The Nichole Banks Blog

How to Completely Reinvent Your Wardrobe and Personal Style

August 22, 20245 min read

"Fashion is like a time machine—sometimes the best way forward is a little trip back to your favorite style era!"

Reinventing Your Wardrobe (and Yourself):

The Gen-X Girl’s Guide to Dressing for Her Second Act**

Fashion is basically a time machine—minus the DeLorean and the perms we’ll pretend never happened. One minute you’re scrolling Pinterest for “minimal chic,” and the next you’re holding up a velvet scrunchie like, “Didn’t I wear this to a school dance in ’92?”

Spoiler:
Bring. Her. Back.

Because reinvention isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about remembering who the hell you were before life—marriage, divorce, motherhood, expectations—asked you to quiet down.

Welcome to The Nichole Banks Blog—your little corner of the internet for healing your heart, rebuilding your confidence, and rediscovering the joy of getting dressed again.

And girl?
If you’re starting fresh after divorce, your closet is a fabulous place to begin…
But let’s get one thing straight:

Your self-confidence and inner beauty are the BEST things in your entire closet—so stop leaving them folded in the bottom drawer like last year’s forgotten jeans.

Pull them out.
Shake them out.
Wear them like they were tailored by the universe itself.


Tune into the Nichole Banks Podcast for free on your favorite podcast platform—available wherever you listen! Or simply click the link here!

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My Style Glow-Up: A Love Story Starring Navy, Mauve & a New Identity

For years, my wardrobe looked like I was permanently interviewing for a job at a very chic funeral home. Black. On. Black. On. Black.

It felt safe.
It felt slimming.
It felt like hiding in plain sight.

But when I branded my company, something shifted.
Black suddenly felt like it belonged to an older version of me—the one who dimmed herself to survive. Not the woman rising from a divorce and daring to begin again.

Cue navy.
Cue mauve.
Cue a full identity crisis in front of my brand board.

I kept thinking: “Can I really wear colors? Can I be… seen?”

But then I remembered:
I rocked neon leggings in 1989 like it was my job.
I wore shoulder pads so big I needed turn signals.

If that girl wasn’t afraid of being seen, why should the woman who clawed her way through heartbreak be afraid now?

Divorce didn’t break you, girl—it revealed you.
And your closet gets to reflect that.


Gen-X Fashion Comebacks We’re Absolutely Here For

1. The Power Suit—Reimagined

Back then, shoulder pads made us feel invincible.
Now? A perfectly tailored blazer in emerald or navy says:

“I am rebuilding my life, and honestly? I look damn good doing it.”

Divorced woman energy: unbothered, grounded, unstoppable.


2. Denim on Denim (The Canadian Tuxedo Lives!)

We joked.
We mocked.
We secretly loved.

Today’s version?
Mix light-wash jeans with a darker denim jacket and boom: elevated casual.

Bonus perk:
Perfect outfit for bumping into your ex while looking like the upgrade.


3. The Maxi Dress Renaissance

Maxi dresses are that one loyal friend from high school—she always shows up.
Comfy? Yes.
Flattering? Absolutely.
Effortless? A life essential.

Throw on sunglasses and sneakers and suddenly you’re “effortless chic,”
when really you just couldn’t deal with pants.

Honestly? Same.


The Nichole Banks Blog

Tips to Reinvent Your Style… Without Feeling Like You’re Trying Too Hard

How to Reinvent Your Style After Divorce

(Without Feeling Like You’re Trying Too Hard)**

Think of this as your second-act wardrobe reset. Healing looks good on you—let your closet prove it.

Find a Muse That Fits Your New Season

Not the 22-year-old influencer wearing a crop top in a snowstorm.

Think:
Grace Kelly’s elegance
Debbie Harry’s edge
Carrie Bradshaw’s chaotic confidence
Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride finding herself again

Find a vibe. Then remix it for the grown, healed, whole woman you’re becoming.


Invest in Basics That Move With Your Life

The staples that always show up:

  • A blazer that makes you feel like “CEO of My Own Life, LLC”

  • Jeans that actually fit your beautiful body

  • A crisp white shirt

  • A dress that says “I may cry later, but right now? I slay.”

    Get Good Basics—Then Add the Flavor

Add Nostalgia Without Becoming a Costume

Scrunchies. Chunky belts. Vintage tees.
They’re not trends—they’re personality.

And girl, your personality deserves a spotlight again.


Know Your Colors (Inside and Out)

Wear the colors that light you up—not the ones you think you “should” hide behind.

Bold? Go bold.
Soft? Go soft.
Sparkly? Shine, baby.

Remember: you’re not blending in anymore.


Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Divorce shoved you out emotionally—your wardrobe is the fun version of courage.

Try a print.
Try a wild color.
Try a trend you swore off a decade ago.

You’re not “too old.”
You’re seasoned. You’re stunning.
You’re in your comeback era.

Tailoring Is Your Fairy Godmother

Clothes should fit you, not the version you were before heartbreak, or the version you were shrinking to be for someone else.



Here’s the Real Tea:

Fashion after divorce isn’t about clothes.
It’s about rediscovery.

Your closet becomes a mirror—not of who you were in your marriage, but of the woman rising from it.

Play. Explore. Laugh. Refuse to settle.
Try things that make you feel alive again.

Because the truth?
Confidence is the accessory that never goes out of style—and it’s the one thing your second act absolutely demands.


Thanks for being here, girl.

Your second act is looking fabulous already.**

xxo,
Nichole


P.S. Want more healing, humor, and glow-up magic?

Tune into The Nichole Banks Podcast—your weekly dose of “okay wow, I needed that.”

P.P.S. Your new life is calling… here are your next steps


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Nichole Banks is a passionate divorce recovery coach, author, and host of The Nichole Banks Podcast. With a deep understanding of the complexities of life after divorce, Nichole empowers women to embrace their journeys with confidence and grace. 

Through her insightful writing, practical advice, and personal anecdotes, she offers guidance on emotional healing, self-improvement, and finding new love. Nichole’s mission is to inspire and support women as they navigate their new beginnings and discover their true potential. When she’s not coaching or podcasting, Nichole enjoys a good cup of coffee, exploring new personal development ideas, and celebrating small victories.

Nichole Banks

Nichole Banks is a passionate divorce recovery coach, author, and host of The Nichole Banks Podcast. With a deep understanding of the complexities of life after divorce, Nichole empowers women to embrace their journeys with confidence and grace. Through her insightful writing, practical advice, and personal anecdotes, she offers guidance on emotional healing, self-improvement, and finding new love. Nichole’s mission is to inspire and support women as they navigate their new beginnings and discover their true potential. When she’s not coaching or podcasting, Nichole enjoys a good cup of coffee, exploring new personal development ideas, and celebrating small victories.

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