Top 5 Style Tips for Dressing in Perimenopause (From Someone Who’s Living It Too)
Perimenopause.
No one warns you how much it can affect… your wardrobe.
I used to open my wardrobe and feel excited to get dressed.
Now? Some mornings I’d stand there feeling defeated.
My body is changing – especially around my tummy – and even though I help other women find confidence in their clothes, suddenly I felt uncomfortable in my own. Add in the temperature fluctuations (freezing one minute, overheating the next) and the rising anxiety around how my clothes looked and felt… and it all became overwhelming.
But here’s what I remind myself, and what I now teach my clients:
“You haven’t lost your style - you’re evolving. Your wardrobe just needs to catch up with who you are today.”
Here are the top 5 style shifts that are helping me feel like me again during perimenopause - not just on the outside, but on the inside, too.
1. Natural Fabrics Saved Me (and My Temperature Swings)
When the hot flushes started, I realised polyester was not my friend. I’d be perfect for 10 minutes… and then suddenly overheating in the queue at SuperValu. Now I stick to breathable, kind-to-skin fabrics like:
Cotton
Bamboo
Linen
Tencel
They allow airflow, prevent that suffocating feeling, and help regulate temperature.
Comfort is not a downgrade – it’s a power move.
2. Dressing for My Changing Shape (Especially the Tummy)
Yes, the tummy weight gain caught me off guard. Clothes that used to feel great suddenly felt restrictive or highlighted areas I felt more conscious of. The shift that changed everything? Choosing trouser styles that have some elasticity in the waistband and going up a size.
Think:
Soft A-line dresses that don’t cling
High-waisted trousers with stretch
Wrap tops/dresses (they give shape without pressure)
And here’s the biggest mindset shift I had to make:
The clothes need to fit me – I don’t have to fit into the clothes.
I tell my clients this all the time!
Letting go of the number on the label was incredibly liberating.
3. Colour Lifted My Mood (And My Confidence)
When you don't feel great in yourself it can be easy to slip back into black or darker colours, and the dark evenings are not helping either! So now I am really trying not to wear all black even on the days I don't feel amazing. Injecting colour into your life really does have a positive effect!
So I brought colour back – deliberately.
Wearing colours like:
Olive
Teal
Soft navy
Berry
…instantly made me feel brighter
Colour is emotional.
Some mornings, putting on a brighter top is enough to shift your energy.
4. Layering
Because of the temperature swings, I adapted my outfits so I wouldn’t be stuck in something I couldn’t peel off.
My go-to formula:
Camisole → Light blouse → Blazer or waistcoat
It makes me feel put together, but also gives me control:
Too warm? Remove a layer.
Feeling self-conscious? Add the blazer back on.
Style shouldn’t trap you — it should support you.
5. I Simplified My Wardrobe (to Reduce Emotional Overload)
One day, I looked at my wardrobe and realised half the clothes were not working for me right now. So I did a kind wardrobe detox.
I only kept pieces that:
Fit comfortably now
Feel like me now
Support my lifestyle now
Redoing my wardrobe helped me calm the mental noise around getting dressed.
Your wardrobe should be a place of peace, not pressure.
Final Thoughts - From My Heart to Yours
Perimenopause has made me more aware of my body, more vulnerable, and yes, some days more anxious. But it has also made me more compassionate with myself.
I’ve learned to ask:
What does my body need today?
What outfit would make me feel supported rather than exposed?
How can I dress the woman I am becoming?
This phase isn’t about hiding.
It’s about rediscovering.
Style in perimenopause isn’t about perfection — it’s about self-connection.
And if you feel like you’ve “lost” your style, please know:
You haven’t lost anything.
You’re just stepping into a new chapter — and your wardrobe can evolve with you.
If you want guidance, support, or a fresh perspective, I’m here.
💌 sarah@wellstyled.ie
🌐 www.wellstyled.ie
Let’s dress the woman you are today — with confidence, compassion, and ease.
Discover the colours that make you look — and feel — your best.
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