Barbara Ballinger had been married for 29 years when her husband announced he was leaving her.

“I was very embarrassed when it happened,” Ballinger, co-author of “Suddenly Single After 50: The Girlfriends’ Guide to Navigating Loss, Restoring Hope, and Rebuilding Your Life,” tells The Post. “I had gray hair, I had gained some weight, and I just hadn’t been paying attention to my clothing.”

Divorce pushed the Hudson, NY, resident to seek professional fashion help from an image consultant.