We hosted an incredible evening last week at our popup store in Carnaby (an amazing space we took on in collaboration with Wylding & Ancient + Brave) to celebrate the launch of Lorraine Candy’s new book – ‘What’s Wrong with Me? 101 Things Midlife Women Need to Know’. If any of you don’t know Lorraine - you should. She’s formerly the editor-in-chief of Sunday Times Style, ELLE and Cosmopolitan and a bloody fabulous woman and a great supporter of Davy J so we were so excited to be hosting this event and to have an excuse to invite some fabulous women who share a passion for fashion or business to come together.
The evening kicked off with a bang by popping open some bottles of the gorgeous LA Brewery Sparkling English Rose - a beautiful non alcoholic fizz (featuring white rose petals from Devon!). As our guests began to arrive the conversations started flowing and, looking around the room, it was amazing to see olympians chatting to female founders, sustainability experts talking to fitness queens and bespoke jewellery makers and corporate business board members sharing cold water swimming tales.
As the room filled we moved down to the mezzanine of the store where I was able to introduce Lorraine and she spoke passionately about her love for cold water swimming in her Davy Js, about her career and journey into midlife and how her journey through the menopause has affected her and how she has gone on to break the taboo around the issues faced by midlife women - both through her podcast (co-hosted with Trish Halpin - Postcards from Midlife) and in her new book -What’s Wrong with Me? 101 Things Midlife Women Need to Know.
In such an intimate and open setting it wasn't long until the conversation opened up around the room and we talked about midlife, the challenges of juggling raising children and being successful career women, community and sisterhood created when women support other women and how cold water and swimming can create those connections and help manage both the physical and mental challenges our bodies face through life.
A truly special evening, not only did everyone leave with a bag full of goodies & signed books but we all, including myself, built on existing connections and made new ones with incredible women offering to support and lift each other up in whatever way they can.