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An Insight into the life and mind of David Gandy: Fennel Ambassador

March 6, 2014, 1:03 am
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This year during day 2 of the London Collections Men A/W 2014 David Gandy arrived to the first show of the day wearing a gorgeous long cream coat  with his name monogrammed on the back collar seen when it was popped up. The coat was paired with a blue waistcoat and trousers, brown tie and brown and white striped shirt. The coat and the ensemble were designed by David and Neil Fennel.

An insight into the life and mind of David Gandy: Fennell Ambassador





FENNELL: We often look to the past for inspiration, from old film stars to people we see in vintage photos. Who's style has inspired you?

DJG: I'm very much inspired by old Hollywood. Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, James Dean. The ironic thing is that many of these icons never went out to be stylish, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman were happy in t-shirt, jeans and a Belstaff jacket as they dressed in a Utilitarian way, but were still the definition of cool.

FENNELL: When was the first moment you realised you had a love for fashion?

DJG: It's more for the love of design than just fashion. I've always loved car and time piece design and this then transmits over to fashion and interiors design.

FENNELL: What accessory do you think every man should have?

DJG: I would have to say either a great watch or good shoes. These are both accessories that can make or break an outfit.

FENNELL: What do you think the male equivalent of the LBD (little black dress) is? The outfit men fall back on when they want to look their best and feel comfortable?

DJG: A midnight blue three piece suit. It's literally something that every man looks good in. Its very flattering, can of course be separated and worn in many different ways.

FENNELL: You are often described as a real 'gentleman' and it is clearly something you take pride in being. What is the importance of being a gentleman to you and how would you encourage other men/boys to become more gentlemanly?

DJG: My grandfather and father are both gentlemen and I have been brought up in the same way. It's a trait that is a rarity now a days and that's why other men who I class as gentlemen stand out from the crowd. I think being a gentlemen is about being descreet, not shouting about what you have and encouraging other people. In today's world people seem to just want to shout about what they have and don't have.

FENNELL: What would your perfect Sunday consist of?

DGJ: Driving! It doesn't matter what car I have. But the right road and driving a car to its limits and my limits is still to me the perfect way to spend a few spare hours.

FENNELL: What album have you been listening to recently?

DJG: Im very old school with my music choices. So I've been listening to a lot of Bobby Blue Band, Spanky Wilson etc. But that's mixed with Bon Iver, so it's rather varied.

FENNELL: What item of clothing do you own which you never want to live without?

DJG: My watch collection, as I love to match my watches to my style or outfit. But I'd probably say an item of clothing is just a simple white t-shirt. I wear it with anything from a pair of jeans and a cardigan, to a pair of tailored trousers in summer to under a DB.

FENNELL: What has been the best piece of advice you have been given and how has it effected the way you live your life?

DJG: Im not sure I have been given good advice, I've learnt from mistakes more than anything. But really I think it's about observing people I admire in life.

FENNELL: If you hadn't pursued a career as a model what can you picture yourself doing?

DJG: I already do the other things that I wanted to achieve. I review cars for GQ as I would have loved to have been a motoring journalist and also write for the Telegraph. I have 3/4 charities, one of those being the first ever ambassador for Battersea Dogs Home to help the animals, as I would have loved to have been a vet.

FENNELL: We are about to start our latest Gandy x Fennell collaboration. What has inspired your ideas for the designs?

DJG: I try to do the opposite to what everyone else is doing or thinks is trendy, I'm not a big believer in trends. Im very much inspired by military historic clothing. When we came to design the overcoat for LCM in January I looked at Military overcoats from the RAF and also inspired by the fitted design on women's overcoats.

Source:Fennel Brand Blog 
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The Gandy List: David Gandy's top 5 Drives

March 6, 2014, 9:32 am
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Thanks to this months The Lucky Clover blog we are learning five new things about David Gandy. Last months blog was cars this month are his favorite drives.









March was made for making great escapes. Out of winter. Out of town. Into the wild blue yonder. Get behind the metaphorical wheel with a little insight from Gandy on the roads less traveled he’s dying to drive down now.


Scottish Highlands: I first drove through the Scottish Highlands when I was six years old. Obviously, I wasn't driving myself, but even then I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel. James Bond in Skyfall probably does more justice to the scenery than I could ever describe. It’s really like no place on earth. Last year, I drove through the Highlands twice and for a driving enthusiast it is a dream. Just be careful though, there is a saying in Scotland: “If you don't like the weather, just wait 10 minutes.” That’s how quickly it changes.



St. Gathered Pass: The Gathered Pass is a high-mountain pass in Switzerland connecting the northern German-speaking part of Switzerland with the Italian-speaking part, along the route onwards to Milan. I’ve never actually driven this road, but one day I certainly will. Supposedly it is the greatest driving road in the world to truly test a car. Sounds like a great challenge to me!






Pacific Coast Highway: Pebble Beach, Big Sur, Carmel, San Francisco… some of the most beautiful places in the world all on one road. I’ve driven this road in 90 degrees of heat and rain. Once, a landslide even prevented me from going any further and still, it didn't matter. Whatever time of year, whatever conditions, the P1 is always spectacular.







Uganda: I once spent 3 days driving through the whole of Uganda in order to trek for gorillas. Being touching distance to the gorillas was special enough, however it’s the driving that still stays in my memory. Not that you could really call them roads that we were driving on half of the time… we also had a vehicle crash into us, we broke down and had a few punctures. However, to discover a country like I had never seen, to meet the people, the children and the different cultures, only driving really affords this kind of insight.




Amalfi Coast: I’ve shot fashion editorials on the Amalfi coast from Positano to Ravello more times than I care to remember, and usually with some of most well-travelled and successful crews in the industry. But an amazing thing happens every time on the Amalfi coast: everyone is inevitably almost stunned to silence by the beauty. It just so happens that the stunned silence may be broken by the odd Ferrari V8 speeding past, but for once I'm happy just being driven and enjoying the peace and view.

Source:Lucky Brand
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David Gandy Talks Fitness and Training with GymBuzz

March 10, 2014, 8:15 am
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Fitness Apps You Should Know About: David Gandy Fitness and Training


You probably know by now that here at GymBuzz we love the gym! We also love technology. We love it even more when the gym and technology meet to create something awesome that can help people become fitter and healthier - whether it's actually in the gym, or just keeping active in a different environment!

The start of our 'Fitness Apps You Should Know About' series began when we had the pleasure to interview model David Gandy about his app 'David Gandy Fitness and Training.'

David, how did you go from being a model to having your own fitness training app?

Well, I write for Vogue.com and GQ.com, and I just saw apps as the way forward.

Some people approached me about another app and I said “I don’t really think that’s going to work, but how about a style app or a fitness app?” So we did the style app first which was very successful, but then people kept asking me – men mostly – How often do you work out? What do you eat? There just seemed to be a gap where people needed to know.

And I think that really developed it. So now when I get those questions, I tell people “It’s on the app – that is exactly what I do!”

So, tell us more about your training routine?

It really depends. If I’ve got something coming up like Light Blue or underwear, that will be a month of training 5 or 6 times a week very hard. But on a normal week I'll probably train 4 times a week. I travel a lot so sometimes it’s hard to fit it all in.

When you’ve been training for a number of years you can actually change your body very quickly in a couple of weeks.

The thing is, I know I would work out in the most basic of gyms. Something like a TRX is a great way to shock the body, or free weights, blood, sweat and tears. That’s how to get results.

How long have you been training for?

So really I’ve been working out for the last – I used to play rugby and cricket and everything else, so I’ve always been working out – but really more substantially for the last 10 years, and in those 10 years I sort of worked out what works and what doesn’t.

I am the kind of person who believes that if you have a style app you have to be a stylish guy and you have to be recognised as one of the best looking, most stylish guys out there.

If you have a fitness app, a bit like a personal trainer, you have to be known for having a good body. That personal trainer should have a better understanding and a better body than me. If he hasn’t then I would have some queries about this – Surely if you know all of this information then why would you not want to have a great body? That’s my theory behind it.

It seems like it's not just a matter of you presenting your own training programme, but you have a bigger mission of helping people too.

Considering that in the UK we are now one of the most obese nations in Europe, it’s about time someone did something about it.

It’s pretty scary so I just wanted to lead my example.

The information out there, you have to really want to source it. There is so much different information. As you said earlier, there is accurate information and then there is information where I just read it and it’s absolute crap and I don’t know where they are getting that from.

But sometimes I feel like I’m hitting my head against a brick wall. Like we said we are one of the most obese nations, and it seems like people just want the cheat, the magic pill to lose weight, and don’t want to work hard. When they see what it actually takes to achieve results, it proves too much for some people.

That’s why I tried to incorporate into the app a fun and easier way to achieve what you want.

And the great thing about apps is of course their affordability over gyms and traditional personal training.

Absolutely. We also have a problem in this country with very expensive gyms. I go to the states a lot, and I could go into any gym – and I’m talking good gyms, like Equinox – and I tell them I’m here for a week and they just say “Well, give us 30 or 40 bucks” which is great.

Sometimes I’ll have friends who will come to work out with me [in the UK] and it’ll be £15-20 just to come in for the day, which is far too expensive. And there’s people paying £100-150 per month! In this economy that’s a lot of money.

Which is another reason for the app, to tell people you don’t even have to be at the gym for this. You can do it outside and save yourself a lot of money.

Are there any new developments coming for the app in the future?

The app is actually being updated at the moment. I’ve taken on board a lot of feedback from the last 6/7 months what people have said about it.

We’re changing it slightly, getting rid of some bits, simplifying the timer, and putting in a few body-weight exercises.

I travel a lot and can’t always carry everything that I want, so I moved on to just doing a lot of just using my bodyweight and a lot of repetitions.

There is currently a Bulk, Lean, and Cut section, and one of the problems we’ve encountered is people have asked us 'How do you do that if you don’t actually have any weight?' This is very difficult, but I understand people’s predicaments if they only want to do a 20 minute workout at home, or in a hotel room. So that’s what we’re working on at the moment.

We’re keeping this time variant. So if you want 20, 30, 45 minutes or an hour workout we are keeping that function. We are also simplifying the bespoke option so it is more like what people have asked for.

At the same time, you can never completely please everyone. You have people come back saying “absolutely magnificent, love it. Had the most amazing results.” And then you have other people come back and there’s one mistake on there – they couldn’t log in to Facebook for one day – and they say “it’s crap, it’s rubbish”.

The app itself is £2.99, which is another strange thing when people complain about the price – “Oh my God that’s so expensive.” And they’ve also got a Starbucks in their hand while they’re talking to me, so I say “Can I just ask what that latte cost you? Is it skinny or full fat?”

Well just drop that latte, save yourself some money and buy yourself the app!

Something like that is very, very simple. So for people to say it’s expensive is fairly ridiculous.

That’s the world we live in with social media and people being able to quickly comment. It is difficult.

How do you get over any challenges you have had in your own training?

I’ve had quite a few challenges and I tend to get over them with trial and error. The boredom threshold is probably the one for me and with that I always just go into the gym and do different exercises, keep on pushing myself and shock the body and muscles. This is a way to get results very quickly.

Like most people I always used to push heavier and heavier weights, and with this I wasn’t getting the body I liked, I was getting too much bulk. Which is fine, but you need some definition. So I pretty much went back to the core form of the exercise, getting that completely right with lighter weights and slowly increasing. This is the way I got the results that I wanted.


I noticed on your site you say “Getting results is key in maintaining motivation and determination” - This mirrors my own philosophy to some degree, because when people see they are getting something for their efforts and money spent, they are much more likely to continue.

Yes, if you see results it will make you want to carry on. But for a lot of people, including myself, the boredom threshold kicks in. That’s why we also have the three sections – you can go to the lean section, on to the bulk section, back to the cut section, and on and on. It’s about having enough on there to keep people entertained.

And as you and I know there is no cheat behind working out and getting fit. But at the same time if you are doing the right things you are going to see results quicker.

To find out more about the David Gandy Fitness and Training app, and to download for iOS or Android, click here.

Source:Gymbuzz.com
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David Gandy Attends the Rodial Beauty Awards 2014 ( Picture Update)

March 10, 2014, 2:57 pm
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This evening David Gandy attended the 5th Annual Rodial Beauty Awards held at St.Martins Lane Hotel in London. This year David received the very first Rodial Man of the Year Award!  

   
                                                                                                         
with (L-R) Deborah Arthurs, Maria Hatzlstefanis & Manuele Malenotti
                                              With Laura Whitmore, Donna Air,Pixie Lott & Daisy Lowe           
                 


Source:Getty Images

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David Gandy Attends The Opening of Karl Lagerfeld's Flagship Store (Picture Update)

March 13, 2014, 12:34 pm
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Earlier this evening David Gandy attended the launch of  Karl Lagerfeld's European flagship store in London.



                                                                                                         David Gandy with Pier Paolo Righi
                                                                                                         President of Karl Lagerfeld BV



         
Source:Getty Images AP Images
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David Gandy Attends Launch of Updated Kennels at BDCH (Video Update)

March 20, 2014, 7:38 am
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Today David Gandy, ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, along with fellow ambassadors Paul O'Grady,Amanda Holden, Dame Jacqueline Wilson helped lay the first stone of a new state-of-the art kennels to help improve the lives of the dogs in their car. The kennels will include dedicated areas for play time, eating and sleeping also included are heated floors and an outdoor exercise areas. If you would like to donate you can text DOGS to 7008 to donate 5 pounds. You can also help pay for the care of a Battersea dog by visiting theirwebsite here: www.battersea.org.uk/payforaday





Source:Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Getty Images , Onenewspage.com
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David Gandy for Goodwood Members' Meeting

March 21, 2014, 12:08 pm
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Superstar model David Gandy along with Ben Cussons(Chairman, Royal Automobile Club) and Jaguar C-type at Saville Row for Goodwood Members' Meeting on March 18, 2014 plus Henry Poole & Co, suit fitting.















Source: GoodwoodTV
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M&S Summer 2014 Collection

March 24, 2014, 6:45 am
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The menswear at Marks and Spencer has unveiled its new Summer Collection last week and today, we can offer you a complete first look at its new arrivals for this season.
David Gandy, brand image of this British multinational retailer, shows us fresh basics such as crisp button downs, polos and striped tees with the dominate color being blue and elegant suits in beautiful pictures taken by Tomo Brejc.













Source: Marksandspencer.com
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Massimo Dutti S/S 2014 Equestrian Collection

March 24, 2014, 9:49 am
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David Gandy and Carolyn Murphy are back for the new S/S Equestrian Collection for Massimo Dutti. The collection has not strayed from their classic FW 2013 look. But for SS we are seeing crisp whites and darker blues paired with soft khakis and their beautiful buttery brown leather weekender bags, boots and belts.










Source:Massimo Dutti
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David Gandy for GQ US (April 2014)

March 26, 2014, 11:01 am
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David Gandy will be appearing in April's issue of GQ. Thanks to Ford Model's blog we are able to bring you this new picture and short Q&A.

Most of modeling is about playing a part, so it’s refreshing to meet a model who is just as fashionable off the page as they are on it. For their April 2014 issue, GQ turns to Ford Men’s David Gandy to get advice on style and shopping. Citing three-piece suits and bespoke tailoring as essentials for every man’s wardrobe, David proves he is a gentleman through and through.

Photography by Dan Martensen





Source: Fordmodelsblog.com
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David Gandy at the Goodwood 72nd Members’ Meeting (Picture Update)

March 30, 2014, 4:54 am
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Style icon, model and historic car enthusiast David Gandy will be amongst the race goers prowling the paddock at the Goodwood 72nd Members’ Meeting yesterday – and looking more dapper than ever in his tailored-for-the-occasion suit from Henry Poole of London’s Savile Row.

The Goodwood Members’ Meeting is a brand new style of motor racing event. It is a continuation of the 71 club meetings held at Goodwood during the 1950s and ’60s for the members of the BARC (The British Automobile Racing Club)

Photos Courtesy of Dominic James







Source: Goodwood.co.uk
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'The Glamour Of Italian Fashion' Exhibition (1945 - 2014) (Picture Update)

April 1, 2014, 3:30 pm
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Tonight, David Gandy attends the preview of The Glamour of Italian Fashion exhibition at Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.

The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945 - 2014 will be a comprehensive look at Italian Fashion from the end of the Second World War to the present day. The story will be explored through the key individuals and organisations that have contributed to Italy's reputation for quality and style. It includes both womens and menswear to highlight the exceptional quality of techniques, materials and expertise for which Italy has become renowned.


 

 
  David Gandy with Tamara Beckwith Veroni (L) and Livia Firth (R) attends a private dinner celebrating the Victoria and Albert Museum's new exhibition

Source: Vam.ac.uk , Getty Images , AP Images.com
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David Gandy for GQ Style Mexico ( April 2014)

April 2, 2014, 5:15 am
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He became famous by being the image of brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, but the work of the British David Gandy goes far beyond that: He writes, Drives Vintage Cars and participates in charity campaigns. This is the face of the male model that is revolutionizing the world.










Probably the last time you visited London Collections:Men you saw him, but not on the catwalk like so many others, but among the attendees in the front row, watching the new collections. Sitting on the opposite side of what would correspond to the model, In reality David Gandy established himself nearly a decade ago his relative position among many of his colleagues: it is true that since 2005 his face has appeared everywhere and that would seem to define what this man is, in fact, the title of "model" applied to him in more ways than one.

But let's go in order: David Gandy became ultra famous when in 2006 he became the model for Dolce & Gabbana , we all know that. How many times did we find him on TV or in a magazine advertising the brand fragrance? And others: H & M, Zara, Hugo Boss and Carolina Herrera are other brands that have had Gandy has been their face for a while.

Today he is considered the second most profitable model in the world, several times he has been considered one of the sexiest men in the world (for magazines such as Glamour) and the British edition of GQ has him as one of the best dressed and most influential men of Great Britain, his native country.

So far, David Gandy is a model, exemplary, if you will but only a face. However, we repeat, the word "model" with him it also applies otherwise. In addition he works in other types of media, David writes a blog for the British edition of Vogue since 2011 and is a contributor to the car section of British GQ. It is no coincidence: Gandy is a fan of cars, so much so that in 2013 he drove a 1950 XK 120 in the Mille Miglia as part of Team Jaguar, next to the model Yasmin Le Bon.

His work goes even further: he has been part of charitable campaigns alongside Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, and even has his own foundation, Blue Steel Appeal, which supports the hungry in Ethiopia. So next time you find David Gandy in London or announcing a spectacular brand, remember the meaning of the word "model" when it comes to him: a man who goes way beyond being just a beautiful face.

Source: GQ Mexico
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David Gandy Workout Interview

April 3, 2014, 12:08 pm
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The world's most famous male model David Gandy talks with Bethefittestabout his workout, diet, body and much more.

By Tyrone Brennand - Bethefittest.co.uk

 David Gandy has one of the most in demand faces and body's in the fashion world, being a world top model doesn't come easy. Being in the best shape possible for specific events or campaigns requires hard work, dedication and focus. David Gandy has it all, he explains his secrets on staying in shape and achieving a great physique. Such a humble and genuine guy we would like to thank David and wish him all the best!

How many times do you train a week and how long are your sessions?
In an ideal week with no travelling, then 4/5 times a week. lasting 45mins to an hour.

You've been in many famous ads and campaigns often showing great abdominal work, what are your secrets to having David Gandy abs?
I'd actually probably say that my abs are my weakest element. I really do not enjoy working on my abs. Really good abs though are a lot to do with diet. You can work your abs as much as you like, but if they are covered by fat then you will never really see them.

The male modelling industry hasn't always had muscular models like yourself, have you always been quite muscular and in good shape?
I have always been a very sporty person and as a child and teenager I was on every sports team going. So I've always trained, been careful with my diet and taught myself a lot about nutrition. When I came into modelling I wasn't as big or as muscular as I am now, but I've always been tall with a large frame.

Being a busy man like yourself, what does David Gandy like to do in his spare time to relax when not modelling or working out?
Working out is relaxing for me. Wherever I am in the world I will always find a gym to go and workout in, its almost therapeutic and after training I feel a great buzz. Relaxing though for me is driving, whether it be a road trip or racing.


Do you have a specific kind of diet you stick to most of the times throughout the year or do you like to enjoy the foods you eat?
I absolutely love my food, but yes I am careful in what I eat. I am fortunate though that I have a high metabolism and I keep this high, so that even when I'm not training I'm still burning fat and calories.
I eat a lot of protein and stay away from processed foods. I don't stay away from carbs, just always make sure i eat wholewheat breads and pastas. I still indulge in biscuits and cakes but only in moderation, and there are certain biscuits that are lower in sugar and sat fat than others. But i do however always cook meals from scratch and eat a lot of fresh and organic foods.
I always say if you want to be strict with your diet then just don't buy bad foods in the first place and have them in the house.

What is your supplementation like, do you take vitamins, protein shakes etc?
I don't always have the time to consume the amount of protein I need to help muscles recover. So I do use protein shakes. I use vegan plant based protein shakes and when in heavy training, will have 3 a day.

What are your favourite and least favourite body parts to train?
I've always liked training my chest, and I've learnt to enjoy training my back and core which are both now very strong.
As i said I hate training my abs, but I've narrowed down exercises that I know are most effective and get good results in very short time. I also have included exercises that incorporate many muscle groups like squats etc.

Everyone loves to have days when we eat whatever we want, what is your favourite cheat meal and how often do you cheat?
I have to say I don't really cheat at all or have a day off. To me it's like simple maths. Whatever the calories or fat you consume you then work that off at the gym or with other exercise.
I absolutely love asian foods and have always hated fast food. I could eat sushi and thai food every night, which is always fresh and healthy.

I always see people in the gym trying to push the heaviest weight with poor form to build muscle, how important would you emphasize on having good technique rather than the weight your pushing?
I think we always try to push heavier and heavier weights, I still do, but unless you want a very bulky physique, heavy weights and bad form are not going to get results. Circuits, supersets with medium weights with correct form will always give better results and a great physique, you also burn more calories and fat and its better for joints and the muscles.


When programming your sessions do you normally work specific muscle groups for each day your in the gym?
I will usually do 15 mins of abs during a session. The session will then be narrowed down to chest one day, back and shoulders and then arms with another day of circuits.

What advice can David Gandy give to someone who aspires to have a body like yours?
Like i said Diet is 50 percent of the battle. Then its just about hard work, the more effort you put in with the correct exercises the best the results. If you want to see how i train and what i do then you can download the David Gandy Fitness and Training application.

Could you give an example of a David Gandy training week split?
MONDAY -  CHEST AND TRICEPS
TUESDAY - ARMS FOCUSING ON BICEPS
WEDNESDAY - BACK AND SHOULDERS
THURSDAY - REST DAY
FRIDAY CIRCUITS - WHOLE BODY
SATURDAY SUPERSETS - WHOLE BODY
SUNDAY - REST DAY

What would be a typical David Gandy Abs workout?
V SIT UPS WITH BALL (3 SETS / 20 REPS)
HANGING LEG RAISES (3 SETS / 10 REPS)
STANDING ROLL OUTS (3 SETS / 8 REPS)
ROPE PULLDOWNS ( 4 SETS / 10 REPS)
LEG RAISES FROM SLIGHTLY ANGLED BENCH ( 4 SETS / 8 REPS)

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David Gandy talks with Prestige Hong Kong

April 4, 2014, 9:30 am
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DAVID GANDY, the British heartthrob often mistaken for a Sicilian stud, talks to VINCENZO LA TORRE about life beyond modelling

AH! THE LIFE of a model. Access to glamorous parties; jet-setting to far-flung destinations for the creation of stunning images that will plaster the billboards of cities around the world; hanging out with celebrities and designers.

That’s certainly the case if you’re one of a handful of the so-called supermodels, women such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, who have turned themselves into bona-fide brands and can command exorbitant fees just for walking down a Parisian or Milanese runway. Remember Linda Evangelista, who back in those prerecession heydays, reportedly announced: “I don’t get out of bed for less than US$10,000 a day”?

But for the countless models trying to break into the cut-throat business of fashion, the glaring klieg lights of stardom are a faint and often faraway dream. It gets even harder if you’re a guy, for modelling is one of the few industries in which women by far outperform – and out-earn – the boys. After all, how many male models can you name off the top of your head?

One man who has been able to parlay his success as a mannequin and poster boy into something more than just lucrative endorsement deals is David Gandy. The extremely good-looking and affable Brit, blessed with an Adonis-like chiselled physique and a Mediterranean look redolent of an Italian macho, owes his success to a print and TV ad that is probably one of the most indelible moments of fashion advertising of the last decade.

Gandy is the man whose tiny white Speedos take centre stage in those ubiquitous ads for Dolce & Gabbana’s fragrance Light Blue, the culmination of his fruitful collaboration with the Italian maison. During an interview at the brand’s opulent Milan office – think Sicilian baroque flourishes meets the Vatican by way of Renaissance Florence – Gandy sat down for a chat.

(Prestige)Take me back to your early days in the industry.

(DG) I’ve been in it for 13 years and I’ve been very lucky. I’ve taken a different route in so many ways. I haven’t been doing casting for anything since 2006 and I’ve been fortunate. But that’s the way we planned it out and that’s what people don’t see. The first few years for both men and women are pretty tough. You’re casting a lot, you’re travelling a lot, you’re not getting paid much at all – you’re being rejected; you’re being pulled to pieces. You’re not tall enough, you’re too tall, you’re too skinny, you’re too this, you’re too that and you have to have very thick skin. Day after day it takes its toll. I first went into the commercial market, which is where most models make money, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to work with the best photographers and to create something iconic, which we did with Dolce. I was going to be the best at something or I wasn’t going to do it at all. My agency and I sat down and they couldn’t really believe what I was saying and they said, “We don’t get this. You’re earning good money and some guys would kill to be where you are.”

Your relationship with Dolce & Gabbana really helped your career.

I did my first ever show in Milan with them – it was the only show I did. The shows in general are not the best places to be: you’re cast with a hundred guys and I said I’d never ever do it again. You’re treated like cattle, hanging around, and you’re just a number. Then I did an apparel campaign with Dolce before the shoot for Light Blue. That was in Capri. I was on a speedboat from Naples to Capri with Mario Testino and you finally go, “This might be the turning point, this might be it” and once you saw the campaign, you kind of realised it was. We didn’t know how big it was going to be, don’t get me wrong, but it was a genius way to completely turn the male modelling world on its head from the skinnyguy look to this male Mediterranean look. Every brand is still trying to recreate the brilliance of what we’ve done, but hasn’t really succeeded.

How does it feel as a British man to represent such an iconic Italian brand?

Well, Italy has part of my heart. People know me here and so much has started from here. I feel as comfortable here as I do in the UK. It’s funny: because of the ad, Italians come up to me in London and they’re usually lost or need directions and they think I’m a fellow Italian.

You’ve branched out into other fields. Can you tell me more about that?

I’m ambassador for London Collections: Men, so I’ve been pushing that and I’ve been writing about fashion for The Daily Telegraph and GQ. We’re not asking men to sit at women’s fashion shows. I’m not interested in women’s fashion. Men’s fashion is very different, but my idea of men’s fashion – where I get my inspiration from – is through history, like Savile Row or the military, where it started.


What do you make of the current British men’s fashion scene?

I have very strong opinions about the very fashion-forward designers in the UK and that’s what gets the headlines. They do something ridiculous and put planks of wood in models’ faces, and I think it’s very disrespectful to models and I think you’re going to scare off men. I said that and they didn’t like it, but that’s my opinion. You can imagine a normal guy who buys clothes, and that’s what he sees, and he wants nothing to do with fashion, can’t relate to it. I on the other hand turned up at the shows in a classic British sports car in a three-piece suit with a pair of Steve McQueen sunglasses and men are like, “Oh, that could be fashion.” Of course it’s fashion, it’s design and that’s what you have to relate to. When I talk about history I’m talking about that military uniform from the Germans to the Italians to the English to the Royal Air Force and then looking at Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Bryan Ferry.

What do you make of the many stereotypes associated with modelling, such as the eating disorder issues?

Underfed people is just a ridiculous comment in itself. If you were sitting here with an athlete, with a ballerina, with a dancer, with a jockey, would you be going, “Do you live an unhealthy lifestyle?” An athlete will have a very strict diet, a jockey probably stricter than any model. But we’re all professionals; we use our bodies; that’s our profession. So why not look after it? A lot of female models – and I have dated a lot of them – will eat more than me, but they just have a very high metabolism and they’re naturally skinny and this is why they’re at the top of their game. They’re called supermodels for a reason: they have a tremendous body. If you want to, there’s a lot of pressure. I can talk for men – you must be down in the gym. If they knew what I actually ate on a daily basis, because I have to eat to maintain my size… Another stereotype is about age, but look at Naomi and Kate; they’re still working.

How did it feel to be with them at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics?

Very proud. I was the only guy. It would have been nice to have another guy there. That’s what I’m trying to explain to guys, to push the boundaries of where they can explore the modelling industry and how far they can go with it, and there’s not really anyone taking that perch up. The Olympics was great for London and all the athletes did so well and the opening ceremony was fantastic; everyone had been pessimistic and thought we Brits were going to ruin the whole thing, but it was fantastic. So doing the ceremony was an honour. There was a little bit of me that was utterly scared out of my wits, and you’re sitting there with Naomi and Kate, but the beautiful thing is that when you meet Kate and Naomi we all had a great sense of humour. Everyone thought it would be a bit devious backstage and it wasn’t.

In a way, you seem to want to make fashion more accessible and approachable.

Yes, absolutely. Kate Moss has done hardly any interviews – I think she doesn’t do interviews and there’re reasons for that – but I hopefully give that access to an intangible element of the fashion industry, that I’m a normal guy.
Is that why you called your charity Blue Steel, to show that you don’t take yourself too seriously?
When we talked about how men don’t relate to fashion, you go, “Zoolander!” [laughs]. The charity we started is for comic relief, so you have to have a comic element to it. I couldn’t be bothered any more to get away from that stereotypical Zoolander sort of thing, so why don’t we gulp it and embrace it? So I started my own charity and Dolce & Gabbana helped, and they donated some wonderful prizes. I also have a charity for dogs and one for combat veterans.

So what do you do to unwind and get out of the fashion world?

The gym is my solitary hour, usually at night. I go down there at half past nine. There are also people at home that I’m close to and they’ve got families and they’ve got little children and dogs, and I’ll go and have a good time with them. Apart from that, driving is absolutely my passion. I’ve got two vintage cars and I just got a new Jaguar F-Type.

You also seem to be low-key and under the radar, not into social media.

Well, I’m on the same level as Tom Ford is. I understand Twitter as a marketing tool and I think people have seen the cynical side of it and people are very much doing it to benefit themselves and getting free products and free this and free that. I personally don’t want to know, I don’t want people to know where I am, what I’m doing and that’s getting really difficult now because people are turning into paparazzi.
I go somewhere and they Instagram you without you even knowing and that’s very difficult. The other day I was walking past with someone and it got on Twitter because it came up on my Google alerts. “We just saw David Gandy walking past in Putney. Isn’t it nice that everyone is leaving him alone?” But at the same time they put it on Twitter [laughs], so they’ve just ruined that! I think people have grown up with social media so they don’t understand privacy. But you have the true big stars like Daniel Craig and Clive Owen. You don’t know anything about them and that’s lovely, I respect them.

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David Gandy for Selected Summer 2014

April 7, 2014, 5:25 pm
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For the new installment of the Selected Summer 2014 campaign we see David Gandy is once again the face of the brand. The summer line ranges from L.A. casual to beach wear, from pastels to bold colors to the ever elegant dark blue suit.





















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David Gandy for 'Vanity Fair' Spain (May 2014)

April 21, 2014, 1:33 pm
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David Gandy and Mariano Vivanco are amazing together once again. In this latest shoot for the May issue of Vanity Fair Spain you can see the chemistry, the love and friendship between them in each and every shot. Mariano captures David's incredibly sensual and sexy inner beauty with his softer playful side in this visually stunning photo shoot. Photographed with Charlotte Pallister the two weave an alluring vision of a couple on a seductive retreat into a world of pleasure and intimacy. With hair by Mr. Larry King, makeup by Ninni Nummela and styling by Carla Aguilar













Film: Junietsy de Marcos





Spanish Transcription


 English Version - Translated by DjG.com

DAVID GANDY, THE LAST 10 MAN

Since 2006 when he appeared in a perfume ad dressed in a tiny white bathing suit, he has been converted into the world's most desirable man and the first "star" in an industry where only the women have shone brightly. David Gandy, the most famous "top model", talks with us from London about Gisele Bündchen, alcohol, loneliness, nudity and love at first sight with Michelle Pfeiffer.
By Guillermo Alonso

David Gandy (Essex 1980) traverses the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London in search of coffee. Observing how people look at him is an exercise in sociology. Women pierce their gaze on him and pursue him until an obstacle threatens their physical view. The men dedicate more brief but intense looks as if they are admiring (and envy) that one meter ninety sculpted perfection just before remembering the basic British rules interpersonal space. Sitting down, coffee in hand, he looks at me with the most wanted eyes in the fashion world waiting for a question.

VF- I've observed how people look at you. Does it make you uneasy?
DG- You get used to being the center of attention. In a photo shoot it's all about you. What worries me more is living up to what people expect of me for because of everything that is said?
VF- For example, that you are the most handsome man in the world.
DG- Yes, those types of things.

And after saying this phrase, he coughs. During the brief conversation starter has also rubbed his eyes and has displayed some nasal congestion. These normal human gestures in someone whose name Google autocompletes with the words "most beautiful man" can confuse anyone. But Gandy says of himself, for example, that he has "an enormous nose and a giant ears. I'm afraid that those are the three only things that will continue to increase in size". Once he said he did not think his body was really spectacular. He clears it up for me: "You must be a very weird person to say," Wow. I'm spectacular! Or clearly an idiot".

VF: Which man is great for you, then?

DG: My idea of a man's-man is Steve McQueen or Paul Newman or Robert Redford. For the life they lived and the things that did and said. My concept of masculinity comes from the old school. Can you imagine one of these guys on Twitter?

VF: But you have a profile on Twitter

DG: I am obligated to. But I barely use it.

VF: And what woman is your erotic myth?

DG: I still feel a huge attraction for Michelle Pfeiffer. I've never been one of those who are intimidated when they encounter a star, but it happened with her. It was in New York. It was freezing and she was wearing a trench coat that covered her up here - he carries his hand up to his chin. But I recognized her. She looked at me and I gave her a small smile. She laughed and continued on her way.

He has thrown open a door for me to ask about women, but then the gentleman that I have sitting in front of me intertwines his fingers of his huge hands to form a barricade and offers me a clarification without losing his excellent manners-that he does not speak about his private life. He does tell me that he was late to the world of love: his first long term and formal relationship was when he was 21 years old, although he had occasional girlfriends since the age of eleven.

Funny how with certain occupations the issue of privacy works. Google requires 0.33 seconds to throw out 330,000 pages where you can see the man who will not talk about his private life completely naked. "I think I've never done a proper full frontal nudity. There is always something covered or dark. [After the interview I go back to Google to confirm that the idea Gandy's frontal nudity differs from mine]. I think we are sometimes too sanctimonious about it. Ewan McGregor and Daniel Craig appear nude in their films often and nobody asks them about it. Also, those pictures are artistic and masculine. That is how I see them. "

What is difficult to find is pictures of David Gandy dressed. During the photo session he walks countless times in just his underwear. When someone approaches him from his agency and asks him to sign some papers, he does semi-nude. The idea conveyed by Gandy is that if really want to be naked, someone would have to tear his skin off.

David's parents are entrepreneurs ("they had four or five businesses," answers elusively when trying to learn more) and he grew up with his sister in a town called Billericay Essex, who also gave the world pop idols (Alison Moyet) and champion swimmer (Mark Foster). When I pronounce the name of the town almost literally, the model laughs. "It's pronounced Bi-le-qui-ri! - he clarifies it for me -. I don't have much reason to go back there. My parents moved to the countryside nine years ago and the two friends I have left here usually come to visit me in London. "His sister is married to a Spaniard and lives in Benalmádena. "When I'm there and it's fifteen degrees my sister tells me it's a cold day. My nephews came to spend Christmas in Scotland and they had so many clothes on that they looked like dolls without joints. If they fell, they bounced. "

Gandy dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but began studying computer science and in his spare time worked for the magazine Auto Express: he would drive the cars to the to and from the test track and then write about the cars that were tested and then they were scored on the pages of the publication. "From time to time I would get a Porsche or a Jaguar. The best job I can imagine for a 17 year old. "His car was a small car that was ten years old. But fifteen years later the situation has changed: the cars that Gandy has today are two restored classics (a Mercedes and a Jaguar) and a modern Jaguar F-Type, which amounts to 115,000 euros.

VF: Are you like those men who personify their automobiles?

DG: They are ‘her’. All classic cars are a woman.

Game Changer is an English term that could define Gandy (although a look at women's magazines and some gay forums would add a hundred more word that are not publishable here). It is that one who changes the industry and proposes a new paradigm. For years the top models that caught the eye of the public from small billboards on bus shelters ha a fibrous body but sort of scrawny - sometimes almost feminine - in which designers like Hedi Slimane had to fit clothes with very reduced sizes. . When Gandy met Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana at the birthday party of photographer Mariano Vivanco (a personal friend of the model and the one responsible for this session) , they chose him for the campaign of their perfume Light Blue . And muscle won . "Until then I had done,more than anything,catalogue work for signature brands and I didn't like it. When I was in Capri posing on a speed boat for that campaign I said yes, this is more like what I wanted to do with my life. "Gandy returned muscle to fashion ( missing from fashion since the late eighties) not only because of his looks but his gentleman ways : he collects old cars, he collects watches and is passionate about interior design. He is entirely in charge of decorating his new home in London, which has just been finished, and also his parents home in northern Essex. There is nothing in his life that comes close to the excesses of certain female colleagues or Zoolanders delirious and boastful storylines. "The worst part of this profession is the cynical and stereotyped ideas that people have about your job. Everyone thinks they know a lot about fashion and before you blink are giving you lessons on it. "

VF: Seeking information about you, I found an interview on a British show where you were asked directly if you were gay.

DG: Yes, but that has changed. People had the image of some models ... they were silent. I was the first who came and said: I am a model, I want to be a brand and am willing to talk about my work. Before me none had been interviewed on prime time. How do you expect people not to have preconceived ideas? This was a kind of tiny and secretive business.

VF: So you admire the great men who kept their silence, but you believe that supermodels need to be more open and talk.

DG: It's easier than that: if what they say about you is good, keep quiet. But if that comment is wrong, get out there and clarify it.

Gandy also triggered a small earthquake in the fashion world when, according to the Daily Mail, he had some sharp words about Gisele Bündchen : "I do not get along with Gisele . We didn't agree, we argued and didn't have fun. "

DG: I never said that - he says - . Basically the asked me: 'Are you friends with Gisele? '. And I said 'No'. My friends are people I've known for many years. But I have no problem with her. I admire her achievements and I have wondered how the hell she did it.

VF: Last year, a business magazine named you the top male model who earns the most money in the world.

DG: One time we wanted to find out how they knew what we earned each year. And they responded. "We make it up". That list is the biggest lie I've read about myself. It is complete rubbish.

VF: In any case you are in a privileged position. What is your biggest fear up there?

DG: Failure probably - he pauses - . No, no I did not say that, forget about it. I believe in failure, there is no success without it. I don't know what to answer. I'm probably not afraid of anything.

VF: Not even the idea of growing old?

DG: No. And it's something I notice. I play a lot of sport and I've start to feel pain in places where I had never felt pain before. But I think a man gains more respect as they age.


VF: Tell me something bad about yourself. Break the magic.

DG: I think I drink too much - he says seriously, leaving a long silence before adding sarcastically - . It's an English tradition, right?

VF: In Spain also customary.

DG: You have good wine to four euros. It's amazing!

VF: Do you lie often?

DG: I'm very honest. I only lie to my mother when she asks how many drinks I took last night.

VF: Really? You're mother asks you those kinds of things

DG: It's not necessary. A mother knows everything.

The trust between Vivanco and Gandy is shocking. They have been working together for years. Vivanco openly touches his back and chest. He showers him with compliments. But in a world like this it seems essential to strengthen ties with anyone who can accompany you on trips and meetings. Larry, the hairstylist, is also your friend. "I'm always alone. On airplanes, in hotels ... I spend about seventy percent of my time alone. I would like to come back as a dog and that my life would consist of traveling the world while people scratch my tummy - . At one point, while in the room next to where the cover photo is being shot I hear something coming from the empty lounge suite, a vibration accompanied by the voice of Frank Sinatra. He is singing the following: "You can be the king / you can own the world / [... ] But you are nobody till somebody loves you." It's David Gandy's Blackberry, which someone is calling and it goes unanswered. Amid this luxurious suite and while on the other side of the wall the flash of the camera sounds for this model as if it were cheering, the situation suddenly becomes a bit poetic. And a little sad .


Source: Revista Vanity Fair (Spain)
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David Gandy by Giles Duley for '100 Portraits Before I Die'

April 25, 2014, 10:28 am
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On March 20, 2014 David Gandy announced he would be part ofGiles Duley Photography's '100 Portraits Before I Die(100PBID)'. Today, those awaited pictures came out and looking at the simplicity of these black and white portraits, Giles tries to capture the David Gandy's essence showing us a man of stunning beauty that needs no artistic enhancements.


Throught those pictures Giles gives us a uniquely personal insight into the trial and error of returning to portrait photography and we know, through David Gandy's own words what this project represents.
"When I was at the Christmas drinks/dinner for one of the charities I support, Style for Soldiers, I met Giles Duley. I'd heard of Giles as he was an editorial photographer for the likes of GQ, Esquire and The Times. However, the story that he went on to tell me is truly inspiring and who better to explain the whole story that the man himself, from this link.


In short, Giles turned from editorial photography to documentary photography, concentrating on people suffering the consequences of war and humanitarian issues. However in 2011 Giles stepped on an IED, amputating both his legs and leaving him with an arm beyond repair. He should have died, but by 2012 he was on his way back to Afghanistan photographing civilian casualties. What an incredible achievement.
(David Gandy with Giles Duley by Miles Drury)


His new project - 100 Portraits Before I Die - focuses on his passion for portraiture and taking photographs of the many people who have influenced his life. It's a project to rebuild his career and his condifence and I was lucky enough to be one of the 100 people that he chose for the project."(David Gandy's Vogue Blog - April 09, 2014)
Source: EW-agency.com
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David Gandy for Lucky Brand Summer 2014

April 29, 2014, 12:32 pm
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Lucky Brand is giving us another sneak peak into their Summer 2014 campaign 'California Dreaming' with David Gandy. This time around we see the more casual, laid back beach look that Lucky is known for.




BTS

Source:Lucky Brand 
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David Gandy Attends Grand Opening of City Social Restaurant

April 29, 2014, 4:04 pm
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This evening David Gandy attended the opening of Jason Atherton's new restaurant 'City Social' at Tower 42 in London.











David Gandy with (L-R) Jason Atherton, Joe Ottawa & Melissa Odabash

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