Midlife Style, Menopause and the Power of Visibility | Style Trailblazers with Kelly Simes

When Kelly Simes, founder of The Menopause Connection, joined Style Trailblazers, she was in the midst of profound change. A new business, a new life in the UK after years in France, and a new chapter of womanhood, navigating menopause and everything that comes with it.

“Perimenopause changed everything,” Kelly said. “My skin, my body, my mood, even my sense of identity. I felt disconnected from myself.”

That loss of connection is something so many women recognise, particularly in midlife. For Kelly, who supports others through their own menopause journey, it became a turning point: if she was encouraging women to show up for themselves, she needed to do the same.

From Menopause to Momentum

Kelly’s brand, The Menopause Connection, is built around one mission — to curate calm in a sea of information. After experiencing menopause symptoms firsthand, she realised how overwhelming the conversation had become.

“There’s so much advice out there now, but it can leave you paralysed,” she said. “I wanted to create a space where women can pause, reconnect, and be supported holistically.”

Her retreats combine clinical insight with lifestyle tools, from homeopathy to mindset, offering women the one thing so many crave: time to stop, reflect, and reset.

It’s no surprise then, that Style Trailblazers resonated deeply. The process gave Kelly a way to translate that same philosophy of alignment and care into how she dressed.

Rediscovering Confidence Through Colour

Like many women in midlife, Kelly’s wardrobe had quietly become safe, filled with neutrals and practicality. Working from home, navigating body changes, and feeling “not quite herself,” she’d lost the spark of joy she once found in getting dressed.

“I love design and creativity, but I’d been hiding behind dark colours,” she said. “Style Trailblazers gave me permission to play again, to reintroduce colour, texture, and confidence.”

Together, we redefined her style to reflect both her grounded professionalism and her warmth as a mentor. One look captured her authority, structured, timeless, elegant. The other embodied her approachability, soft, natural, effortlessly confident with a pop of colour.

“I underestimated how powerful your wardrobe can be in elevating confidence,” she reflected. “It’s not just clothes, it’s psychology.”

The Midlife Visibility Shift

In her Brand You Magazine feature, Kelly shared how this process represented more than a style evolution, it was about stepping into visibility after years of staying in the background.

“For so long, I didn’t want to draw attention to myself,” she said. “But now I see visibility differently. It’s not vanity, it’s leadership.”

That shift mirrored what she now helps other women navigate through The Menopause Connection: the courage to be seen again. To wear colour. To take up space. To know that looking after yourself isn’t indulgence, it’s an act of reclamation.

“So many women think they’ll feel confident once they’re ready,” Kelly said. “But it’s the other way around, you feel ready because you show up.”

Style as Self-Renewal

At the Style Trailblazers gallery event, Kelly walked in wearing one of her new curated outfits, confident, elegant, and radiant. That evening, she spoke on stage about her journey and the power of visibility in menopause.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I expected,” she smiled. “I felt grounded, and comfortable in my own skin.”

Since then, she’s stepped forward in her business with a renewed sense of presence. Her story is proof that when we reconnect to how we want to be seen, we don’t just change how we look, we change how we live.

Your Next Step: The Luxe Style Formula

If you’re navigating a new chapter, in midlife, business, or visibility, The Luxe Style Formula is your next step.

Together, we’ll define your signature style, create a wardrobe that reflects your evolution, and help you show up with confidence that feels authentic and aligned.

No more mornings stood in front of the wardrobe stressed, feeling like you have nothing to wear. Endless options for every possible occasion, and that feeling of ultimate confidence when you walk in the room, comfortable in your own skin. That's priceless.

🎧 This story was inspired by my conversation with Kelly Simes on the A Styled Life podcast. Listen to the full episode here.

✨ Ready to rediscover your confidence and visibility?

Book your Style Strategy Call to explore The Luxe Style Formula.