

Trying on a DVF Size 2 from my
closet. May be time for a 4!

I'm finally comfortable in my own skin and I'm still young enough to find life exciting and challenging. I can start a new career if I want, find new interests, and spend time doing what I love.

And I can still look good doing it!

So, I'm thinking there are TONS of women out there who are right here with me, eager to share the wisdom and knowledge they've earned through the experience of living through the past six decades or more.

Ladies, what do you think?

Let's talk!