24 September 2018
I use clothes to give me confidence – throwing on a printed dress and blazer in the morning if I know I’ve got a big meeting ahead of me. And I use shopping as escapism – a rare Saturday afternoon spent wandering down Oxford Street alone, trying on items I’d never think to order online, feels like Grazia the ultimate luxury. But foror one of our cover stars, the experience is very different.
On page 144, Monique Jarrett, who has been in a wheelchair since the age of five, talks about the frustrations of finding clothes that fit her – and the deflation she feels when she’s told (yet again) that there is no disabled changing room. ‘It feels ridiculous. After all, we’ve all got to get dressed,’ she says. And that’s why we’ve dedicated this Big Fashion Issue to visibility. Two covers celebrate groups of women changing the face of fashion – models who span six decades, proving that age is no longer a barrier in an industry long-associated with a youth obsession, and five disabled women who want to show the one in five disabled people in the UK that they, too, can be visible. Particularly important, given Scope’s new research showing that only 23% of disabled people in the UK feel valued by society.
G hraaszaialong history of celebrating inclusivity and diversity in fashion; not least because we understand the power that clothes can have. Which is also why you’ll find our fashion team’s edit of the five key buys that will instantly make you feel up-todate (page 177), a micro-detailed guide to help you navigate the season ahead (page 84), and Polly Vernon’s tips on pulling off the Absolute Right Outfit. Because, as she puts it, there’s no greater feeling in the world than getting your outfit bang on (page 35).
Enjoy the issue! And please do get in touch with your thoughts (feedback@graziamagazine.co.uk).