The answer to menopausal symptoms shouldn’t come from shops selling us pyjamas
What do you wear if you’re a menopausal woman? Perhaps it’s not a topic you’ve ever considered in great detail. Or, if it has crossed your mind, you might assume that clothing oneself for the midlife change is much the same as getting dressed at any other time – that is, you want to wear seasonal and weather-appropriate attire that keeps you warm and dry in winter and cool and comfortable in summer.
Now, though, there’s a whole new category of options on offer for those who are hot flushing like a madwoman. Fifty One Apparel, for example, is a clothing company that designs specifically for women going through menopause, using NASA-developed technology to create garments that absorb and release excess heat. Lindex does a range of menopause clothing and nightwear using Anti-Flush trademarked technology, which have sweat-wicking and quick-dry features.
Become Clothing is another company that uses Anti-Flush tech in its T-shirts, nightdresses and underwear; Wuka offers leak-proof underwear designed to “make that transition smooth and more comfortable” (and last week launched a range of menopause nightwear); and Sweaty Betty sells leggings for £88 called Leak Protect Power which include a built-in absorbent knicker, designed for women on their period or going through the menopause, and also promise to sweat-wick (although some might say that if you’re not sweating in an exercise class, you’re not doing it right). Even Primark offers a super-breathable menopause nightwear, loungewear and lingerie range.
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 collective of brands, retailers and manufacturers that says it aims to deliver choice to the menopausal consumer and improve their “lived experience”. According to GenM research, 94 per cent of women actively want to shop for menopause-labelled products, a 14 per cent increase on 2023; all of Matalan’s menopausal products have been “MTick approved” – that is, proven by GenM to “support any one of the 48 menopause signs.”
Given that when you start to type “menopause” into Google, one of the highest search terms returned is “menopause supplements”, it’s evident that women going through the change are looking for something to ease their symptoms. But clothes? Has any menopausal woman really thought, “what I really need to help me through this turbulent time is a nice new cooling pair of pants”?
“It’s really great that menopause is being recognised,” says Alice Smellie, co-author with Mariella Frostrup, the government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador, of Cracking the Menopause, and co-founder of Menopause Mandate. But, she adds, “if we had proper menopause education and support then these things would be maybe more in context and not seen as a solution.” The answer to menopause issues, in other words, shouldn’t necessarily be coming from shops trying to flog us stuff, but via your GP, who can give you HRT for your hot flushes, or an oestrogen prescription to deal with menopause-related UTIs and associated leaking.
Menopause, however, is increasingly big business: the rapidly growing market is worth around £14 billion globally. You can buy everything from menopause chocolate bars to menopause skincare. Last month Marks & Spencer marked World Menopause Day with a curated selection of menopause and peri-menopause “essentials” ranging from special bedding and sleepwear to collagen-boosting beauty buys.
“There’s undoubtedly a menopause gold rush at the moment, with everyone leaping on the hot flush bandwagon,” points out Smellie. And, she adds, a great many of them are overpriced and overpromise, “preying on vulnerable women who are desperate for solutions.”
But is there anything really wrong with signposting women towards clothes designed to keep them comfortable? And if we want something new to cheer ourselves up during this daunting stage of life, could Matalan’s £17 pyjamas be the answer?
The range is certainly not unattractive. Its white button-through shirt pyjama set looks more expensive than it is, with smart navy piping around the collar and cuffs giving a faintly nautical air; the bralettes, knicker sets and cami tops are practical in nude and black, and 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-controlling sheets, a bamboo mattress protector and you can pop some magnesium spray in your basket while you’re at it. Nothing costs more than £60 (for a king-size temperature-controlling 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 dismissive about the Matalan range,” admits Smellie, “but actually, if you’re suffering from night sweats, it’s recommended that you wear natural fabrics to help wick away moisture, and their pyjamas are 100 per cent cotton. As far as I can see, all the products are made from temperature-regulating material and they are a very reasonable price.”
“It’s good the range isn’t made from synthetic fabric [like many other cooling or heat trapping clothes],” agrees fashion stylist Alexandra Fullerton. But, she adds, “from a sustainability point of view, there’s enough clothing on the planet to dress the next six generations. Using the clothes in your wardrobe - wearing lots of lightweight layers that you can peel off if you need to - would be more useful than buying a whole new set of pyjamas just because they are marketed for the menopause.”
“Natural fibres are the way forward for menopausal ladies,” agrees Kate Hiscox, founder of the Wears My Money fashion blog, who is in her early 50s. “Cotton PJs, linen sheets, merino cardigans that are easy to take on and off were all my go-tos before I went on the [HRT] patches.” All of which can be happily bought from lots of places. If you work in a more corporate environment, meanwhile, you can also buy armpit sweat pads, used by a lot of red carpet stylists, to stick onto the inside of a dress or jacket you might already own to absorb sweat. Sweat Guard does a pack of 100 for £22.50.
If you really fancy some new pyjamas meanwhile, “why not just get a nice cotton nightshirt, rather than one that’s menopause approved?” suggests Fullerton. She recommends Yolke for “beautiful PJs that are going to make you feel special to start the day in”, or the White Company’s offerings at a slightly lower price point. “Cotton is menopause-friendly, and it doesn’t need to have a special tick to make it ok,” she points out. “You should buy things because they make you feel good – not just because a company wants your menopause money.”
