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David Gandy on the 1 2 3 Show for Radio 3 Hong Kong (Audio)
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Highlights of 2014 'Gandy for Autograph' Worldwide Tour
David Gandy finished his first 'Gandy for Autograph' Worldwide launch tour in Paris. After these exciting days, here are the highlights we've gathered from the last few weeks from the 4 locations along his Marks & Spencer Collection tour.
We would also offer our sincerest thanks to Melek Nazenin & Nazreen Tajudeen from David Gandy Fans Australia (@DGFansAustralia) for kindly allowing us to incorporate their recording of the Hong Kong event. Thank YOU so much and congratulations!
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David Gandy talks with Metro World News in Paris
David Gandy on his new underwear line,
fitness routine and more
David Gandy is on the last leg of his promotional tour that’s seen him travel from London to Dublin then onto Hong Kong and now Paris, and yet he shows not a sign of jet lag. The so-called “male supermodel” looks as fresh as his crisply packaged new Marks and Spencer underwear and nightwear collection called “David Gandy for Autograph”. It’s difficult not to stumble into cheesy chick-lit territory when describing just how handsome the 34-year-old Englishman is, so I’m just going to get on with it: he’s in a fitted double breasted pinstripe suit, a light blue shirt with two buttons undone (oh, he beats Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy) and those azure blue eyes are enough to leave any onlooker floundering in his gaze. Then there are the half-naked pictures of him in skimpy underwear all over the Parisian hotel room. Where’s a girl to look? Back to the chest, of course and into Gandy’s pants… not literally.
By Elodie Noël
Not only are you the face of this underwear collection but you were also deeply involved in the creative process. In what way exactly?
This range is the first thing I have put my name to styling and collaborating-wise. I was always very much involved in the creative side with M&S when it came to shooting the campaigns. So first, I came in and told them what I wanted: a very premium line, made from great material but at an affordable price – I was pretty stubborn about it. I had a very high input in everything, including the packaging, the material used and the fits. I didn’t just sign someone else’s designs.
Why did you decide to design underwear? And not shoes or ties, for example?
I’m well-known for the famous Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue fragrance campaign I did back in 2006, and I had many offers from many brands to put my name on underwear, which is a huge and highly lucrative part of men’s clothing. But my collection isn’t only underwear, it’s also nightwear, and there will be cashmere coming out in October and as soon as I go back to London we will start working on the spring collection, since the reactions have already been so positive on this one.
What can we find in your own personal underwear drawer?
I’ve kind of chucked everything out and all I’ve got is my own range of underwear, and I’m not even joking! I’ve been working on it for months, so I’ve had all the underwear to test myself. But usually, I go for the hipster style, which is kind of a mix between a boxer and a brief.
Do you think more men or women will buy your collection?
[Laughs] I think so far, it’s been a mix of the two. A lot of women buy underwear for their guys but we know that women have been buying the dressing gowns and some of the t-shirts for themselves, which I find lovely. I think men in general are taking more time in choosing their own clothing, especially in the UK. Before it used to be their wives, girlfriends or mums’ task.
You recently said that you were “an advocate of Britishness”. What does it mean?
I think it’s about heritage. In Britain, we started tailoring with Savile Row: it’s where the tailored suit genuinely came from. In the collection, I’ve incorporated a bit of houndstooth and that’s how you can distinguish my range because there is no branding. It’s very discrete and elegant and for me it links back to British tailoring. I’m very proud to be British and I kind of push that Britishness with everything I do.
What are your top style tips for men?
Be an individual. That’s something that’s getting harder and harder to do, thanks to globalisation. I think most importantly you have to work out what works for you – I don’t really believe in following trends. I pretty much follow the old English traditions of suits and I look back at some Hollywood greats like Cary Grant and take my inspiration from there, simply because this is what works for me.
What is your daily health routine in terms of diet and exercise?
I just had a couple of croissants. In France, my diet isn’t as good as normal [laughs]! I’m probably not as strict as people would think but I’m very nutritionally aware. Basically, I try and stay away from any processed food, any white carbohydrates, but I still eat sweet stuff. If you want a biscuit for example, don’t go for the triple chocolate-coated cookie, have a couple of biscuits that don’t contain saturated fat. I eat quite cleanly — a lot of fresh fish, vegetables, which I love anyway because my family brought me up to eat very well. Fitness-wise, I used to play every sport available but now it’s only down to the gym, four or five times a week for an hour approximately.
You shot a video this year with Jennifer Lopez, which left quite an impression on her. She said afterwards that you were “almost perfect”. So how is it to know that you are totally J-Lo’s type?
I’ve known her for a few years and we had a good laugh on set. I’m honored that she would think that, then again, maybe if she spent more time with me she wouldn’t. But that was very kind of her.
Who is your own celebrity crush?
I worked with Christy Turlington many years ago. When people talk about “supermodels”, you realise what that means when she walks into a room. She’s almost kind of superhuman. She has this beauty, presence, radiance, and an unbelievable magnetism. That was a huge crush, but not only physically, I also admire what she has done in the industry, and her involvement in charity.
What’s your type when it comes to women?
Someone I can laugh with! If she makes me laugh and laughs at my awful jokes, that’s appealing. But, no, I won’t tell you any jokes, I would embarrass myself…
Source: Metro.us
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David Gandy talks with Irish Tatler Man (October 2014)
Fine & Gandy
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A select few advertisements make an indelible impression. Eva Herzigova’s ‘Hello, boys’ billboard for Wonderbra is said to have been responsible for many a traffic pile-up, while Benetton’s adverts of the mid-90s, which included everything from foetuses to kissing priests, made headlines across the globe for their blatant shock tactics. Then, of course, there’s Dolce & Gabbana’s advertisement from 2007, featuring a photogenic Essex boy on a boat, his modesty preserved only by a pair of barely there white trunks. David Gandy shot to instant fame, initially becoming known as the “white pants man.” These days, however, his real name is arguably the best known in the men’s modelling world and he has proven himself to be far more than just a flash in the pan, as Domhnall O’Donoghue, complete with bitter lips, discovered.A few weekends ago, an old colleague of mine joined me for something of a drink-fuelled night out. Three sheets to the wind, she proceeded to share with me a secret that she’d never revealed previously to anyone. I assured her that I would take it to the grave. It turned out that when she was just 10 years of age, batting to embrace her freckled face and fiery red curls, she took a dislike to her similarly aged next door neighbour largely on account of the fact that this young girl was the proud owner of beautiful blonde hair, sallow skin and brown eyes that apparently angels would exchange for their wings for one day as they were roaming around the fields of Donegal together.
My friend found herself unable to control her jealousy any longer and flung her leg out, causing the celestial cherub to fall flat on a rock, resulting in a broken nose and scarred forehead. That my green eyed and red haired pal didn’t turn into Aileen Wuornos is nothing short of a modern day miracle. Now, while I’ve experienced my fair share of envy over the years, I’ve never wanted to go so far as to cause them physical damage. Until today, that is.
Not only is David Gandy a global supermodel - the owner of the face and body that helped turn Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue into one of the world’s top-selling fragrances - it emerges that he is also a shrewd businessman, an avid philanthropist and an animal lover, as well as being ridiculously well mannered. And to add insult to injury, a recent naked shoot for a Dolce & Gabbana book revealed that, in terms of size, he’s ‘down below’ is as long as his list of admirers. It is a good job that this interview is being conducted via the old dog and bone otherwise, just like my would be serial killer chum, I might have been forced to stick the leg out.
The 34 year old has trouble ringing my phone and takes two attempts to get through. When he does, he apologizes profusely, taking full responsibility for the error. Needless to say, I don’t mention that it was actually my fault, my fat, clumsy fingers up to their old tricks. I deftly move the conversation forward and talk about something far more interesting than broken phone connections; getting sozzled in Ireland! I’ve been to Ireland so many times - not only for work but also on a personal level,” Gandy reveals with an added air of mischievous “I’ve lots of friends in Dublin, and I’ve been to a fair few stag parties over the years. In fact, I’ve to organise another one in October so I could be over there again soon.”
Ladies of Ireland, start airing and ironing your Sunday Best post haste.
When your body is your temple, and in Gandy’s case, his empire, it’s somewhat difficult to reconcile the idea of him living at large in Copper Face Jack’s, wrecking back one pint of Guinness after the other, though. “I think people have stereotypical views of models,” he concedes. “Being a British guy, I still like my drink, I still like my cakes and my fry ups and everything else. My favourite drink is whiskey." And that’s something that becomes increasingly apparent about the model as our conversation continues even though Forbes magazine reported that he earned $1.4 million in 2013 alone, the 6’3” Essex native has steadfastly refused to cut the apron strings with his humble working class beginnings.
His father, Chris, left school when he was just 14 and some time later, along with his wife, Brenda, David’s mother, he opened a successful freight and property company. What is more, his grandfather, James, even worked for a certain iron lady called Margaret Thatcher. This hardworking upbringing has clearly stood Gandy in good stead, and rather than spending his days plucking his eyebrows and thinking he’s the dog’s bollix, he is continuously searching for ways to expand Brand Gandy. Not only has the fitness fanatic created an app called the David Gandy Fitness Guide, but he also acts as a contributor for Vogue, GQ and The Telegraph, and is brand ambassador for Johnnie Walker Blue and Whey Hey ice cream, a company in which he owns a stake.
‘I’m always trying to push the boundaries of what male models have done before or have achieved before,’ he explains. ‘If you look at the models from the 80s and 90s, they didn’t stick to one platform - they expanded, such as Cindy Crawford. I’m always looking for the next challenge, like doing this underwear line.’ The particular line of smalls he is referring to is the one that Gandy has exclusively designed for popular chain Marks & Spencer. The capsule collection, entitled David Gandy for Autograph comprises of 28 items ranging from boxers and briefs to sleepwear.
‘I wanted to do something that was a bit different - decent but different and at an accessible price.’ Gandy explains. ‘The whole range has the best quality fabrics as well as the best packaging all of which I worked on. ‘It was an honour to work with M&S on this, after all, they are experts - one in four British guys wear M&S underwear.”
When discussing past times, it appears to be something of a nice synchronicity that Gandy has such a vested interest in the underwear industry, as his own are sure to need frequent changing when pursuing his biggest passion: high-speed racecar driving. But, upon further investigation, it seems that this hardy would be Evel Knievel rarely sits his pants, despite the fact that last year, when competing in Italy’s legendary Mile Miglia race with fellow supermodel Yasmine Lebron as his wing woman, he found himself getting caught up in a nasty accident.
“When you want to keep yourself in great shape, What we do - we use our bodies - so we should be in the best condition. If you look at Giselle, if you look at Victoria’s Secret models - their bodies are incredible because they work hard at it.” Something else that Gandy is currently working hard at is breaking down the boundaries that male models face on a daily basis. For example, the aforementioned Giselle, who Gandy has previously gone on record saying he doesn’t like very much, earned almost 25 times more than he did last year.
“You have to change the way people talk about male modelling. Most male models get absolutely nothing - they’re sort of second-rate citizens at shoots - separate from the female models and the photographers - so we have to change people’s way of thinking and that includes rates and everything. A leading supermodel. A charity worker. An animal lover. An accomplished sporting enthusiast. A polite and hardworking businessman. And now, it seems, an equal opportunity rabble rouser. Sad that, the next time I see the cad, I’m tripping him up.
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David Gandy on Australia's 'Mornings' Show (Channel 9)
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Mark Your Calendar: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Collars & Coats Gala Ball 2014 with David Gandy
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It's that time again for our four-legged furry friends to hit the red carpet for more adorable photos with David Gandy. On Thursday, 30 October 2014, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will host their annual Collars & Coats Gala at Battersea Evolution in London.
This year's star-studded guest list includes HRH Princess Michael of Kent, and Battersea Ambassadors David Gandy and Dame Jacqueline Wilson OBE. Emcees of the evening will be Amanda Holden and Paul O’Grady MBE. Also expected to attend: Julien Macdonald, Henry Holland, Sarah Parish, Sue Perkins, Deborah Meaden, Cheska Hull, Ollie Locke, Alexandra Burke, Nicky Clarke and many more. Meanwhile, the charity’s canine residents will remind everyone why they’re really there with a doggie Guard of Honour – a red carpet lined with Battersea dogs and their handlers.
It costs over £18m to run Battersea each year and the Collars & Coats Gala Ball is all about helping to increase awareness of the important work the charity does every day to help thousands of animals.
It costs over £18m to run Battersea each year and the Collars & Coats Gala Ball is all about helping to increase awareness of the important work the charity does every day to help thousands of animals.
And great news: there is a chance to WIN a pair of tickets to attend the event!
*WIN TICKETS*
Lucky, are you? To win a pair of tickets to attend and become part of the efforts of the annual fundraiser, enter your details at the following link by midnight on Thursday 23 October. The winner will be notified on Friday 24 October.
Tickets for Purchase
Contact Collars & Coats Gala Ball call 020 7627 9309, email collarsandcoats@battersea.org.uk or visit collarsandcoats.org.uk. For further information on Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and to pledge donations, visit battersea.org.uk.
Check our coverage from last year.
Source: The Resident and Harpers Bazaar UK
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David Gandy for M&S F/W 2014 Campaign
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Source: Marks & Spencer
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David Gandy talks with Time Out London (October 2014)
Talking Shop David Gandy
The world’s top male model-turned-underwear-designer used to deliver pizzas, and fancies opening a souped-up store for chaps
By Katie Dailey
What is your favourite place to shop in London?
Sunbury Antiques is great. I’ve just renovated my house and picked up some pieces which I’ve integrated into the build. Like an old wooden art easel that I use as a stand for my flatscreen TV.
Do you buy vintage clothing?
Yes. New York has the best vintage shops.
Have you ever worked in a shop?
No, but I have delivered pizzas.
Are you extravagant?
No. I’ve made some investments, but as a rule I’m not extravagant.
What do you take the biggest pleasure out of blowing cash on?
Vintage cars are a weakness. I’ve just bought and rebuilt a classic 1960 Mercedes 190SL.
What do you scrimp on?
I don’t spend as much as people would think on clothing.
Do you like a bargain?
Who doesn’t? There’s something satisfying about knowing you’ve got a good deal.
Which are your favourite markets?
Fulham Farmers’ Market is great for local produce.
Is there a store you’d love to make over?
There could be a real opportunity for someone to create a bespoke men’s shopping experience/store. Men shop very differently to women so to create an environment with that in mind with personal shoppers, a bar, great designers, tailors and vintage items: I think would be a great idea and I’d love to do it.
What does London do best?
We’re typically British and don’t shout about it, yet we do a lot of things really well. There’s so much fashion heritage in London, from the wellington boot to Savile Row. As an ambassador for London Collections: Men, I’m really proud of everything that it achieves, not only in terms of putting London on the fashion map but also in its support for established and new designers. It’s constantly evolving.
If you had just £10, what would you spend it on?
Petrol for the car, or Haribo.
What must you never run out of?
Steam.
Source: Time Out London
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David Gandy Interviews with Insider Magazine (Irish Independent)
The 'World's Most In-Demand Male Model' tells Stephen Milton why he "hates the spotlight, likes getting older and professes we don't know the real him."
Fifty Shades producers were hardly thinking outside the box when they approached David Gandy for protagonist Christian Grey, a dashing, billionaire who can only enjoy sex if it’s accompanied by corporal punishment. Like the dangerous, dapper magnate plucked from the saucy psyche of EL James, David broods and smoulders. His wolf-like, brilliant blues are menacingly seductive, and he has cheekbones you might cut yourself on. Few others wear a structured, three-piece suit better. Sitting beside me, I bear witness to every panel and stitch groaning and stretching.
Alas, David refused the Grey offer. On revelation of the snub, he was quoted saying, “I was asked to go it, but said, ‘no’. I thought it was very badly written.” It eventually went to Jamie Dornan, an agreeably incredibly handsome alternative.
Today, perched in a quiet corner of a Mayfair pub at lunchtime, while London’s city boys and girls natter and clink in the background, Gandy’s now taking a different stance on the rejection. “Firstly, I appreciated the book…” Now there’s a turnaround. “I read bits of it and whatever critics say,” he clutches, “it’s incredibly popular with immense power. “Jamie’s a great actor and he’ll do the part real justice. It’ ll be seen by millions and he’ll land a number of films from that. “Difference is, he’s been pursuing this. He did the BBC series, [ The Fall]. “It’s something that Jamie wants and I’m a lot shyer than him. He’s a musician, he’s gone out with very famous women. Movie stars. He’s much more comfortable in that, whereas I’m much more secretive. “Fifty Shades is going to send him into the stratosphere and I still like to be able to go about my day.”
And comes the zinger, “I really don’t like being the centre of attention.” Rolling your eyes tends to be the natural response when an underwear model claims ownership of a shy disposition. He crookedly smirks at my reaction, creasing his face.
“I am, I’m really shy. I don’t like being centre of attention.”
So a catwalk model who made his name emerging from the blue waters of Capri in a pair of tighty whitey Speedos — and nothing else — doesn’t like the spotlight? A man who’s now plastered across the country on billboards, posters and the back pages of magazines, flaunting lashings of tanned skin for his new underwear range for Marks and Spencer? “That’s work. That doesn’t bother me. But when I turn up to a red carpet, I still get butterflies. I’m just me. I really hide how nervous I get.
“At the GQ Awards recently, I was incredibly nervous. I didn’t want to get out of the car and stand there, everyone looking… Nine times out of 10, I want to say to the driver, ‘Just keep going, I want to go home’. But some people thrive on it.”
Eight years since Dolce and Gabbana’s Light Blue campaign catapulted Gandy into the spotlight, he’s now the world’s second highest paid male supermodel. And unlike Kate, Gisele, Naomi and Cara, he’s arguably the only household name among the fashionable fellows. Posing and strutting on catwalks and campaigns for Hugo Boss, Carolina Herrera, Banana Republic, H&M and Lucky Brand Jeans, he’s also starred as the face and brand ambassador for Jaguar and Johnnie Walker Blue Label. And with his 007 appeal transcending mere ‘clothes-horsery’, the Essex hunk launches his David Gandy for Autograph range for Marks and Spencer. He’s now a one-man brand.
After a successful run as the face and body of M&S Collection menswear, the 34-year-old was presented with the chance to design his own underwear and nightwear range. Varying from briefs to boxers, dressing gowns to long-sleeve tees, it’s a classy collection with a quality touch. And this ain’t just the regurgitated marketing spiel — I can vouch as a proud owner of a couple pairs, courtesy of the man himself.
Irish customers can also exclusively purchase several cashmere additions, including sleepwear trousers and cardigans. Surprisingly, it’s Gandy’s first design collaboration. Surely Dolce and Gabbana would have gotten first dibs? “I believe in affordability. People assume my wardrobe is just Dolce and I don’t spend that much on clothes. I’ ll be wearing a t-shirt and someone will think it’s Balenciaga and it’ ll be American Apparel.” So is anything in your wardrobe Primark [Penneys’ UK equivalent], I ask? “Ehhh... no,” he smirks, “I probably work to that cut-off point. That’s very disposable. I don’t really believe in disposability.” A fleshy, flashy advertising campaign, with Dave smouldering in a variety of undressed poses, has rather large proportion of the masses hot under the collar. The standard Gandy effect.
Previously dating dimpled Les Miserables actress Samantha Barks and rumoured to be back on with blonde Saturdays singer, Mollie King, I wonder when he discovered himself hotter than most? The question irks the model. That shyness must be kicking in again. “I was never the successful one with the girls. There were always guys who were more successful at school. I thought they were better looking than me. Even at uni, I eventually found out I was known as ‘Model Dave’ on campus but I was completely oblivious to it.”
Creeping towards his 35th birthday, has any physical insecurity increased for Model Dave? Or developed from scratch, in his case? “I’m not doing too badly. I see quite large bags under my eyes sometimes. But that’s work, that’s travelling. “I hear sometimes, ‘You look a lot older than you do in pictures’, and I’m like, ‘OK’. I’ve always wanted to look older.”
Bit of a dangerous desire for his profession? “Admittedly, you’re not going to be in as good shape as you were eight years ago. “When we shot for the M&S campaign, I was training for a good six weeks and was very proud of the result but you know, it’s harder now. “But everyone is so hung up on clinging on to their 20s. That’s never really been me.”
A loud chuckle distracts us both. INSIDER turns to see two suited thirty-something females giggle nervously towards Gandy’s direction. They clink their glasses and resume conversation. One eye remains on the model. A frequent occurrence, I ask. “Yeah,” he happily chimes. “And I get asked for pictures all the time. Sometimes they’ll be physically shaking. That’s kinda strange. “I’ ll say, ‘c’mon, let’s have a laugh. Here have a look at that, what do you think. Oh, I look shit in that, we have to do another one’. And they relax after a while.”
He folds his arms tightly and stares into the distance. The tittering twosome maintain their surveillance. “I think it was Cary Grant who said, ‘I wish I was that Cary Grant. The Hollywood Cary Grant. Because that’s the image you give out to other people’. But it’s not necessarily you. “You know my image. And that’s not necessarily me.”
Alas, David refused the Grey offer. On revelation of the snub, he was quoted saying, “I was asked to go it, but said, ‘no’. I thought it was very badly written.” It eventually went to Jamie Dornan, an agreeably incredibly handsome alternative.
Today, perched in a quiet corner of a Mayfair pub at lunchtime, while London’s city boys and girls natter and clink in the background, Gandy’s now taking a different stance on the rejection. “Firstly, I appreciated the book…” Now there’s a turnaround. “I read bits of it and whatever critics say,” he clutches, “it’s incredibly popular with immense power. “Jamie’s a great actor and he’ll do the part real justice. It’ ll be seen by millions and he’ll land a number of films from that. “Difference is, he’s been pursuing this. He did the BBC series, [ The Fall]. “It’s something that Jamie wants and I’m a lot shyer than him. He’s a musician, he’s gone out with very famous women. Movie stars. He’s much more comfortable in that, whereas I’m much more secretive. “Fifty Shades is going to send him into the stratosphere and I still like to be able to go about my day.”
And comes the zinger, “I really don’t like being the centre of attention.” Rolling your eyes tends to be the natural response when an underwear model claims ownership of a shy disposition. He crookedly smirks at my reaction, creasing his face.
“I am, I’m really shy. I don’t like being centre of attention.”
So a catwalk model who made his name emerging from the blue waters of Capri in a pair of tighty whitey Speedos — and nothing else — doesn’t like the spotlight? A man who’s now plastered across the country on billboards, posters and the back pages of magazines, flaunting lashings of tanned skin for his new underwear range for Marks and Spencer? “That’s work. That doesn’t bother me. But when I turn up to a red carpet, I still get butterflies. I’m just me. I really hide how nervous I get.
“At the GQ Awards recently, I was incredibly nervous. I didn’t want to get out of the car and stand there, everyone looking… Nine times out of 10, I want to say to the driver, ‘Just keep going, I want to go home’. But some people thrive on it.”
Eight years since Dolce and Gabbana’s Light Blue campaign catapulted Gandy into the spotlight, he’s now the world’s second highest paid male supermodel. And unlike Kate, Gisele, Naomi and Cara, he’s arguably the only household name among the fashionable fellows. Posing and strutting on catwalks and campaigns for Hugo Boss, Carolina Herrera, Banana Republic, H&M and Lucky Brand Jeans, he’s also starred as the face and brand ambassador for Jaguar and Johnnie Walker Blue Label. And with his 007 appeal transcending mere ‘clothes-horsery’, the Essex hunk launches his David Gandy for Autograph range for Marks and Spencer. He’s now a one-man brand.
After a successful run as the face and body of M&S Collection menswear, the 34-year-old was presented with the chance to design his own underwear and nightwear range. Varying from briefs to boxers, dressing gowns to long-sleeve tees, it’s a classy collection with a quality touch. And this ain’t just the regurgitated marketing spiel — I can vouch as a proud owner of a couple pairs, courtesy of the man himself.
Irish customers can also exclusively purchase several cashmere additions, including sleepwear trousers and cardigans. Surprisingly, it’s Gandy’s first design collaboration. Surely Dolce and Gabbana would have gotten first dibs? “I believe in affordability. People assume my wardrobe is just Dolce and I don’t spend that much on clothes. I’ ll be wearing a t-shirt and someone will think it’s Balenciaga and it’ ll be American Apparel.” So is anything in your wardrobe Primark [Penneys’ UK equivalent], I ask? “Ehhh... no,” he smirks, “I probably work to that cut-off point. That’s very disposable. I don’t really believe in disposability.” A fleshy, flashy advertising campaign, with Dave smouldering in a variety of undressed poses, has rather large proportion of the masses hot under the collar. The standard Gandy effect.
Previously dating dimpled Les Miserables actress Samantha Barks and rumoured to be back on with blonde Saturdays singer, Mollie King, I wonder when he discovered himself hotter than most? The question irks the model. That shyness must be kicking in again. “I was never the successful one with the girls. There were always guys who were more successful at school. I thought they were better looking than me. Even at uni, I eventually found out I was known as ‘Model Dave’ on campus but I was completely oblivious to it.”
Creeping towards his 35th birthday, has any physical insecurity increased for Model Dave? Or developed from scratch, in his case? “I’m not doing too badly. I see quite large bags under my eyes sometimes. But that’s work, that’s travelling. “I hear sometimes, ‘You look a lot older than you do in pictures’, and I’m like, ‘OK’. I’ve always wanted to look older.”
Bit of a dangerous desire for his profession? “Admittedly, you’re not going to be in as good shape as you were eight years ago. “When we shot for the M&S campaign, I was training for a good six weeks and was very proud of the result but you know, it’s harder now. “But everyone is so hung up on clinging on to their 20s. That’s never really been me.”
A loud chuckle distracts us both. INSIDER turns to see two suited thirty-something females giggle nervously towards Gandy’s direction. They clink their glasses and resume conversation. One eye remains on the model. A frequent occurrence, I ask. “Yeah,” he happily chimes. “And I get asked for pictures all the time. Sometimes they’ll be physically shaking. That’s kinda strange. “I’ ll say, ‘c’mon, let’s have a laugh. Here have a look at that, what do you think. Oh, I look shit in that, we have to do another one’. And they relax after a while.”
He folds his arms tightly and stares into the distance. The tittering twosome maintain their surveillance. “I think it was Cary Grant who said, ‘I wish I was that Cary Grant. The Hollywood Cary Grant. Because that’s the image you give out to other people’. But it’s not necessarily you. “You know my image. And that’s not necessarily me.”
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David Gandy talks with 'Fuera de Serie' Magazine
IN BED WITH DAVID GANDY
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He isn’t a conventional model. This impressive Brit has conquered the catwalk thanks to an image which gets away from androgynous mannequins. He has just debuted as designer of a men’s underwear range for Marks and Spencer.
The fact that you’ve been awakened unexpectedly in a typical morning and someone tells you that in a couple of hours the sexiest man on the planet is going to call you is both a shock and a frustration. So, do not envy me, readers, I haven’t had the pleasure to touch, or even smell, the most sought-after model of the catwalk. Barely, hear his whispering and sexy voice and make him laugh on the other side of the airwaves.
The mobile rings and I see a British telephone number on the display: hellouuu. “Yes, hello, It’s David Gandy”. But, David Gandy himself in person? “Yes, of course”. Oh, what a moment: on these occasions it’s expected a manager or assistant’s cold voice, and no, it was him handling the indicators while he was driving crossing London. “Yes, I’m driving, it’s the only free time I have this week. Don’t worry, I’m relaxed and I will concentrate on your questions”. How kind! Ay.
He was born in the British county of Essex (February 19, 1980). Son of a humble family, they could, however, give him an education in computer studies. When he was about to finish his degree (21 years), a flat mate made a joke: he pointed him to a beauty contest that he won, as you can imagine from the pictures, these and those where he starred for Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo, Boss, Gant or Carolina Herrera’s campaigns. Every year and invariably, he is chosen as the best dress man, the sexiest man, the top icon… besides, he has been ranked second by Forbes as the second highest paid male model (1,08 million € in 2013). The fashion industry owes to him the break from androgynous inertia in catwalk.
In just 48 hours he would star in the global launch of the underwear, loungewear and however range designed for Marks & Spencer (“IN BED WITH DAVID GANDY”), and I venture to ask:
Which is your ideal pant?
One that lets you forget you’re wearing it because you don’t feel it. And I also enjoy that the brand isn’t very visible, Calvin Klein type.
Of all the models you have designed, which are you using?
Hipsters which are a mix of boxer and briefs; I don’t know if you know about them.
Yes, yes, I myself use hipsters.
Ha, ha, ha… mine are not very feminine.
I mean the hipsters for woman [more laughs]. You are a male lifestyle’s oracle in the British press, what is the most basic in the image of a man?
The key is that what a man wears has to be really masculine, unmistakably for man.
Not for nothing you broke the skinny and androgynous trend in the catwalk. Tell me, how do you train to have those muscles, or they are 100% yours?
Nobody has such a muscular body in a natural way. I train four times a week, a routine that it’s intensified if I have any immediate underwear campaign. When I was a child I was very athletic. I did athletics, swimming, football, cricket, etc; and that is something that shape your physique.
Now, do you play any sports?
I love skiing but with my schedule I find it very difficult to do it. No, I am flesh of gym.
David, because your look is your brand, up to what point you get control over it?
I am very careful with my image and every time more with my public appearances.
But, is it true what I watch in an American TV report where you required to change your hairstyle for the advertising you were doing?
Yes, absolutely. I decide what I wear for each session, how I do my hair or what shoes I wear, and I choose the photographer. And for the hairstyle, my hairdresser has been one of my best friends for the last 7 years. Everything related to my image has to be under my control.
What did you feel when you see your picture covering the legendary Times Square’s 15 meter high wall?
Well, the truth is that I didn’t go to see it, it’s a shame, I didn’t get to, but many of my friends and my agent saw it, yes.
What I want to know is what did you feel when you began to look at your picture on fashion covers, bus shelters, etc?
I don’t really see myself, It’s like if I was seeing a character I play. I am very critical, the first thing I think is how to improve that image. My pictures for the Underwear’s Range of M&S will be on 400 busses in London, 700 bus shelters and tube stations, it’s going to be tremendous.
Would you like to try in the movies?
I did shorts and music videos. I receive many offers in my office, but I will only get into that when I receive something that really interests me.
David, is lucky an attitude, as it was said in one of his commercials?
No, the phrase isn’t mine and I don’t share it. I prefer the one that says: “Lucky happens when preparation meets its chance."
The sexiest, best dressed, top icon, best paid model? Do you consider yourself a lucky man?
I’ll answer you with a question: from the hundreds of models who work, how many do you know by their name?
No more than five.
Do you see? I can be fortunate for having a good physique yes, but if you know me it’s for my work, for having fought very hard against the androgynous cliche and win the game.
Source: Fueradeserie.expansion.com
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London Evening Standard's Home Tour with David Gandy
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Inside David Gandy's Bachelor Pad
David Gandy has a guilty secret: rather than picking out suits or pumping iron, he prefers to spend his time off bargain-hunting for claw-foot baths or watching his Farrow & Ball paint dry. Laura Craick gets a guided tour of his new Fulham townhouse, four-poster bed and all.
By Laura Craick
By Laura Craick
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If Gandy’s taste is surprising, it’s only because you might expect a well-travelled man who’s worked closely with Dolce & Gabbana for so many years to be a little more… flamboyant. No. In fact, Casa Gandy is one part boutique hotel to two parts Surrey housewife, with only a soupçon of eccentricity. For example, few people have stumbled upon the idea of using an artist’s easel as a television stand. ‘I hate TVs on walls. You either make a room around it so it’s a feature, or you try to hide it with something like this,’ he says.Everything in Gandy’s three-storey Victorian home (with dug-out basement) is a symphony of off-white, brown and greige, from the Farrow & Ball-painted walls (Elephant’s Breath is a favourite shade) to the oatmeal throws and curtains. Gandy loves a claw-foot bath, an antique trunk, a railway tile and a polished concrete surface (though his are resin). That these stylistic tics will go on to define the 2010s just as Moroccan lanterns and fairylights defined the 1990s does not diminish them. My house is full of them. Isn’t everyone’s?
As befits an ambassador for British menswear (he was appointed by the British Fashion Council to help promote London Collections: Men, the male counterpart to London Fashion Week), Gandy bought British wherever possible. The flooring, stair carpet and upholstery were all sourced from companies in either Chelsea or Essex (Gandy grew up in Billericay), while the builders were local, too. Most of the fabrics were sourced from Holland & Sherry, the Savile Row cloth merchants established in 1836. ‘Lots of the materials are Savile Row — houndstooth, Prince of Wales checks...’ he reels off. Thank God Gandy doesn’t have any children yet — the dry-cleaning bills would be horrendous.
Does he have anything from Ikea? ‘I can’t say I do. Actually, those picture frames are from Ikea, I tell a lie.’ What about eBay? ‘One of the baths is from eBay. A lot of it is from Gumtree — some of the chairs downstairs are, though we got them reupholstered. And I’ve taken stuff off skips. With permission,’ he adds hastily.
We come to the master bedroom, with its extremely large bed and slightly disconcerting teddy bear. What mood was he trying to create? ‘If an accomplished interior designer came in here, they would probably criticise me for mixing Georgian with Victorian,’ he says, somewhat defensively. ‘I don’t particularly care — I wanted what I liked. At the end of the day, it’s my house, it’s my home.’
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What does he think is the biggest mistake people make with their homes? ‘Lighting,’ he responds quickly. ‘Usually too much. They have their overhead lights on, and it’s so white and cold, so clinical. Virtually every light in this house is dimmable. In here at night, all the lamps are carefully placed around so it’s a really nice mood, almost like candlelight.’
At this point, it is perhaps apposite to mention The Drawer. Obviously, Gandy has a walk-in wardrobe — more of a small room, really — and there, chalked on one of the many drawers that have been custom-built to keep his prodigious collection of clothing in order, is the name ‘Mollie’. Someone has written ‘Mollie’ on one of your drawers, I remark.
‘That may be there for a while, so, uh…’ Wow. A lady with her own drawer in the house, I say. Someone book the church. ‘There you go,’ he says. ‘Even though she steals all my clothes.’ I figure Mollie is probably famous, because celebrities never go out with normals. Later, I Google and find out that she is Mollie King, the blonde one from The Saturdays. Dedicated drawer or not, it can’t be easy maintaining your love life when you travel as much as Gandy, who is on a plane ‘every week or two weeks’. He misses London with the simple delight of a child. ‘When you’re watching the news, and they do a newscast from Parliament, and you see Big Ben, and a red bus, or a black taxi… it just makes me feel homesick.’
Gandy recently shot a video with Jennifer Lopez. Did she hit on him? ‘No. She didn’t.’ Wasn’t she between boyfriends? ‘I don’t know. I didn’t ask about her private life.’ Does he ever wish he could switch off his face and look more like Ricky Gervais? ‘I think Ricky Gervais would get more attention than me, so I’m not sure about that. I know everyone round here, and they all know me. I love that. That’s why I don’t ever really want to live in Notting Hill or on the King’s Road. If you don’t have a pair of Ray-Bans on [in those places] then you’re not accepted.’
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We are now downstairs in the study-cum-snug, where I spy my first photograph of Gandy. To be fair, it’s hard to miss, taking up as it does the best part of one wall. ‘I think it’s about the only one I have. It was a gift from the photographer at the time. My mum keeps everything; maybe 60, 70-odd covers. I know lots of people would put them on walls and stuff, but I think that’s a bit…’Gazing at the black and white image of his chiselled body, it seems a good time to talk about how he attains it. Any quick fixes for the time-pressed man? ‘There is no quick fix,’ he says firmly. ‘It’s about changing your lifestyle. I don’t even really believe in diets.’ You ate carbs, I say, somewhat accusatorially, having witnessed him earlier eating an egg sandwich. ‘You say I ate carbs, but I know they’re not complex carbs and that it’s brown bread and that I won’t be eating much of it and that eggs are protein,’ he replies with the expertise of a person who really loves his food. He tells me about the GQ Men of the Year Awards last month, and how he ate his own dinner, followed by the supermodel Natalia Vodianova’s. ‘The only other person who ate as much as me was Sam Smith. And Kanye West’s bodyguard — he was scoffing it all down.’
Is he ever like, ‘I can’t be bothered to go to the gym today’?
‘Oh, all the time. Especially when I come home late, when I’ve been working for 12 hours and have to go down the gym at 9.30pm, and be there until 10.30pm, and then eat dinner and try to get ready for bed.’
This sounds pretty grim. What does he do to relax? Is there even any opportunity? ‘I watch a lot of documentaries. Then Mad Men, The Sopranos... House of Cards is amazing. Dangerous on Netflix, though. Netflix kills me because it has that button that says, “Your next episode will play in 14 seconds.” And I’ll literally be in bed at 2am going, “Yes, I can do another one, I suppose.” ’
David Gandy: he’s just like the rest of us. Only with better pecs. And a dado rail.
The David Gandy for Autograph men’s underwear and sleepwear collection is available now at marksandspencer.com. Photographs by Tomo Brejc, styled by Anish Patel
Source: London Evening Standard
Related Article (Inside David Gandy's home)
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Q & A on Twitter with David Gandy (Gandy For Autograph)
Q&A on Twitter: Model David Gandy answered fan questions on a live Twitter Q&A with Marks & Spencer on Septemeber 18th as a part of the launch of his debut underwear range for Marks & Spencer in London: Gandy For Autograph
1- Stef : Do you prefer vintage cars or modern cars?
David Gandy: I've just restored my first vintage car and plan to do more, if that answers your question.
2- Rosane Maximiano: What is your fave place to go to vacations?
3- ✨MBMs Bambi✨: What's the one thing you can't possibly live without? XxxX
David Gandy: If I can be cheeky I'd have to say oxygen!
4- Great White Shirt: If you weren't a model, what would you be?
David Gandy: I have no idea, I prefer to focus on what I'm doing now and do it great!
5- Tal: What is your favorite thing about modeling?
David Gandy: The diversity of it all... Every day is completely different!
6- Appletofu: What was your fave subject in school?
David Gandy: My favourite subject in school was geography.
7- Franca Poli: What stage of the design was more difficult?
David Gandy: Finding the right fit for different body shapes.
8- MEG4NJ4YNE♥: I'm a dog lover too, whats your favourite breed of dog ?xx
David Gandy: Since working with @BDCH I couldn't pick just one..! What's your favourite breed?
9- N_nicoleta: Who was your role model as a child an how did that help in being a model?
David Gandy: My role models are the men of my family.
10- Artemis: Do you have a life motto? Thank you!
David Gandy: I don't believe in luck just a well prepared person who is waiting for an opportunity.
11- David Gandy Info: What is the item you love the most in your closet?
David Gandy: It's a vintage Omega Watch that I bought when I first got a big pay cheque. A great way to remember!
12- Isabella Bradley: The oddest thing that's happened to you?
David Gandy: The launch of my own underwear range is pretty surreal.
13- Isabella Bradley: Do you have any nicknames?
David Gandy: I get DG a lot.
14- Julia: Where were you born and raised? what is your heght?
David Gandy: I was born and raised in Essex and I'm 6ft 3.
15- N_nicoleta: What's your favourite designer ?
David Gandy: I'd say D&G.
16- Lisa Bolton: What do you enjoy doing in your down time?
David Gandy: It's my pleasure. I like driving and racing cars.
17- Great White Shirt: What's your no.1 grooming tip?
David Gandy: Find a good hairdresser!
18- David Gandy Russia: What helps you to make a difficult decision?
David Gandy: Time to think about it. Never rush into anything
19- From David Gandy to William Oliver: I plan to take some time off and potentially go skiing, I've not been in a while... How about you?
20- Jeanette: what's your favorite music to relax/jam to?
David Gandy: Old school classics like Tony Bennett.
21- John Williamson: Favourite car of choice at the moment...
David Gandy: I can't wait for the new Mercedes AMG GT.
22- David Gandy Russia: You said that you keep your plane tickets and one day you might plaster your bathroom with them. Have you done it already?
David Gandy: I haven't travelled enough yet... One day I'll get around to it!
23- Gina Colangelo: What's next on the design line with M&S?
David Gandy: The cashmere range is coming soon. After that there'll be a Spring/Summer 2015 range.
24- Lucy Hilton: when are you doing your next meet and greet
David Gandy: My next meet and greet is tomorrow in Dublin at M&S Grafton Street.
25- Taylor: How much has your marketing degree shaped how you go about your career?
David Gandy: To be honest I've learnt more through being in the industry.
26- Jayna Kawa: Who is your style icon?
David Gandy: Old Hollywood stars are my style icons. Carey Grant and Paul Newman
27- Adam Reilly: What did you think of Ben Kingsley's portrayal of you in the film about your life?
David Gandy: I think he prefers to be known as Sir Ben Kingsley
28- Julia: Would u like to create the womens underwear as famous couturiers did? Whos ur favourite couturier?
David Gandy: I'll leave the lingerie to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, she's doing a great job!
29- Tasleem: David Gandy is recognised name and brand around the world, when will you consider writing your biography?
David Gandy: A autobiography... Maybe in the future, but at the moment I'm busy doing this... Watch this space!
30- Tasleem: Any future plans to do any presenting on TV or film acting?
David Gandy: I'm often asked about future projects. Underwear is keeping me extremely busy for now!
31- Lisa S: Will you be doing a 2015 calendar? I need it to help me through at work :)
David Gandy: They rib me, you know what mates are like...
32- Ishanie M: Is there anywhere in the world you have yet to, and would love to, visit?
David Gandy: I haven't been to New Zealand yet. I'd love to go
33- Tahira Iqbal: What should women know about the range?as sometimes they are making the purchase for their other half!
David Gandy: Women should know they can also wear the range. Women in men's underwear is extremely sexy!
34- Amby: What's your Biggest Inspiration xx
David Gandy: My family are my inspiration. And my grandfather, who was a true gentleman.
35- Sonia_rio: You do a great job with you charity work, do you intend to get involved with other charities in the future?
David Gandy: I do have a few charity projects in the pipeline. I'm discussing future collaborations yes.
36- Allyson Clayton: David, the people you love aside, what is the thing (or place) that moves you most in this world?
David Gandy: The thing that moves me the most is my work with Battersea Dogs Home!
37- Jess: And... What are your 3 most important rules for a healthy lifestyle, and what's your guilty treat?
David Gandy: Stay away from saturated fat, eat organic and exercise!
38- Kima Segun-Ojo: Boxers or briefs?
David Gandy: I'd have to say neither Kima, I prefer a hipster!
39- From David Gandy to Marisa González: My favourite piece is the houndstooth pyjama bottom
40- From David Gandy to i.am.cann: It was about 8 monthes and yes I helped design the packaging too...
41- From David Gandy to DreamySim1: Someone who is good fun, has a sense of humour and is different from the norm!
42- *Nadia*: What was your favorite part of the process and why?
David Gandy: Thanks for the question, for me it's learning the process of creating an underwear range right through to seeing it in store!
43-Jess: What's the most important part of a good outfit, and what do you change into after a long day?
David Gandy: A pair of men's shoes can make or break an oufit. I change into a pair of jogging trousers at the end of the day
44- From David Gandy to William Oliver: We're already working the next collection for spring...
Source: M&S Twitter
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David Gandy covers FHM Collections China 2014 F/W Issue
David Gandy appears on the cover story of the latest edition of FHM Collections China. The international photographer Jumbo Tsui suits up with stylist Justine Josephs to catch the intensity and poise showed by the international male model in the photo shoot wearing a selection from the latest Burberry Prorsum Men Collection to go along with the cover story 'The Timeless Man.'
Jumbo Tsui (Photographer)
Justine Josephs (Fashion Editor/Stylist)
Oliver De Almeida (Hair Stylist)
Akgun Manisali (Makeup Artist)
Aaro Murphy (Set Designer)
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David Gandy: "My M&S Collaboration"
"Laugh and the world laughs with you; snore, and you sleep alone!"
Anthony Burgess.
Anthony Burgess.
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By David Gandy
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There was even less sleep than usual over the last few weeks and that wasn't just during the eight days of travel to four different countries for the worldwide launch of my underwear collection with Marks & Spencer - David Gandy for Autograph. To be honest, the long haul flight for the Hong Kong leg was a blessing and the most sleep I've had in quite a while! Maybe it was because of the slight feeling of relief that the London and Dublin signings had gone well - or was it because of the delicious Gavi di Gavi that BA kept topping up my glass with? Either way, everything soon got back to normal on the return flight to Paris, as everyone was tucked up fast asleep whilst I sat with my little light on catching up on the latest series of Mad Men, whilst replying to the mountains of emails that had come through during our travels.
My broken sleep started two weeks prior to the launch. Launching the collection is the beginning of many firsts for me. It's the first time that I've collaborated with a brand on a clothing line, my first foray into the designing world and the first time that I have put my name to a collection. It's one of the largest projects that I've taken on in my career and although I've been hugely excited and honoured, a project of this size naturally brings with it a little apprehension.
There was some scepticism about exactly how much input I'd had into the collection which is understandable as there are a lot of celebrity collaborations these days and each person has a different level of involvement. But those people who know me well will know I wouldn't ever put my name to something that I wasn't fully involved in, in every single part of the process. I've probably driven the designers and the brand crazy with wanting to be so involved, but thankfully they have been so wonderful to work with and very open to a full collaboration, so it's been a great relationship that we've all enjoyed.
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The design ideas behind the underwear developed from a vintage pair of hipsters that I had many years ago and loved. Even though I stopped wearing them, I kept them safe knowing that if ever the day came when I designed my own underwear line, elements of these would be at the heart of the initial inspirations - classic but sexy, comfortable with discreet branding, and made from soft premium materials. And there it began. I wanted the underwear to appeal to all ages and to all demographics, so the collection would include everything from traditional briefs and woven cotton boxer shorts, to the most popular trunks and my personal favourites - the hipsters. The fit and comfort was one of the most important factors to me… I wanted them to feel like a second skin, almost like you aren't aware that you're wearing any. Even up to a couple of weeks before the launch I was still making improvements with the team and had friends, family and virtually every man at M&S testing them until we were satisfied that they were just as we'd planned.
This was only a small part of the process. I wanted the traditional houndstooth pattern to be a subtle but distinctive element of the collection, from the linings of the pockets and flies, to the waistbands of the underwear and even down to the packaging and campaign imagery. From there we worked on the neck lines of the T shirts and cut of the lounge pants and cuffed jogging bottoms. There was even one whole morning dedicated to the colour and width of the drawstring on the lounge and sleepwear. Come to think of it, I'm surprised the design team are still talking to me.
What everyone has commented on is the coverage that the campaign received, driven by the months of scrupulous planning by the PR and marketing team. I can safely say that I wasn't the only person with sleepless nights! Four fully covered buses, 300 bus advertisements, 700 bus stop advertisements, international magazine covers, various features, product placement, television and radio appearances, and plenty of online activity too. We have had a huge amount of support, all of which I'm very grateful for.
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The biggest and most welcome surprise though was the hundreds of people that so kindly came and supported me on the launch days in London, Dublin, Hong Kong and Paris. It was quite overwhelming that so many people were there and that so many had travelled vast distances to come and meet me. I would love to say thank you to everyone that has supported me during this whole process. From the people wishing me luck before the launch, to the many people who have ordered and bought some of the collection and kindly told me how much they love the items and to everyone who came and supported me on the launch days - it was so lovely to put so many faces to names that I have only known through social media. And big thanks to the team who have facilitated and worked hard to create the collection and whose input has brought the project to life.
To see the dressing gown and cuffed lounge pants sold out on the first day was a really proud moment. I always had faith in the range and I knew that we were using some of the most premium cottons available, that the fit was good, and that the campaign shot by Marianno Vivanco was some of the best work we've done together, but it wasn't until I saw the empty racks of the range on that first day at Marble Arch Marks & Spencer that I could truly believe that the day we'd all worked so hard towards was actually happening.
So, what now? Well, believe it or not I'm already working with the designers of M&S to create the spring and summer editions which I'm really enjoying. Let's hope that the designers will say the same! After that, I'm taking a holiday… my first in two years. I've incorporated a shoot into it so there will be some work involved, but I'm very much looking forward to it all the same.
By British Vogue
And future projects? Well there are various activities in the pipeline which is exciting. But I had a thought the other day - wouldn't it be nice to break a world record?
Something to do with speed would be fun, but that's as far as I've got. All suggestions welcome.
Thanks again for your ongoing support, it's much appreciated.
Source: Vogue Today
Related Content: (DjG Video) Highlights of 2014 'Gandy for Autograph' Worldwide Tour
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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Collars & Coats Gala Ball 2014
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David Gandy attended the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Collars and Coats Gala 2014 held at Battersea Evolution in London last night (Oct 30, 2014).The annual charity spectacular that is the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Collars & Coats Gala Ball once again wowed as a host of big-star names from the world of film, TV, music, and fashion took to the glittering red carpet to show their support to the world-famous rescue. Hosted by Battersea Ambassadors Amanda Holden, Paul O’Grady MBE, supermodel David Gandy and Dame Jacqueline Wilson OBE and also in attendance such renowned names as Lady Patsy Puttnum, Jake Humphrey, Craig Revel-Horwood, Amanda Burton, Arlene Phillips, Laura Whitmore and Rosie Marcel.
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The Collars & Coats Gala Ball, now in its sixth year, has become a highlight of the autumn social calendar, and is consistently regarded as one of the most innovative and eagerly anticipated charity events. This year’s stellar star line-up saw much-loved entertainers, acting greats, and global fashion icons treading the red carpet, which boasts the world-unique Battersea ‘Doggie Guard of Honour’ comprising many of the Home’s 400 rescued canine residents.
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This year’s event was particularly poignant as celebrities gathered to remember the enormous sacrifice, tenacity and loyalty of the brave service dogs during World War One. To commemorate the centenary of WW1, Battersea service dogs, former residents who have gone on to working roles with the police, Army, RAF, and Border Force took part in dramatic battlefield re-enactments showing how Battersea dogs have served their country from 1914 right up to the present day.
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David Gandy with Amanda Holden
The Collars & Coats Gala Ball also gave its high profile guests and celebrities the opportunity to partake in an exclusive auction which featured an array of money can’t buy experiences.
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Source: Luxurious Magazine
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Spanish GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2014
Madrid dressed up last night for the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2014 which was at the same time the celebration of the 20th anniversary of GQ magazine in Spain. A night dedicated to the recognition of male achievements in the worlds of sport, style and philanthropy.
The handsome model attended to receive the GQ Men of The Year Awards - Best Male Model and caught the eye as he made his way into Madrid’s Palace Hotel wearing a dapper tuxedo with a blue and black satin dinner jacket by Duchamp London, bow tie and derby shoes that fill up with glamorous 'black' carpet photocall.
Known as the international face of Dolce & Gabbana, he shares the stage with well known faces of fim, TV or sports who have shown an important work during the 2014 like Jonathan W. Anderson, Jeremy Hackett, El Greco Foundation, Elisa Sednaoui, Greenpeace, Pablo Motos, José Coronado, Emilio Martínez-Lázaro, Carles Puyol and Carlos Fernández.
Among the VIP attendees were Malena Costa, Aridne Artiles, Silvia Abascal, Alex Dellal. Ana Polvorosa, Manuela Velasco, Adrián Lastra, Ana Fernánde, Helen Svedin, Celestino García or Juan Betancourt and, the event was hosted by Manuela Velasco.
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Guests were interviewed by Rodrigo Tarragona during the party
(Video - Click on the picture to play)
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David Gandy talks with ASEDAI during the Spanish GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2014
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He is one of the most wanted men of the moment and one of the most sought after international male models in the world. Brands like Zara, Gant USA, Hugo Boss, Russell & Bromley, H & M, Carolina Herrera, Massimo Dutti and, of course, Dolce & Gabbana know this and they have had the pleasure to work with him for different campaigns. Today, David Gandy has visited Spain again to receive, in this case, the GQ Best Model Award at the 20th anniversary of GQ Magazine’s party, held at the Westin Palace in Madrid where he has granted us this interview.
Question: What did you chose to wear for such a time like this?
Answer: I wanted to wear something new for these Spanish Awards so I chose a suit that fits the occasion. The most important thing is to wear a good suit. My favorites are the three-piece suits. Moreover, I always wear underwear my own brand.
Q: How do you feel most comfortable in jeans or with a suit?
A: It is a bit strange, I like the 'casual look'. When I have a day off, I usually wear jeans, a T-shirt or a sweater. But in events like this or when I am working, I prefer to wear a suit. Wear a suit is a defense against the outside world and it gives me great confidence. I wear wool suits in winter and linen suits in summer and besides, they are always bespoke suits.
Q : Do you like Spain? When did you come here for the first time?
A: About 10 or 11 years ago. My brother-in-law is Spanish, so my nephews are living in Southern Spain with my sister and I come to visit them whenever I can. I love its excellent climate. I love this country. I've been to Barcelona, where I have great friends, and I love Madrid. But I prefer the climate of the south. Anyway, when I come normally it is for work, so I have little time to enjoy the country. Certainly, not as much as I would like.
Q: Which is the best prize you have won in your career?
A: I have never won any award in my own Country, they have always been internationals. Probably this would be the best.
Q: Which is your Spanish fashion designer par excellence?
A. I don’t know much about Spanish fashion to give you a specific name, but anyway now I design my own line of underwear working with 'Marks & Spencer'. So I hope to continue to do so, working with myself and not for anyone (laughs).
Q: What do you think about the Cristiano Ronaldo’s underwear range?
A: It is very different from mine. His is very vibrant and colorful and the brand stands out. Mine is much more discreet, subtle and with very high quality.
Q: Which will be your next move? Have you considered being an actor?
A: I've had many offers to act but nothing that really attracted to me to carry it out. They were roles or characters very obvious that didn´t call my attention. Moreover, I write journals, and I have developed an application for mobile fitness. I also help three or four charities and I have my own, called 'Blue Steel Appeal'.
Q: But you don’t give up your role as a model, is it true that you turned down the role of the film 'Fifty Shades of Grey' as has been said in some media?
A: I have never considered myself as a model. Moreover, in the field of interpretation, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' has a very strong script, but the idea of playing the character of Christian Grey didn’t attract me.
Q: You have rejected one of the most desired roles in the world of film right now, and one that have been offered only to handsome men, what do you do to keep you so fit?
A: I go to the gym at least an hour but I can’t always because of my work ... Now I should be doing weights! (Laughs), but I try to go an hour each day. Staying fit is tricky if you are not consistent.
Q: Do you eat anything you want?
A: Absolutely.
Q: What do you think when people say that you're the most handsome man in the world?
A: There are many handsome men in the world. There isn’t any male model that I love so I can’t say anyone, but I don’t consider myself the most handsome in the world.
Q: What style do you prefer? ¿Letizia Ortiz or Kate Middleton?
A: These are two very elegant styles and I support both. Personally, I like the style of Queen Letizia.
Source: ASEDAI
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David Gandy covers Fashion London Magazine (Nov/Dec 2014)
Adorned immaculately in a checked Saville Row suit accompanied by his favoured fragrance Dolce by Dolce and Gabbana (naturally), 34-year-old model David Gandy met with Fashion London at London’s Mayfair Hotel to discuss getting his break, his now iconic Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue campaign – remember those white pants?! – and his latest foray into the fashion industry: his own line of men’s underwear. Gandy’s rise from would-be veterinary surgeon to the face of Dolce & Gabbana and beyond has been an astonishing one, encompassing driving Porsches and Jaguars, spending time abroad boats in Capri and racking up a net worth of reportedly £10 million. Not bad for a career spanning just eight years since he got his first big break. Now showcasing his own line of clothing with iconic British retailer Marks & Spencer, Gandy is relishing the more creative role he has garnered within the fashion industry.
He, along with fellow model Rosie Huntington-Whitely are playing a key part in taking M&S in a new direction. “Gandy and Huntingdon-Whitely, think that has a nice ring to it” he laughed. “M&S has been fantastic to work with. It once had this old school image but everything is changing, the food, the logo, it’s nice to be a part of that. There’s a lovely buzz about M&S right now. It’s an exciting place to be. I really wanted to work with a British brand, which is actually quite hard because there aren’t that many. Especially high-street. Proper British,” he explains.
“I thought it would be great to dip my toe first into styling, designing,” he continues. “This underwear and sleepwear line is 28 pieces so I had a very fast education! I had to learn so much. When it came to the design process, I had the final say, and it’s the first time that I’ve put my name to anything. I wanted my product to have a luxury feel, without the price tag; I had full control, from the quality to the stitching to the branding. I wanted it to be very subtle, understated, classic underwear that doesn’t say ‘Beckham’ or ‘Calvin Klein’ – I want to get away from that. I also don’t agree with paying £45 for underwear. I want that quality but I want you to pay £19, £20, for the best underwear, in the best packaging.”
Had it not been for a 21-year-old Gandy’s housemate secretly entering the then catalogue model into a competition on ITV’s This Morning, he may not have grabbed the attention of D&G. Entering the industry at a time when androgyny was all the rage, Gandy’s Adonis-like frame was striking and to a degree, risky. “If it’s all going right, then you go left. Why try and follow?” he said of this appearance. “I probably wouldn’t have got the Light Blue campaign if I looked like everyone else. They didn’t want a skinny guy, they wanted a masculine, Mediterranean-looking guy. I could say it was sheer brilliance on my part, but it wasn’t. You make your own luck.”
The Light Blue campaign, in which a hulking Gandy appears scantily clad on a yacht in Capri, was his breakout, and one that cemented his position as the face of D&G. It was a quick turnaround for the model: “There was no casting. I did the appared campaign with Steve Meisel for Dolce and then went to do the show in June. And then thy called up, and bearing in mind Dolce didn’t even know my name at this point, they wanted the guy who they think was called David, who was in the glasses for the Apparel shot, that’s who we want for Light Blue, that’s it. Cut to a week or two later and I’m on a boat with Mario Testino heading over to Crapri to go shoot it.
Despite having dated celebrities such as The Saturdays’ Mollie King, Gandy is shy, and admittedly very private in real-life. “I’m just a naturally quiet, under-the-radar person. I don’t tweet my dinner or let people know of my whereabouts. I don’t like being centre of attention and I hide how nervous I am. When I turn up to a red carpet, I still get butterflies. At the GQ Awards, I got nervous, lots of butterflies. Nine times out to ten, I want to say to the driver, “just keep going, I want to go home. “ Some people thrive on it. I think it was Cary Grant who said, “I wish I was that Cary Grant, because that’s the image you give out to other people.• But it’s not necessarily you. “Turns out, even the superhuman Gandy isn’t that different to the rest of us after all.
So what’s next in the career of David Gandy: model, designer and luxury car aficionado? Not acting, according to the man himself. “There have been many offers. We were offered Fifty Shades of Grey, 300 2, Hercules, which a lot of people probably would have taken as actors, but I’m in the fortunate position where I like what I’m doing. I don’t feel the need to act. I know if you’re in a successful film, your status changes overnight. And I’m not saying I wouldn’t, I’ve read many parts that I’d love to play, things that I’ve chosen, not things that have been sent to me.”
“I’m always, always adapting, I’m never fully satisfied,” he insists. “You know what, sometimes I wish I would just enjoy the moment, and think, that’s great. But I’m always thinking. “Could I do another collaboration, could I work with another charity?” moving on and on and on. That’s what I thrive on personally. I’m in a business where I can do so many different things. I’m lucky. I want to break a record. I want to break the land speed record. There’s so much I want to do. My mind’s always racing…”
The international jet-setter does find time to relax occasionally. “When I’m at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, chilling out with the animals, or when I’m out driving, or when I’m with my family,” he says. “I haven’t had a holiday in a couple of years. Because stuff gets in the way, and opportunity comes that you can’t miss.“ With an enviable work ethic like that, Gandy’s meteoric rise becomes all the more explicable.
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David Gandy for Autograph is available in store and online now.
Source: Fashion London
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David Gandy talks with THE RAKE Magazine (October 2014)
The Gandyman Can
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David Gandy talks with THE RAKE Magazine October issue proving that he is also a superlative role model for celebrity philanthropy by using his fame for all the right reasons.Forget your serious mugs of Mr. Gandy as of late all over Asia and Europe. Take a moment to breath in the fresh wintry air of a genuine heart for dogs. David Gandy talks with The Rake about his vision for caring for animals.
While you wonder if he has cold hands with such a warm heart, read on to review his loyalty to charities, love of dogs and dedication to his London roots.
Article by Rom Chamberlin.
In 1860, Mrs. Mary Tealby established The Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs, in a disused stable yard in Holloway. The need in Victorian London for institutions such as this was absolute. Believe it or not, it wasn’t so long before this time that the admission price to London Zoo was a dog or cat to feed the animals, some of which were strays gathered up on the way there. Demand for sanctuary was such that, only 11 years after trading commenced, the whole setup had to be moved to the site that is now Battersea Dogs Home. In fact it’s been Battersea Dogs & Cats Home ever since they started admitting cats in 1883.
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It quickly became an institution; Queen Victoria bestowed her Royal patronage – the first patron of any kind – on them in 1895 and Charles Dickens was an ardent supporter of the Home and publicized it repeatedly in his newspaper All the Year Round. The figures back then seem as industrial as you might expect from today’s battery farms. They got through 32 tons of biscuits and 420 gallons of milk per annum at the turn of the century, which seems incomprehensible at a time when workhouse children were rationed three bottles of beer a day as it was cleaner than water. Nevertheless, Britain’s love of domestic animals – especially man’s best friend – makes facts like these understandable, and it’s pleasing to think of gluttonous hounds waddling around on a hot day being shaded by the pillars of nearby Battersea Power Station.The more one reads about Battersea Dogs Home, the more impressed one becomes of the scale of it in the sum of its parts, as well as its societal contributions. In 1918, dogs from Battersea were the very first batch of war dogs to ‘enlist’ in the War Dog School, an institution that trained dogs to become runners, sentries and munitions carriers over the course of the conflict. The home continues to supply dogs to the armed forces and emergency services today. Nowadays, some 300 staff and 1000 volunteers work there at any one time across three sites – 258 dog kennels at the Battersea London site, 171 at Old Windsor and 51 at Brands Hatch – who keep it ticking along on a day-to-day basis. Something such as this needs funding, and as many of you will know, coming up with new attractive ideas for the purpose of new sources of moolah is an increasingly problematic task.
It wasn’t until 2011 that the home saw the advantages in nominating ambassadors – recognizable faces who can bring attention to a larger audience through the usual means of television, social and print media. It didn’t take long for them to nominate their first ambassador, David Gandy. Rather aptly, they began work with him by doing a photoshoot (video). “Social media and everything went absolutely wild, everyone loved it,” he says. His creative juices have since flowed forth as he progressed in his new role.
Despite the fact that he has a Mark & Spencer line out now, he makes sure there is time set aside in an undoubtedly busy schedule to touch base: “There are weekly communications between us all. It’s really about coming up with new ideas at the end of the day, and bringing people in to help.” It’s a task he has proficiently succeeded in doing. “ I came up with the celebrity dog walk last year, selling myself, Mollie King, Daisy Love and Jeremy Irons,” he says. “We all offered ourselves up for auction on eBay for people to have a dog walk with me. A woman came over from the States to have a walk with me. ” She may felt the dog was third-wheeling the date, but nevertheless this idea of his was a massive success and is a testament to his genuine concern and the get-up-and-go attitude that he brings to the table.
You will have no trouble in believing that he is bona fide dog lover. “They are my love – I’ve grown up with dogs; I would have loved to have been a vet.” Alas, it was not to be and instead he’s had to settle for being the most successful male model of all time. In doing so, Gandy did what Rudolf Nureyev managed to do with ballet, which is to enter a lady-centric profession and lever that gender playing fields (on the flip side, it is what Martha Argerich did for pianists), a coup of irrefutable validity and worthy of serious congratulations.
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Despite this, Mr. Gandy seems to have no interest in behaving like any good model should. With his looks, he has a God-given right to pick up a bad drug habit, feature heavily in gossip columns and lead a life of well-rounded tackiness, but not a bit of it. In fact, he has a charitable soul that was nurtured from a young age. “My mum, my dad and my grandparents were all very caring people,” he says. “I worked at a dog sanctuary when I was 15. One of my aims was always that when people got to know me a little but more, I would use it for charity. I think it’s a very important thing that if you’re in the public eye, you find charities and put your name and time towards [helping] them.”The concept of fitting celebrity faces to charities in order to raise the profile of the cause is not entirely new. Historically, championing on lending your name to a charity was the fiefdom of the royal family. Princess Anne, currently known as the hardest working royal, is involved with over 200 charities. But the need for mysticism with the House of Windsor means that there is a gap for a more focused and available person of note to take on the task. So with the television becoming the ubiquitous household item during the 1980s, wiling ‘schlebs’ began to increase in tally, and have continued to till today. And in this world of Twitter, Instagram and, of course, the Mail Online ‘Sidebar of Shame’ things can go viral fast, especially if they’re about animals. “It’s amazing, really – you can put something on my social media, it’ll go to a quarter of a million people within half a day,” says Gandy, “but if it’s something on dogs, it’ll go to a million people within a few hours.”
Quick exposure can cause problems, though. The HBO uber-geek series Game of Thrones realised and enormous increase in the sale of Huskies to live in London (despite the fact that the ‘direwolves’ in the series are in fact Northem Inuits and not Huskies – just sayin’), and keeping Huskies in a city is extremely irresponsible. David’s opinion on the matter is straightforward. “Huskies are bred to run a hundred miles a day. They shouldn’t be in London, they shouldn’t be bred for London – they shouldn’t be in any city really.” When you have to add arrows to your quiver of reasons to remain famous, charity is a safe bet, which is when things become slightly cynical and tainted. Counter to the spirit of it all, there are people who will grin a bear it just to raise their profile. The impressive thing about Mr. Gandy, though, is the plain fact that he takes total initiative in how he deals with his charities, and doesn’t care twopence for how it makes him look – the celebrity dog walk being a clear example.
By chance, I was present at Emma Willis’ Christmas party for her Style for Soldiers charity – another noble endeavor which clothes the wounded soldiers back from the heather of war and gives them a source of dignity where there bad hitherto been none. He was only meant to drop in for 10 minutes – understandably, as it was Christmas, and he is a busy man – but he ended up staying the entire night and even helped clear up. “I almost want to invite everyone in the fashion industry,” he says. “It puts everything into perspective when you meet these guys who are double-amputees, or they have a face badly injured or one limb, but they don’t moan or want sympathy. They want opportunities.”
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He seems particularly keen to help out on home soil, in that he is involved with major charitable endeavours that are linked to the fashion world in which he yields the most clout. He holds a place on the British Fashion Council, which runs the biannual London Collections: Men, a vital date in the diary for The Rake and men’s fashion. As well as that, he launched the Blue Steel Appeal, a foundation that raises money for Comic Relief through one-off events/experiences – with support from the likes of Victoria Beckham, Valentino and One Direction. The Zoolander allusion is a nod of irreverence to an industry often accused (sometimes correctly) of taking itself too seriously as well as a flexing of this entrepreneurial muscles. It raised £300.000 in its first few initiatives, and has adopted the same universal appeal that Gandy has promoted at Battersea Dogs Home.“We don’t have these big dinners where the people who have the money buy very expensive tables and pay all their money to one-offs which they can pretty much get to anyway,” he says. “I wanted to give people an opportunity outside of the fashion industry. So that’s why we collaborated with eBay.” The problem there is, the amount raised will often not be as substantial as tapping the high-net-worth individuals, but the concept has a purity to it, which makes the deficit worthwhile. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge craze confirmed the way in which charity needs and wants to become all inclusive: “Build it and they will come,” as Kevin Costner would say.
Further to that, he was part of the ‘Oxglam’ team that ran the London Marathon in 2011 with gayness Deyn and Henry Holland. More recently, he did a campaign for the Philippine retail giant SM Prime Holdings and donated his fee to the victims of the devastating Typhoon Yolanda of last November that killed 6340 people. We can’t say exactly what the fee amounts to, but what we can say is that the money is going on to help build 11 homes and they plan to name a street after him. With a characteristic touch of humility and class, he has asked that it be named after his late grandmother instead.
David Gandy leads by example. It is hard to fault his record or commitment to what he puts his name to. It is inspirational to watch the way he puts his ingenuity into gear to come up with fresh ideas and initiatives. He is hard act to follow – and we at The Rake salute him for it – but since there are so many charities out there in need of a person to put their hand up, I think we must all try.
Order your copy of The Rake here.
Source: David Gandy's Official Facebook
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'David's Selections' Holiday Gift from London Sock Company
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My Selection by David Gandy Warm up the holidays with a wonderfully original gift idea. A winter casual sock trio along with his style tips signed by David himself.
The British Company 'London Sock', founded in 1913 and inspired by making style more accessible to the modern gentleman creating high quality socks, annouced las week the special and Limited Edition Holiday Gift 'My Selection by David Gandy'.
David Gandy with London Socks Company during London Collections:Men S/S 2015
Pictures courtesy of MariaScard.com
On this occasion, the British model has selected personally a set of three pairs with three styles:
- New Limited Edition Winter Houndstooth offers a beautifully soft and comfortable, yet durable sock for winter casual wear.
- Our Simply Sartorial Skye Blue style provides the perfect accessory for professional style.
- Spotted in Shoreditch completes this set, providing a classic style for any occasion.
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The gift is available online at the London Sock's website
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