Get it before it’s GANNI
IS A # GANNIGIRL (as the Danish contemporary label’s loyal fans are known) A: a fashion editor; B: your mum; C: an up-and-coming influencer; D: a grown-up gallerist? The correct answer is, of course, all of the above. ‘She can be everyone!’ says Ganni’s creative director Ditte Reffstrup. A fashionforward brand that’s not too fashiony, Ganni is the ultimate democratic label, producing age-fluid designs that make a statement without overwhelming.
‘ When we started out with Ganni, I felt that something was missing on the Scandinavian fashion scene,’ explains Ditte of her motivations behind the brand. ‘I sought a more playful, effortless approach to fashion. We wanted to create a brand without strict rules, but with a carefree and optimistic attitude to design and styling. We’re not afraid to mix things up a bit.’ So, austere minimalism is out, fun femininity is in.
That eclectic approach, as well as the sweet-spot pricing (tees start at £45, printed wrap dresses come in at the £150 mark) has translated into big business. Selfridges reported that Ganni sales were up 150% last year and it now holds its own alongside mega-luxury labels – it is one of Net-a-porter’s 10 best-selling brands (the ecommerce site will debut Ganni denim this spring). Pieces sell at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace: 2017’s banana-print tee and Dalton wrap dress were global sell-outs.
Now, ahead of the Ganni A/W ’18 show in Copenhagen next week, Browns is releasing an exclusive 12-piece capsule collection that riffs on the signature styles. These are reinterpretations of some of the brand’s sell-out styles (fuzzy knits now come in shocking pink, biker boots come in a punky plaid) – which you’re invited to wear your own way. But as all #Gannigirls will know, there is one golden rule: be quick.
TWO YEARS AGO, I hit a wall. Almost overnight, I went from being a fun-loving, enthusiastic person to an anxiety-ridden shadow of my former self. The most frightening thing was that I couldn’t understand it, as my life was going along nicely. I developed social anxiety, put on weight and was in a state of constant panic. The added pressure of living in the celebrity world, where looks are important, took its toll and it got to the point where I didn’t want to leave the house.
Like most women, I didn’t immediately link my symptoms to the menopause. At 50, I was the right age, but it was only after coming across an article about anxiety, which mentioned the menopause, that I considered it. I was also experiencing other symptoms, including migraines, brain fog, waves of nausea, tender breasts, loss of libido, exhaustion and aching bones.
Even after realising what was happening to my body, I was reluctant to discuss it with anyone, as there is such a stigma. Historically, women going through ‘the change’ have been silenced and marginalised by society’s perception of their lack of usefulness after a certain age. The menopause is often the butt of jokes, thanks to a lack of awareness, kindness and understanding. I felt terribly lost, alone and lacking purpose. I felt I was no longer desirable or attractive.
It all came to a head when my agent told me a magazine wanted to meet me. I was reluctant to even go to the meeting because of my anxiety. I remember sitting with the wonderful team and feeling panic-stricken by the prospect of doing a photo shoot. How would I look? Would I get brain fog during the interview? What if I had to cancel because I simply couldn’t do it?
And then came my moment of honesty. I told them I was going through the menopause and finding it really hard, so I couldn’t commit to anything. I just poured my heart out! Until then, I’d only spoken to my close family about what I was going through, so I felt a huge sense of relief. In the end, I wrote a piece about it and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
The problem we face is that society is still dismissive of issues that affect women. ‘She must be on her period,’ and ‘Oh, she’s just having a hot flush,’ are disparaging phrases that we hear all too often. I run a menopause morning at the Ned in the City and am shocked by the number of women at the peak of their careers who are suffering. Many have said their work was negatively affected by menopausal symptoms (there are 34 in total). Many have told me they don’t feel supported by their employers or even comfortable enough to mention what they’re going through for fear of snide remarks or ridicule.
That’s why I set up megsmenopause.com and @megsmenopause social media pages. I want to raise awareness, break the taboo and create an open source of information and advice for women. The worst part of my experience was not knowing what was happening to me and feeling like I was suffering on my own. I hope to encourage other women to be open about their menopause so that they don’t feel so alone.
There needs to be some leeway. Like pregnancy, the menopause is a natural event but, unlike pregnancy, it’s not a choice. Every woman will experience it and, while some sail through, one in three will have a hard time. As a society, we have a responsibility to address issues that affect half the population. The time for change is now.
‘ WE NEED TO STOP MENOPAUSE SHAMING’
The menopause should be given the same level of consideration as pregnancy in the workplace, the professor of clinical health psychology at King’s College London, Myra Hunter, said last week. Here, Meg Mathews reveals why it’s her mission