22 Comments
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Anne's avatar

Ilona, this resonates with me. After Mr. J was diagnosed, I bought myself four maxi dresses that fall from my shoulders to the floor. It reduces the number of decisions I have to make every day. And they are infinitely more comfortable.

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

Yes, love the maxi dress, too, and the idea of fewer decisions. I am loving the comfort renaissance at this stage in my life.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

I love a cute shapeless dress :) 🤍🤍🤍

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

100%!!!!

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Kirie Pedersen's avatar

I applaud you for finding your inner "introverted bookworm" no longer terrified to be seen for who you are. And then teaching yoga and movement! And savoring your garden!

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

All the things! Thanks Kirie for reading and commenting.

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Michelle Lindblom's avatar

Comfort is queen. I still have some of my favorite classic and comfortable clothes from 20 years ago. Not a trend follower, besides trends swing back every twenty years anyway. Objectifying women through fashion and body enhancements is something I've always resisted in my own ways. Does not mean I like how my body changes as I get older, but am working towards acceptance of this transition.

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

Yes, I had enough of objectification of women, too. I don't like the bodily changes either, but I'm working on body acceptance even though I never really experienced it when I was younger and things were perfect.

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Michelle Lindblom's avatar

I don't know too many women who were ever accepting of their bodies. It's amazingly sad the hold our media culture has on us throughout our lives. Sigh...

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Cherie Lee's avatar

I am with you, Ilona! Since I retired in Dec. of 2022, I have worn nothing but black leggings and comfy shirts. Love the photo of you and your daughters. They look just like you!

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

Thanks, Cherie and Cheers to comfy clothes!!

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Linda Castronovo's avatar

You go, girl! I am right there with you! Comfort rules all decisions!

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

Yes and I hope our younger counterparts do the same.

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Paulette Bodeman's avatar

Amen, sister!! I want to lie down all the BS that's been filling our hearts and minds for so many years.

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

LOL! Yes, too much BS and it seems to be getting worse since our rights are getting taken away.

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Paulette Bodeman's avatar

Maybe a future post...

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Oh Ilona...I'm afraid so many women know this scenario only too well. Even though I considered myself somewhat "liberated" in my mind, I spent four years in heels walking back and forth throughout a huge office building all day long. I knew heels were designed to make my legs look shapelier to men and yet I did it and almost ruined my feet in the process. These days I'm in sweats (at least on the bottom) and hardly ever put makeup on.There's some relief in getting to the age when you realize no one's looking.

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

Why did I ever buy into the thinking that my legs needed to look shapelier for men? So much self-harm in the name of men. My feet are also messed up from wearing terrible shoes most of my life.

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

I've told myelf at times that I didn't dress for men, that I dressed for other women...and I know that is partiallly true...but I think the motivation for it all is tangled up what men think women should look like. Think back on corsets or those wire gadgets to make hips look so wide or even dresses designed to flatten your chest (for a while). Whatever turns men on...sigh.

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

We have to help our daughters so their lives with their own comfort in mind.

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Absolutely!

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May 16
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Ilona Goanos's avatar

Yes, you bring up a great point. We can and do move more and better in comfortable clothing. I've been going barefoot around the house to countermand the damage I've done to my feet from wearing leather coffins on my feet.

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