David Gandy, 43, is the Essex-born male model best known as the longtime face of Dolce & Gabbana. He walked in the 2012 Summer Olympics Games closing ceremony, and launched his popular collaboration with Marks and Spencer’s Autograph underwear line in 2014. For the past three years he has run his own apparel brand, David Gandy Wellwear, and lives with his wife, Stephanie Mendoros, and two daughters.
Find at least an hour of solitude a day
Downtime doesn’t exist for me at the moment, I have two young girls. The routine starts with the bath, I make sure everyone (including my wife) is fed and then when everyone is in bed, I head off to the gym. It sounds a bit weird but that’s my hour of solitude when I switch the phone off and just listen to music and workout. Matilda has just turned five, and my little one is two. I love being a dad, but there is not much free time.
Weekend’s are best spent in London
We bought a house in Richmond Park last Christmas and are still doing some renovating. At the weekend, we stay around here — we are very fortunate to have the best of both worlds, with London on our doorstep as well as Richmond Park. I take Matilda swimming on Saturday, horse riding on Sunday and do plenty of walks with [my Yorkshire Terrier] Dora.
Keep date night sacred
Me and my wife always try to keep Friday nights to ourselves, after we have put the kids to sleep. We like to have a bit of time together, I cook and we share a few glasses of something. We look forward to it every week.
Involve the kids in your fun
I love spending time with my kids. I want them involved in everything that we do and experience — to be at restaurants, experience food, culture and conversation. Recently, we’ve got a lot of friends with kids around the same age, so I try to get everyone to the house. All the kids stay over, the parents stay over, and we cook. It’s easier not to worry about babysitters or taxis. We make sure to have a fun afternoon with the kids, then get dressed up and come down for a nice evening. It’s what we built the house for.
Don’t bully yourself into a diet
I don’t have any diet, which people are sometimes quite surprised about because they have a pigeon-holed view that models don’t eat anything. But I am a 15-stone guy who is 6ft 3”, so I burn through calories like there’s no tomorrow. I try to get as many calories and protein as I can through a busy schedule, and what I don’t get I supplement with protein shakes and creatine. My one rule is stay away from processed food — it’s getting harder and harder, but white flours and pastas that have all the goodness taken out are bad. People don’t realise.
Cardio is not king
I don’t have a personal trainer, I have always done it myself. I don’t do any cardio, but I do a four mile dog walk each morning, and then I don’t really stop — from about 7am to way past midnight. I did a marathon about six years ago and it was about the last run I went on if I’m honest. It put me off running for life.
Change clothes to help you decompress
I was never a loungewear or pyjama wearer until we came up with the concept of it for M&S, and then I founded my brand [David Gandy] Wellwear. But it becomes a routine, and you get used to changing at home and releasing how much more relaxed you are in soft clothing. I used to come home and stay in jeans, but now change to complete the day. It just lets your mind know when you are at home.
Don’t worry about who finds you sexy
Some people appeal to some people, some appeal to others. In the Dolce [& Gabbana] days I was selling that kind of fantasy. If people call me a sex symbol now, that’s very nice but it’s really not something I think about.Hackett London x David Gandy Wellwear, from £50, davidgandywellwear.com
