22 June, 2016

SELFRIDGES MEETS: Lorraine Candy

She’s the editor-in-chief of ELLE UK, the mother of four children and a fitness fanatic. So how does modern-day superwoman Lorraine Candy maintain her work-life balance? And what is her next fitness challenge?

 

Out of all the UK fashion magazines, ELLE stands out as being the most dedicated to fitness and wellbeing. Why is this important to you?

Feeling strong and confident is very important to the ELLE consumer, and exercise creates those feelings. We always say ELLE is as much about the woman in the dress as the dress itself, so I have to deliver a magazine and website that reflects all the readers’ interests and informs her about what is new, now and next. Our readers are extremely dedicated to being fit and our fitness coverage is very much about being healthy and happy. It’s not about personal bests or losing weight; it’s more about community and enjoying life with your friends by joining in with what they do to stay healthy. We want our readers to try new things and we help find the activities that best suit her.

 

You're known for getting stuck into fitness challenges with your team. Are you training for anything at the moment?

Various members of the ELLE team have completed triathlons, swimathons and marathons, both in the UK and abroad. I’ve done three triathlons (very slowly), a swimathon, three half-marathons and multiple 10ks. As a team, we’ve run several London 5ks, 10ks and half-marathons. We even have a yoga teacher on our staff – assistant editor Fern Ross – and we often have a yoga lesson in the fashion cupboard on a Friday. We also all jog or run together every Wednesday lunchtime for 45 minutes. Right now, I’m learning to box with trainer Cathy Brown at the Third Space gym, and I’m also learning to surf on holidays in Cornwall – which is where I’m from.

 

What's your favourite way to exercise and why?

Running, which I took up after the birth of my fourth child in 2011, was my first love, but horse riding is my all-time favourite sporting activity because I love horses so much. I grew up in the country and I worked at a stable every weekend as a teenager until I’d saved up enough money to buy a horse that was retiring. Now my eldest child, who is 13, rides and we sometimes have lessons together.

 

 I never wimp out because I know I will feel so much better afterwards. My mantra is ‘just put your trainers on and move’.

 

As editor-in-chief of ELLE UK and a mother of four, you must be busier than most. How do you find time to fit everything into your schedule? How do you switch off?

I’m very organised and I’m a morning person so I get up early to exercise or I fit it into my day by running to and from work. I am always motivated to stick to a schedule and will make it to a training session or a swim, no matter how I feel or whatever the weather. I never wimp out because I know I will feel so much better afterwards. My mantra is ‘just put your trainers on and move’. You’re halfway there as soon as your trainers are on. My family is my switch-off time. We have a cup of tea and a biscuit and watch a lot of cheerful TV together. I also take a 10-minute walk out of the office on my own, minus my phone, once a day.

 

How do you keep on top of the latest trends in fitness and wellbeing? What's the next big thing?

The ELLE team keeps me updated. I read a lot of fitness blogs and books about athletes – the winning mindset is very useful! And I talk to trainers at the gym, too. Boxing and ballet seem to be big news right now. I’m told there are even a few combinations of the two classes: ‘boxerina’.

 

We've heard a lot about athleisure in the last year or so. What are your thoughts on it? Do you/your team wear yoga pants to work?

On Wednesdays we wear our running kit into work and often stay in it all day – I sometimes do that on a Friday, too. I am flexible about what people wear as long as they look stylish! I live in my pyjamas when I get home and spend way too much on designer ones – Stella McCartney makes some beautiful PJs. Funnily enough, I'm not a yoga fan (I just don’t enjoy it so I never wear yoga pants!) but I love leggings, and there are so many fantastic brands right now that it’s easy to look smart and stylish in them.

 

What do you make of the new Body Studio at Selfridges?

It’s lovely to shop in such a luxurious space, with fantastic changing rooms that make you feel happy to get undressed.

 

What's your proudest moment at ELLE UK?

I'm very proud of my team. We hot desk and I don’t have an office so I sit with the team every day. We’re a fast-paced, creative and playful team who enjoy coming to work every day, and we enjoy each other’s company. I'm proud of every issue of ELLE and I’m particularly looking forward to our new-look ELLE, which comes out in September 2016.

Keep up to date with Lorraine Candy and the Elle Fit team here.

 

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