WORDS BY STEPHEN YU
Ask the best-dressed girl at any party what she’s wearing and the answer is always the same: Ganni.
Every Danish girl’s worst kept secret, the Copenhagen-based brand (pronounced gah-nee) has been carving out a niche for itself in Scandinavian fashion since 2000. Sensing a gap between the luxury labels and androgynous brands that defined the region’s fashion output, husband and wife team Ditte and Nicolaj Reffstrup decided to create a brand that reflected the effortless laid-back cool and carefree spirit of the Danish capital’s best-dressed women.
Colourful and fun, Ganni’s quirky prints and vibrant palettes meant their dresses quickly became a regular on each season’s must-have lists. They’re now a firm fashion-editor favourite for party dresses – their fresh spins on timeless silhouettes make for memorable outfits that never go out of style, while transcending individual tastes and body shapes. Basically, anybody and everybody can be part of the Ganni tribe.
But with a focus on new cuts and trends each season, and a business model driven by limited runs and tightly controlled distribution, just one wrong size can mean missing out on your favourite designs. So we spoke with seven women who’ve mastered the art of ‘Scandi 2.0’ dressing to teach you a thing or two about Ganni sizing and fit, and how to mix and match prints like a real #GanniGirl.
The Ganni Size Guide
Jewellery designer from Copenhagen, Denmark
On her first Ganni dress:
Ganni has always been a part of my closet. Copenhagen is a very small city so we all know about the brand, and I guess about 80% of us have a slice of Ganni in our wardrobe. I love how the brand helps bring out the individual style in all of us; we each wear the garments in our own way. Last New Year’s Eve, two of my friends arrived in the same Ganni dress but both styled in two very different ways.
My first Ganni dress was a pearl-beaded cactus dress. It’s stunningly beautiful, and looks good on New York streets with a sweater underneath, on my daily dog walks with wellies, or at a summer wedding with flip-flops. The piece captures what Ganni is all about – telling the stories of different personalities.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Choose with your heart. Try to think outside the box and outside your style comfort zone. I promise you that no matter which dress you choose, it will somehow fit your style. Try pairing it with the sweatshirt you haven't worn in months, and it will somehow make it look cool again. It's so rare to find a brand whose clothing can be worn daily, yet also for parties, hikes, vacations, weddings and climbing, but Ganni does it all.
On her outfit choice:
Today I’m wearing the dotted maxi dress – it's my favourite at the moment. The dress fits true to size, and the silhouette is classic Ganni. It has a quite loose cut, so it really suits summer accessories, like an ice cream in your hand. I paired the dress with pink cowboy boots, but on a hot summer day flip-flops would look just as fire. I can just tell I'm going to live in this dress all summer. It’s always lovely to throw on a dress and just know that you don’t have to wear anything else with it. This dress speaks for itself.
On how to style Ganni:
What I really like about wearing a Ganni dress is that I can wear the same dress in countless ways by pairing it with different garments. I love layering, so to spice it up I will throw a sweater on top or a T-shirt underneath, or sometimes both! In summertime, if the dress is short, I’ll add some knee-high socks, loafers, and a pearl necklace to it. In winter, I imagine wearing it with a pair of coloured or patterned stockings and big boots. Vintage items go hand-in-hand with Ganni. You’ll often find me with a coloured knitted vest on top of the dresses – it’s quite cool and cottagecore. I also recently started pairing my dresses with a Patagonia vest, which is perfect for Copenhagen weather. The cherry on top is a cashmere beret from the beautiful danish store Holly Golightly.
On Ganni sizing:
I’ve always bought Ganni dresses in my usual size. The shorter dresses often run a bit short on me, but that might be because I’m quite tall. The Ganni silk dresses are described as tight, so if you like a more loose fit I’d recommend choosing a size up. But all in all, Ganni dresses run very true to size.
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
Most of the Ganni dresses I own are washable at 30 degrees in the washing machine. They can survive most washes without getting damaged, but that doesn’t mean I’m throwing my most precious cactus pearl dress in the machine. I always air dry my dresses and hang them immediately after washing – I never use a tumble dryer. I choose a good hanger for each dress, so they don't get stretched after weeks of hanging. The dresses I can’t wash myself go to the dry cleaner.
Fashion Instagrammer from Sydney, Australia
On her first Ganni dress:
This is my first Ganni dress! Ganni’s clever use of colour is the brand’s design signature, which is why I picked the floral-print wrap dress in a gorgeous shade of green. The femininity of the V-neckline, subtle balloon sleeves and side-tie feature were all key elements that caught my eye. The softness of the floral design uncovers faint spring hues, while the shade of pale mint-green makes the dress trans-seasonal. Ganni is known for its playful twist on modern garments. Its use of quality materials and the sophisticated yet effortless designs attract me to the brand.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Find a garment that matches your personality. Whether it’s something short and flirty or long and elegant, Ganni has a dress for everyone. Be sure to pick something that flatters your figure, as well as choosing colours that complement your skin tone.
On her outfit choice:
The dress I’m wearing today is the floral-print wrap dress. While browsing Farfetch’s broad range of Ganni pieces, I couldn’t help but admire the beauty of it. I was so excited thinking about all the ways in which it could be worn; I couldn’t wait to get it home and accessorise it. The flowing silk fabric and pastel colourway make me feel super feminine. I also love the way the cuffs of the sleeves and tie waist accentuate my curves.
On what to style Ganni with:
Styling my Ganni dress was so much fun, as there were endless options to showcase the sophistication and elegance of the dress. The nature of the design lends itself to layering with other key pieces and makes it easy to transform the look. I chose to style it with white low-heeled cowboy boots – it was a toss up between these, a pair of white open-toe mules and nude stiletto heels, but I thought it was only fair that I honour Ganni’s contemporary and playful designs by pairing the dress with statement boots to give it more personality. If I were to wear my Ganni dress on an adventure, I would most likely style it with the white Rachel mini bag from By Far to really make the dress pop. I’d layer a denim jacket over it for a casual dinner, while a long woollen coat would give a more elegant night-time look. As the dress is such a statement piece, I kept my jewellery simple with some silver drop earrings that glimmer in the light.
On Ganni sizing:
In my opinion, the size and fit of the Ganni dress is true to size. I usually take an Australian size 6-8, and a EU36 fits me perfectly. I always refer to the size of the dress on the model, as it gives me an accurate representation of the size and fit of each particular garment. Another thing that I always keep in mind when choosing sizes is to consider the fabric. As my dress is made of a 92% silk and 8% spandex blend, I knew that the dress wouldn’t have much give, therefore requiring me to pick my true size (or a size up if I was in-between sizes).
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
I hand-wash my Ganni dress by itself in a cool bath of soapy water, making sure to let it dry flat in a shady environment. My dress has a special place hanging in my wardrobe on a soft hanger. I always ensure that delicate garments are hung and never folded, as I don’t want to create permanent creases. Hanging the dress saves time when getting ready, as I don’t have to iron it before heading out the door – my Ganni dress is always ready to go.
Beauty columnist from Tokyo, Japan
On her first Ganni dress:
This is my first Ganni dress. I chose it because it’s just beautiful – I love the flower patterns and flared silhouette. The brand is very elegant and graceful.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Enjoy Ganni’s beautiful patterns. They give you an instantly romantic aesthetic.
On her outfit choice:
I love the print of this dress and it has a luxurious texture because it’s made from silk.
On what to style Ganni with:
Ganni dresses have such colourful prints, so it feels right to complement them with a beautiful pair of shoes.
On Ganni sizing:
Ganni’s designs aren’t too tight and are always comfortable to wear. I wear size EU36, but a EU34 still fits me okay.
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
I hang my Ganni dress up so it doesn't get creases and store it away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Karen Blanchard (@karenbritchick)
Fashion YouTuber from New York, USA
On her first Ganni dress:
It was probably the sky-print pleated dress I’m wearing in these photos. There were a few things that I liked with this dress: mainly the midi length, the long sleeves with ruffling at the cuffs and neck, and that unusual cloud-like sky-blue colour combination. It looked like something you might find in a vintage shop and I knew it would work with my chunky sandals and boots. Before that, I was mostly buying separates from Ganni; the wide-leg jeans first caught my eye. Once I tried those on, that was it.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Ganni is quite simple but contemporary, so don’t be afraid to think of different ways that you could style its dresses. If you like a slightly boyish vibe, then you’ll probably love the brand.
On her outfit choice:
Today I’m wearing the sky-print georgette dress. The colour and cut were the main reasons I picked this dress. It’s loose yet still feminine without being obviously girly.
On what to style Ganni with:
I always style Ganni dresses down with heavy boots, platform Converse or chunky sandals. I would never wear them with dainty kitten heels. I don’t have specific brands that I like to wear with Ganni dresses, but as long as the aesthetic and style is a bit masculine then that works for me.
On Ganni sizing:
Ganni runs true to size across all of its items. I suggest you use the Farfetch dresses sizing guide to figure out your equivalent size. For items with a nipped-in waist, I’d suggest going up a size to avoid it fitting too tight. If you have long limbs like me, it’d be wise to go one size up, too, so the sleeves are longer on your arm and the midi length isn’t too short. Ganni clothes tend to fit loose so bear that in mind when ordering. I will say that the jackets do run big, though. I have two Ganni jackets and with both I could’ve taken a size down.
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
I don’t take any special care of my Ganni dresses, I just make sure to keep them on curved hangers to prevent peaks on the shoulders. The sky print is best dry cleaned – I haven’t had the heart to put it in the wash yet!
You can shop Karen's FARFETCH edit here
Instagrammer from Aarhus, Denmark
On her first Ganni dress:
My first ever Ganni dress was a blue checkered seersucker wrap dress. I’d always been a bit of a tomboy and I rarely wore dresses as they made me feel too girly. But this Ganni dress changed everything. This was the dress that got me into dresses. I love the way Ganni balances rawness and femininity. I can still be myself but with added style and a dose of girl power.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Do it – Ganni is so unique and its clothing is timeless. I still have all my old dresses because I never get tired of them. The quality of the pieces and their detailing makes it all worth it. Think of buying a Ganni dress as an investment; it will last you forever.
On her outfit choice:
I chose this dress because the details and the fit were so special, I felt really comfortable wearing it. I love that you can style Ganni dresses with almost anything, whether that’s boots, heels or sneakers. On top, an oversized sweatshirt or knit works with even their most girly dresses. The brand is perfect when styled together too – I regularly wear my dress with a Ganni knit and boots. Otherwise, I love combining Ganni with simple high-street brands.
On Ganni sizing:
It can actually be quite difficult to know which size to go for sometimes. The sizing on Ganni pieces in my wardrobe ranges from XXS-S (EU32-36), so it really depends on the fit and season of the dress. Try it on in person if possible, but if you’re ordering online, I’d go opt for a smaller size over a bigger one.
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
Follow Ganni’s washing guidelines. I wash mine as little as possible or on a hand wash setting just to be safe – it’s gentler on the fabric. Also, try hanging yours in the bathroom when you’re having a hot shower to let it steam. Otherwise, it’s enough to just hang it outside to air from time to time.
Fashion writer from Oslo, Norway
On her first Ganni dress:
The first Ganni dress I bought was a green seersucker checked dress. I just loved the colour of it. Ganni has always been one of my favourite Scandi brands because it manages to make pieces that never go out of style.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Pick one that looks great alone but can also be layered with other pieces.
On her outfit choice:
I chose this floral-print cotton poplin dress because I love the print and colour on it, and it’s also very easy to style. I can wear it on its own or throw a blazer over it for a more office-friendly look.
On Ganni sizing:
I find they tend to run a bit small in some of their pieces, so I’d recommend a size up.
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
I follow the recommended care instructions. The clothes are great quality so you don’t have to do that much.
Elisabeth Rohleder (@elisabethrohleder)
Fashion Instagrammer from Aarhus, Denmark
On her first Ganni dress:
I buy a lot of Ganni dresses so we have to go way back. The dress was made for summer with gorgeous beige shades, checked patterning and puff sleeves. I love Ganni’s checked dresses and have bought several more since. What I like about Ganni is that it always stands out in one way or another, and is always incredibly good quality. You never have the feeling that something is scratching or irritating your skin. There's nothing worse than feeling like your skin can't breathe under synthetic materials either. You never get that feeling with Ganni.
Advice on buying your first Ganni dress:
Try it on if you can, as sometimes it can be hard to imagine what a dress looks like on. Then, imagine the dress combined with other items that you have at home. Sometimes it’s also about trying something new. With some Ganni dresses, when I see them for the first time I think they’re too crazy for me. But after thinking about it, I often change my mind and suddenly think it’s really cool. Don't be intimidated by the fact that something stands out or is different from everything else.
On her outfit choice:
I chose this dress because I like oversized dresses that stand out.
On what she styles Ganni with:
I usually style my dresses with either a pair of chunky sneakers or boots depending on the occasion. I’ll often wear my Balenciaga sneakers if the occasion is informal. It’s one of my favourite brands to wear with Ganni dresses; I pair mine with a Balenciaga bag a lot.
On Ganni sizing:
In most cases Ganni runs true to size, but there have been some exceptions for me. Dresses with a V-neck can be tight fitting on the chest and this is sometimes a problem for me. So my advice would be to try it on to see how each dress fits on you. We all have different bodies and shapes so it can vary from person to person. Fortunately, Ganni makes many different models so I always find something that fits well. It’s one of the things I love about the brand.
On how to take care of Ganni dresses:
I am very careful when it comes to my Ganni dresses. I separate them by colour when washing, but I have been unlucky and ruined some of my brighter dresses. I use Vanish to remove any stains or make-up marks and it usually works. I also tend to steam some of my dresses so they don't look so wrinkled – until you sit down and they get creased again. We all know that struggle.