Whoo hoo! You have had some major life changes and are busy adapting and making your jobs work.....you are so wise to start looking at how you might ease into your retirement.
The Aha moments you are having are wonderful and as you said, freeing! A happy and healthy life happens when we are able to narrow our focus and prioritize. The world is too big, too challenging, has too many options and while sooooo many are amazing, often we try to work in too much and might not have the energy or stamina to fully enjoy ourselves.
I LOVE your outfit and your new discoveries. Cheers to you and congratulations on your new job and persepectives!

Lisa - so glad this position has been exactly what you needed!! And yes you look amazing as always!! I’ve gotten the impression that you were like looking outward to fashion to find things that would make you feel happy instead of focusing inward, as Lucy said, on authentic personal style. I think this job has freed you, in the best possible way, from that quest for the new into an exploration of the personal. You have an amazing wardrobe and a gift for balance, edge, elegance, originality, humor and quirk. You needed a reason to tap into that and find yourself again. I think it’s “simple isn’t easy” that said a well curated closet is like a fantastic party where everyone is a beloved friend. But since we rarely invite all our friends at the same time. Each outfit are beloved pieces that we see in new ways when they interact with different pieces. No two parties are the same. Although we all have favorite combos and people in life. I love the poncho and sandals. With you amazing hair and coloring and eye for proportion you look unique, edgy and elegant. Less choice makes you more creative with what you have. So I am standing applauding, whooping, admiring, thrilled that no only do you always look amazing but you’re starting to feel a bit of that amazing!!

Glad that your dressing anxiety has now gone. Enjoy the job and your new phase of life! YLF by the way

So pleased for you in every way. You look terrific!

You look so elegant - this looks like you, just pared back. I am so glad that you are loving this change in lifestyle. A new job can be so invigorating.

I'm glad you posted Lisa. I was thinking I'd message you sometime soon and see how things were going... if you were getting bored of the black, or if you'd relaxed into it. I'm really glad to read this and see how positive this experience has been.

I wonder if because of your interest in clothes and fashion, you were concentrating too much on trends and being current, rather than finding your true authentic style. That is something you have in in spades... and which is coming out loud and clear in the pic you posted. I just hope that you are seeing it too! You do not need to shop the latest thing... what you do with clothes, proportion, texture etc is fabulous. I really think you are one of those people who'd make a paper bag look good.

I'd love to see more of your WIW's, for just that reason.

Oh, and another fan of school uniforms here! Never had one, but have always thought they'd have huge value.

I'm also interested in what the MPG pants are... I LOVE the pieces I lemminged off you earlier this year, and would love to know what others are working for you.

I think you look totally fashionable! Even without trying you do that. My kids went to Catholic schools and wore uniforms and I loved it. There is still some pressure (hair, shoes, skirt length) but it was so easy. Glad the new job is working out, sounds like fun.

You look chic, elegant, and easy! This is a fabulous outfit. (Love the hair, too!) So glad you are feeling more relaxed about your closet.

No wonder that poncho is your new best friend. It's fantastic. The mesh texture adds everything to all-black and lightens it up, and the asymmetry is, well, you know I love asymmetry! And the shoes!!! I adore them! Darn darn darn that Flys don't fit me right....you've shown several pair that I adore (and which would be so practical in my life) but I have not yet found a pair that works on my feet -- I'm between sizes in the brand. These ones in particular look awesome!

How wonderful to read your post! I think you look amazing in your “uniform,” very stylish indeed. I am admiring the freedom you are finding in going your own way.

Well done Lisa for being true to what you feel at the present time.Several high profile men whose names escape me at the moment have wardrobes full of the same shirt and trousers for every day of the week so you are not alone in finding a uniform simplifies life and allows one to focus on the job in hand rather than appearance.l m going the other way to you having spent all my working life in a uniform,I ve now got a part time job in which my appearance is supposed to be some sort of advert for the brand(in a very small way)so wish me luck with that!and I couldn’t agree more with children wearing uniforms to school ,my daughter has always worn a school uniform and the occasional non uniform days are a complete nightmare .I wish you every happiness and success in your new career path.

Haven’t read through all the comments but wanted to say that you are such a beautiful woman, strong and courageous; this is part of your journey, and you are taking it the right way.

So glad to hear things are working in your favor and you are feeling good - and looking great! It's fun and inspiring to try a new work experience and I can certainly relate to how that impacts your time and focus on other areas.

I am so happy for you! I know you've been stressing about fashion-related things for so long. The relief and joy in your words is such a breath of fresh hair. And you look so happy! I'm so glad!

So glad to hear that you are feeling released and free to let go and explore a new direction. Too many decisions, too many choices and too many expectations of ourselves can be overwhelming

And I echo the others — you are looking really good!

So happy to hear about this more peaceful time in your life in some ways. You absolutely still look very stylish and attractive.

Sorry, haven’t read all replies, but must say this sounds like a good break for you. It’s specific but still allows for some individuality and lets you focus attention elsewhere. Fashion will still be available to you when you choose to turn to it.

I think you look super and glad the new job is perfect for where you are at and need to be at this point in time of your life.

Nothing wrong with comfortable, uniform or black.....and especially all 3! Let the "kids" do trendy- you show your skill, wisdom and self confidence- teach those whipper snappers a thing or two- lol.

Just a word of caution on too much uniform dressing. Your non- work life wardrobe may be working for you now but don't let it fall too far off the radar. You still need to have some versatile things that will let you be ready for anything at anytime outside of work too. Sometimes we put too much focus of work clothes and then go scrambling on down time.

You look absolutely fab. Like the hair. Sometimes it is good to take a break and it be your choice. My Air Force hubby loves wearing his flight suit everyday.

Sounds like all of this change is changing other things, too!

How exciting!

And, honestly, as long as you're happy, that's what counts. Enjoy the transition and the fun. Enjoy not worrying about clothes for as long as makes you happy.

And I can totally see how this can be liberating! We all only have so much brain power. You can spend yours on other things now!

You look fantastic! I like the Flys on you, I think they have style and don't look dated or arty or anything that might not be "you." I got a pair of Fly sneakers a few months ago and love them!

Oh no, you discovered my secret! I definitely find that wearing all black cuts down my decision fatigue and anxiety. That said, I certainly spend more time shopping than I should... but knowing I'm only looking for black items makes it less open-ended and less stressful.

I'm glad this is working so well for you. You look great! And if you do eventually find yourself itching for new items, there's plenty you can do within the constraints of all black and uncomplicated (which you've clearly nailed in these outfits!).

Do you find yourself craving extra color in your non-work outfits, or is your overall preference shifting?

Thank you all, again, for such positive and understanding feedback!  Thinking of it as finding my inherent or authentic style never occurred to me , but that’s absolutely correct . So interesting !

Elizabeth P - the MPG pants are  :https://mpgsport.ca/collection.....4855138346  I have them in both black and the pinstripe, and the black fit much better and differently than the pinstripe for some reason. 

Also wearing this tshirt , although it looks like it's not being restocked based on what's currently available:https://mpgsport.ca/collection.....6196987946

These pants are *exactly* what I need. So tired of suffocating leggings! Thank you for sharing!

Roxanna - they weigh nothing , don’t crease, and are easy to move around in . You can absolutely dress them up with a blazer and a silk tank too . Best pants ever .

Lisa - you just saved me. You've mentioned MPG many times before and I remember loving their quality, but I don't know why it didn't occur to me to go there when I was looking for a weekend capsule upgrade for the fall (new, relaxed joggers, longer, sleek cover ups, etc.) They had *exactly* what i was looking for - sleek design, relaxed fit, and on sale, natch! I put in an order - will keep you posted. I am so excited about this - it will save me the trouble of fussing about what to wear on fall weekends. I am so tired of looking at crop tops and skintight leggings at all the other athletic wear places

Roxanna - I hear you ! Let me know what you ordered and what ends up working !!

I'm so with you on the self doubt and over analysis that comes along with body (and lifestyle) changes. This is one of the reasons I'm drawn to the idea of uniform dressing (not an actual uniform, but e.g. always cigarette pants with a shirt and a blazer). I've never executed it really though, because I'm on team silhouette :/. But since monitoring my outfits more closely for YLF, I've noticed that I just feel great and confident in a certain outfit combo and that maybe I need to commit further to this instead of trying to explore every possible style that may work for me!

Hey Lisa! It's great to read this happy post. I'm so glad this job is offering you even more than you expected. You really sound terrific.

I'm intrigued by how well the all-black is working for you and, also, the idea of simplifying. I've been paring back my wardrobe (again) for the last few months because it's been too hard to find the focus to really put together good outfits. For me, that's harder in the summer generally, and I usually just revert to a very basic casual that doesn't make me look or feel very good. This summer in particular I haven't been exercising much, and I don't feel amazing about myself. A lot of days I'm just pushing through.

My trimming has resulted in a wardrobe that is dominated heavily by navy, black, and white, and I'm pausing on most purchases unless I really feel like it is something that fit a particular hole or need. I'm going to try to channel your positivity rather than lament that I now have fewer things and a narrow palette. It might be exactly what I need.

BTW, I'm bookmarking the MPG site - some great and inexpensive options there. Thank you.

It is so great to hear how well this is working for you. Sad the Flys don’t work because they look great. I love the mesh poncho. Your photos show a happy gorgeous stylish woman!

Glad to hear this. I m happy for you. You absolutely still look very attractive.