Clothes I Wear Now – And Why They Matter

I grew up in sneakers. As a tomboy and an athlete, I had two pairs of shoes to choose from — one for sports and one for everything else (well, probably some flip-flops too!). Back then, clothes were about function, not fashion — the fabrics were awful, mostly polyester. Clothing helped me move, compete, and blend in.

When I worked as a waitress, it was a uniform. Later, as I entered the professional world of government affairs, I dressed to fit in again — but this time, the stakes felt higher. I started out with two suits: one blue and one gray. The hem fell below the knee, and pantyhose was a must. I still remember the department store where I bought them — Mitzifeld’s in Rochester, Michigan. It was a time when I was one of the few women in the room, and we were often expected to take a backseat to men in the workplace. I wore what was appropriate, what was professional, and above all, what was safe. My dress code became a uniform of conformity, not expression.

But over the years, as women became more prominent in the workforce, we began to question the script. I recall Congresswoman Susan Molinari challenging the status quo on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by wearing a pantsuit instead of a dress or skirt — God forbid! Something shifted. And I began to wonder: What if the clothes I wear could reflect who I am — not just what I do? What if style could be a form of self-expression?

As I’ve entered this next chapter of life, I’ve come to see clothing not just as style, but as energy — a way to embody who I am becoming rather than who I was expected to be. The act of choosing what to wear each day is no longer a chore or an obligation to others’ standards; it’s become a ritual of presence and self-respect. The colors, textures, and even the smallest details remind me that this body, at any age, deserves joy, dignity, and playfulness. Reinvention doesn’t just happen in the mind — it happens in how we show up in the world, and our wardrobe can lead the way.

Today, I wear clothes that are mine. I’ve found a personal style that reflects my values, my creativity, and my confidence. I understand more deeply who I am and what I want to convey. The tomboy has become fascinated with fashion — not as a trend, but as a language. One of the voices that helped me find my own is Amy Smilovic, founder of Tibi. Her philosophy of Creative Pragmatism resonates with me because it gave me permission to be thoughtful, expressive, and intentional in how I dress. It lets me feel like myself — not what’s expected.

As Amy puts it: “Style is the outward expression of your inner thinking. It is not about being loud or quiet — it’s about being clear.” That clarity has become my compass. I no longer dress to disappear or prove something. I dress to show up as my authentic self.

So when you open your closet tomorrow, ask yourself: are you dressing to disappear, or to declare? What would it feel like to wear something that speaks for you before you say a word? In a world that too often tells us to shrink as we grow older — to fade into muted tones and safer choices — I choose to wear my story out loud. And maybe that’s the ultimate freedom: to let the clothes we wear now reflect not just where we’ve been, but where we’re still going.