What is wearing a ballgown all year like?

A woman who has worn a ballgown every day in 2025 to raise awareness of autistic "masking" said she has done some "ridiculous things" over the year, but trying to complete a big shop in a big dress remains one of the toughest.

Jennifer Gane, 49 and from Gateshead, said it was "really hard sometimes" doing everything in a gown including household chores, going to university in Durham and even finishing the Great North Run.

She has been diagnosed with autism and finds herself masking, which is when people hide their traits or mimic neurotypical behaviours to try and fit in.

The process can be exhausting and difficult, she said, much like doing everyday tasks in a ballgown.

Over the year, people have often stopped her and asked what she was doing, which gave her the opportunity to talk about masking.

"I've had conversations with so many people who go, 'Yes, that's what it's like for my daughter, or my son, or my grandson, or me'.

"I've had conversations with people who just feel seen and that's just so powerful."

Mrs Gane now owns 20 dresses, which she mainly got second hand, and spot cleans them or washes them in the bathtub as dry cleaning would be too much of a cost.

"Even when I'm in the house, I put on a dress and that stays on until I put my pyjamas on," she said.

"I've done some ridiculous and crazy things." Mrs Gane said.

She flew to Italy for a trip in her ballgown and also attended the UK Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Bradford.

Yet she said it was sometimes harder to do mundane things, like go to the shops.

"I've got this dress on and everyone's going to stare at me," she said.

"Am I going to get caught in the trolley? Is it raining? Am I going to get wet?

"I can do everyday life in my ballgown but it takes a lot more effort, it takes a lot more energy, and that's what it's like masking."

Through her efforts, Mrs Gane raised more than £4,820 for The Toby Henderson Trust which supports families in the north-east of England affected by autism.

CEO and founder of the trust Lesley Henderson said: "It's really incredible what she's done.

"This is an awful lot of money, it's phenomenal."

Ms Henderson described how a person who watched Mrs Gane give a speech at one of the charity's events told her they felt inspired to seek their own autism diagnosis.

"What she's done has not only highlighted the world of autistic masking, but I think it's been more far-reaching than that.

"She's done so much good."

Mrs Gane said going back to her everyday clothes on 1 January may be "a little bit peculiar".

"Some autistic people find it challenging to imagine a scenario that is different to where they are in at the time," she said.

"I've realised that I do that, so actually I can't quite imagine what life will be like."

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