by What should you wear if you are a menopausal woman? Maybe it’s not something you’ve ever given much thought to. Or, if it’s crossed your mind, you might just assume that dressing for the midlife change itself is pretty much the same as dressing any other time – that is, you want wear seasonal and weather appropriate clothing that keeps you warm and dry. in winter and cool and comfortable in summer.
Now, however, there is a whole new category of options available to those who are streaming hot as a lady. Fifty One Apparel, for example, is a clothing company that designs specifically for women going through menopause, using technology developed by NASA to create garments that absorb and release excess heat. Lindex makes a range of menopause and nightwear using the trademarked Anti-Flush technology, which has sweat-wicking and quick-drying features.
Become Clothing is another company that uses Anti-Flush technology in its T-shirts, nightgowns and underwear; Wuka offers leak-proof underwear designed to “make that transition smoother and more comfortable” (and launched a range of menopause nightwear last week); and Sweaty Betty sells £88 leggings called Leak Protect Power which include a built-in absorbent pad, designed for women on life or going through menopause, and also promises to sweat (although some may people say if you are). not sweating in exercise class, you’re not doing it right). Even Primark offers a range of super breathable menopause nightwear, loungewear and lingerie.
The latest to jump on the meno-bandwagon is Matalan, whose newly launched menopause range includes lingerie, nightwear and sportswear produced in collaboration with GenM, a collection of brands, retailers and manufacturers that says that it aims to deliver and improve choice for the menopausal consumer. its “lived experience”. According to GenM research, 94 percent of women are actively looking to shop for menopause-labeled products, an increase of 14 percent over 2023; All of Matalan’s menopause products are “MTick approved” – that is, GenM has proven to “support any of the 48 menopause symptoms.”
Considering when you start typing “menopause” into Google, one of the top search terms returned is “menopause supplements”, it’s clear that women going through the transition are looking for something to relieve their symptoms. But clothes? Has any menopausal woman really thought, “What I really need to get me through this turbulent time is a nice new pair of cool pants”?
“It’s great that menopause is being recognised,” says Alice Smellie, co-author with Mariella Frostrup, the government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador. Gambling on the Menopauseand co-founder of Menopause Mandate. But, she says, “if we had proper menopause education and support maybe these things would be more contextual and not seen as a solution.” The answer to menopause issues, in other words, should not come from shops trying to hit us with things, but through your GP, who can give you HRT for your hot flushes, or an estrogen prescription to deal with with UTIs associated with menopause. and related leaks.
However, menopause is big business: the fast-growing market is worth around £14 billion worldwide. You can buy everything from menopause chocolate bars to menopause skin care. Last month Marks & Spencer marked World Menopause Day with a curated selection of menopausal and peri-menopause “essentials”, from special bedding and sleepwear to collagen-boosting beauty buys.
“There’s no doubt that menopause is a gold rush right now, with everyone jumping on the hot flush bandwagon,” says Smellie. And, she says, many are overpriced and overpromised, “preying on vulnerable women who are desperate for solutions.”
But is there really anything wrong with informing women towards clothing designed to keep them comfortable? And if we want something new to wear during this scary phase of life, could Matalan’s £17 pajamas be the answer?
The range is certainly not unattractive. Her white button-through pajama set looks more expensive than it is, with smart navy piping around the collar and cuffs giving off a slight sea air; the practical bralettes, knit sets and cami tops come in nude and black, and are well-priced, from £10 for a two-pack of pants to £12 for a slip dress to layer under your clothes. There are also temperature control sheets, a bamboo mattress protector and you can put some magnesium spray in your basket while you can. Nothing costs more than £60 (for a king-size temperature-controlled duvet set): a relatively small price to pay to feel a little less hot and bothered when your hormones are all over the place.
“I thought I’d be disdainful of the Matalan range,” admits Smellie, “but really, if you’re suffering from night sweats, you’re advised to wear natural fabrics to wick away the moisture, and their pajamas are 100 per cent. cotton. As far as I can see, all the products are made from temperature controlled material and are very reasonably priced.”
“It’s good that the range is not made of synthetic fabric [like many other cooling or heat trapping clothes],” agrees fashion stylist Alexandra Fullerton. But, she says, “in terms of sustainability, there are enough clothes on the planet to clothe the next six generations. It would be more useful to use the clothes in your wardrobe – to wear lots of light layers that you can peel off if necessary – than to buy a whole new set of pajamas because they are marketed for menopause.”
“Natural fibers are the way forward for menopausal women,” agrees Kate Hiscox, founder of the fashion blog Wears My Money, who is in her early 50s. “Cotton PJs, linen sheets, merino cardigans that are easy to put on and take off were all mine before I went on the [HRT] patches.” All of them can happily be bought from many places. If you work in a more corporate environment, meanwhile, you can also buy armpit sweat pads, used by many red carpet stylists, to adhere to the inside of a dress or jacket you may already own. to absorb sweat. Sweat Guard does a pack of 100 for £22.50.
If you fancy some new pajamas in the meantime, “why not just get a nice cotton shirt, rather than one that’s menopause-approved?” Fullerton suggests. She praises Yolke for “beautiful PJs that will make you feel special to start the day”, or the White Company’s slightly lower priced offerings. “Cotton is menopausal, and it doesn’t need a special tick to be OK,” she says. “You should buy things because they make you feel good – not just because your company wants your menopause money.”
