From Funeral Black to Boho Color: Finding My Style After Retirement

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For seven years, I worked in a funeral home. If you know, you know. Black. Navy. Structured. Professional. Reserved. There’s a certain way you carry yourself in that environment. A certain way you dress. A certain way you show up. It’s respectful. It’s composed. It’s appropriate. And for that season of my life, it was right.

But when I retired four years ago, something shifted. Not overnight. Not dramatically.
But slowly… quietly… I started craving color.

When the Uniform Comes Off

For years, I dressed for the room.

Muted tones.
Simple jewelry.
Practical shoes.
Nothing loud.
Nothing distracting.

That wasn’t suppression it was professionalism. But retirement removed the uniform. And suddenly, I had to ask: Who am I when I don’t have to dress for a role?

Enter: Pink Hair & Tie-Dye

I didn’t wake up one day and say, “Let’s go full boho.” It’s an ongoing process. First came a little more color. Then a statement necklace. Then brighter lipstick. Then — pink hair. Yes. Pink. And you know what? It felt right. There is something freeing about not dressing to blend in.

Boho Isn’t a Costume — It’s Permission

Boho hippie fashion isn’t about looking like you’re headed to a music festival. For me, it’s about:

Flowy fabrics
Layered jewelry
Comfortable silhouettes
Texture
Movement
Color
Personality

It’s about softness without losing strength.

After years in structured environments, I find myself drawn to:

Wide-leg pants
Kimonos
Stacked bracelets
Turquoise accents
Sandals that don’t hurt my knees

It feels relaxed. It feels expressive. It feels like me — now.

Style After 60 Is a Process

Here’s what no one talks about: When you retire, your identity shifts. And style is part of identity. I’m still figuring it out. Some days I feel bold. Some days I feel simple and then some days I try something and think, maybe not. And that’s okay. Reinvention isn’t a straight line. It’s experimentation.

I’m Not Dressing for Approval

At this stage of life, I am not dressing to impress anyone. I’m dressing to feel aligned.

Aligned with:
Who I am now.
What I’ve walked through.
The grief.
The growth.
The freedom.
The confidence.

Pink hair wasn’t rebellion. It was ownership.

From Structured to Flowing

Working in a funeral home required structure. Retirement has given me flow. And my wardrobe reflects that. Black still has a place. But now it shares space with:

Sunset colors.
Bohemian prints.
Soft cotton.
Layered necklaces.
And yes — a little sass.

It’s Still a Process

I haven’t “arrived” at some final style. As I go through this process, I will share some pieces that I find along the way. Because it truly is a process and I like who I’m becoming. And that’s what this stage is about. Not fading but becoming.