Luxury Cruise Wear for Boomer Women

Luxury Cruise Wear for Boomer Women: A Guide to Dressing Well on a Luxury Cruise After years of sharing cruise fashion photos on my Facebook profile, I've been asked numerous times to write an article about luxury cruise wear for women over 50. This is the first in a series of articles that will provide tips and advice on what to wear on a luxury cruise, with a focus on styles that work well for women in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. When it comes to dressing for a luxury cruise, I encourage you to think of my ideas as a template for using what you already own to create stylish outfits. While I often purchase new pieces for a cruise, most of what I wear has been hanging in my closet for several years. The goal is to mix and match items to create new outfits that make me feel confident and stylish. One of the reasons I enjoy luxury cruising is the opportunity to dress up. In my daily life in Montana, I tend to wear exercise pants and a sweatshirt (or tunic in the summer). When it's time to go out to dinner, I change into blue jeans, nice shirts, and boots – a straightforward but not particularly exciting outfit. A cruise, on the other hand, is my chance to dress up and feel like a million bucks. My husband, Alan, appreciates it when I dress nicely, and I find that dressing well makes me feel good about myself, which is an important part of boomer health. So, what's my secret? Picking a clothing line like Chico's or J.Jill, where the items easily mix and match to create many variations of an outfit. My rule of thumb is to wear an item at least twice during the cruise or put it back in the closet. This means packing efficiently and planning an efficient wardrobe for my 21-day cruise. I'll pack about three to four pairs of pants for evenings, with a color scheme that allows me to mix and match the tops to create different looks. Who wants to wear the same thing each night? Not me! I might as well be back at home in Montana dressed in sweatshirt and warmup pants. By packing versatile pieces and mixing and matching them, I can create multiple outfits from a few core items. For example, I'll often combine black pants with different tops and accessories to create three distinct looks. In the first photo, I'm dressed for elegant casual night, wearing a black and peach silk jacket over a high-neck tank top, shell necklace, and pewter flats. The second photo shows me paired with a black and gray cowl-neck tunic top and black flats, while the third photo features me wearing the same black pants with a gray silk jacket layered over a high neck black tank and glitzy pewter flats. The key to this look is mixing high-end pieces with more affordable options. I'll often wear high-quality separates from brands like Chico's or J.Jill, which carry over from one season to another with the addition of a few fresh items. These pieces are easy to mix and match, making them perfect for packing light. Another way to create multiple outfits is by using versatile tops that can be dressed up or down. I've found that a black and white geometric blouse can go from dressy to casual on a cruise. Worn loose over black pants with a long, sparkly necklace, the top looks somewhat dressy. Tie it at the waist, over a pair of slim white pants, change out the jewelry, and the look becomes more casual. When it comes to formal nights, things have changed in recent years. On luxury cruise lines, formal dress is no longer mandatory for women. Instead, we see more cocktail dresses and glitzy separates on the menu. If you still enjoy dressing formally, however, go for it! That's what my husband and I do. For our formal night outfit on a Crystal holiday cruise, I mixed and matched pieces from my wardrobe to create a stylish look. By combining a black dressy blouse with a pair of gray pants and some statement accessories, I was able to create a chic and elegant outfit that worked well for both men and women. Ultimately, the key to dressing well on a luxury cruise is to pack smart and plan ahead. Know what to expect from your trip in terms of weather and activities, and choose pieces that will work well for you. With a little creativity and planning, you can create stylish outfits that make you feel confident and beautiful – even on the most formal night of the cruise. In my next article, I'll be sharing tips on packing light and dressing for different types of cruises, including Alaska and tropical getaways. For now, I hope this guide has given you some inspiration for creating your own luxury cruise wear for boomer women.