Suzanne Berman

LUXPOSHIBILITIES

GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND

“What are we doing today?”

That’s the question Suzanne Berman’s daughter Emilie asked the morning after she graduated from school.

It was a simple question, but for Suzanne, it meant so much more.

Almost overnight, the structure, opportunities and community that had been part of Emilie’s life through school were no longer there. Suzanne was seeing firsthand what families of adults with disabilities and neurodivergent adults often call the “service cliff.”

And she couldn’t stop thinking about it.

At 55, Suzanne took her longtime love of fashion and resale and combined it with something much more personal: creating opportunities for adults like Emilie to build confidence, skills, community and purpose.

That’s how LuxPoshibilities was born — an intern-first nonprofit resale boutique where fashion meets purpose.

This is Suzanne’s Blooming in Midlife story.

Get to Know Suzanne…

What’s your go-to coffee or tea order?

Starbucks Americano.

Go-to cocktail?

Negroni Sbagliato.

Current midlife guilty pleasure?

A long walk with great music, adding things to my cart like it’s a competitive sport, and the thrill of thrifting and finding an amazing deal.

What’s always in your bag?

Rose Salve lip balm and probably way too many receipts.

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl.

If you could have dinner with any woman, who would it be?

Princess Diana. She had a way of making people feel seen, valued and human — and that’s a big part of what we’re trying to build with LuxPoshibilities.

Now Let’s Talk About Suzanne’s Midlife Pivot…

What was your “aha” moment?

When my daughter Emilie graduated from school, she woke up the very next morning asking, “What are we doing today?”

That question stayed with me because I realized how quickly structure, opportunity, community and purpose can disappear for adults with disabilities and neurodivergent adults after graduation.

Families call it the “service cliff,” and suddenly I could see firsthand how real and emotional it truly is.

I realized this wasn’t just about my daughter. It was about so many families searching for meaningful opportunities, belonging and purpose for their loved ones.

What started as a love for fashion and resale turned into a much bigger mission.

I wanted to create something beautiful, visible and community-facing where adults could build confidence, life skills, career skills and purpose in a real-world environment.

That’s how LuxPoshibilities was born.

How old were you when you made this pivot?

55

Tell us about LuxPoshibilities.

LuxPoshibilities is an intern-first nonprofit resale boutique where fashion becomes a pathway to confidence, life skills, career skills and belonging.

What makes us different is that the internship experience is visible. It happens right in the heart of the store through customer service, merchandising, sustainability and real community interaction — so people are seen for their abilities, not hidden in the back.

Every item is washed, curated and given a beautiful second life, while people are given the opportunity to rediscover purpose and possibility in their own lives too.

At LuxPoshibilities, where fashion meets purpose, possibilities are endless.

Building Something That Matters

What’s the best part of your midlife pivot?

Realizing that it’s never too late to build something meaningful.

I’m learning every day, connecting with incredible people and creating something that has the potential to truly transform lives and give back in a real way.

Watching purpose, confidence and possibility grow — not just for our interns, but for families and the community too — has been incredibly rewarding.

And the most challenging?

Putting myself out there.

Asking for help, leaning on people, sharing the mission publicly and stepping outside of my comfort zone don’t always come naturally to me.

But I’ve learned that building something bigger than yourself requires vulnerability, community and the courage to let people believe in your vision alongside you.

What experiences prepared you for this pivot?

I’ve always loved fashion, retail and helping people feel confident and comfortable in themselves. But honestly, the biggest thing that prepared me was Emilie.

When she was born, I was introduced to an entirely new world and community. I learned so much from other parents, educators, therapists and advocates, and I naturally became someone who loved connecting people, sharing resources, supporting families and building community.

Emilie’s love for fashion, self-expression and feeling comfortable in her body became a huge inspiration for LuxPoshibilities.

Looking back, my love for retail, building relationships, advocating and connecting people were quietly preparing me for this next chapter.

What would you tell yourself right before making this pivot?

Trust your instincts, give yourself grace and allow yourself time to grow into the vision.

And trust in humanity. The right people will see your heart, understand your mission and find worth in what you’re building.

The Best Part of This Chapter

What’s your favorite thing about this stage of life that you never expected?

I finally understand the quote, “If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t learn.”

This stage of life has taught me that growth comes from trying things that scare you, being willing to fail and learning as you go.

Some of my biggest lessons have come from moments that didn’t go perfectly, but those moments also helped shape my confidence, my voice and the direction I’m meant to be going.

What have you stopped caring about?

Trying to fit into everyone else’s expectations or timelines.

This stage of life has taught me that purpose doesn’t have an expiration date, and you don’t need permission to start something meaningful.

I’m much less focused on perfection and much more focused on impact, authenticity and connection.

What does success look like now compared with your 20s and 30s?

In my 20s and 30s, success felt more like checking the boxes — taking care of everyone, building a family and trying to keep everything together.

Now, success feels much more personal.

It’s about purpose, connection, community and doing something that truly matters. It’s less about perfection and more about impact, authenticity and building something meaningful.

What’s Still Ahead?

What’s on your bucket list?

Traveling more — and opening a brick-and-mortar space for LuxPoshibilities.

I can picture it: a beautiful, welcoming boutique and community space where fashion, purpose, sustainability and opportunity all come together.

That dream feels very real to me now, and that’s exciting.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration?

My family and kids.

They’ve pushed me to grow in ways I never expected, see the world differently and build something rooted in love, purpose and community.

How do you celebrate the small wins?

Sharing them with my family, allowing myself to feel proud and not always looking for validation from others.

And honestly, sometimes it’s as simple as ice cream from Bruster’s.

What’s currently speaking to your soul?

Two songs: “I Had Some Help” and “I Am Not Okay.” They’re honest and human and remind me that nobody gets through life perfectly or alone.

And Stirring the Pot by Traci Mitchell. It’s about purpose, reinvention, courage and women stepping into new chapters of life, which feels very aligned with where I am right now.

Wisdom to Share

What advice would you give another woman considering her own midlife pivot?

Trust yourself, give yourself grace and follow your heart even if the path feels scary or uncertain.

Don’t be afraid to ask the really hard questions or lean into your fear.

Sometimes the things that scare us the most are the things that lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.

Suzanne’s midlife pivot started with her daughter asking one very simple question:

“What are we doing today?”

Instead of accepting that there weren’t enough good answers, Suzanne decided to help create one.

At 55, she’s building something that brings together so many pieces of her life — her daughter, her love of fashion, her instinct for connecting people and her belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to be seen for what they can do.

And maybe that’s one of the best things about this stage of life: realizing that all the seemingly separate pieces of who you are might have been leading somewhere all along. 💗

Want to learn more about the mission behind the fashion? Discover LuxPoshibilities [here].