From Maya Jama to Daphne Guinness: why fashion loves pilates
STYLING GEORGIA MEDLEY
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR MARSHA LINDSAY
INTERVIEWS ERICA RANA
A century after it was first developed, Pilates has become fashion’s favorite form of exercise. As the practice celebrates its 100th anniversary, we meet the women who have made core control a way of life.
MAYA WEARS SILK ALL-IN-ONE, ERES. NYLON-MIX SOCKS, ALO.
MAYA WEARS TWEED JACKET, WOOL AND SILK BRIEFS, SUEDE AND PATENT-LEATHER SHOES, AND LEATHER AND METAL BAG, ALL CHANEL
MAYA WEARS LEATHER JACKET, COTTON BODYSUIT, AND PATENT-LEATHER SHOES, ALL GIVENCHY BY SARAH BURTON
MAYA JAMA
“I’m the one in class who’s always late and chats shit during it. If I can’t do the moves, I’ll entertain the rest of the class. Having a workout to look forward to — not one that you dread — is a great feeling. The community that comes with the class is also great. You leave thinking, ‘Wow, I did something amazing for my body, and I also got to see people I really love.’ I try to wear a matching set when I do Pilates because if I want to go to lunch afterwards, my outfit feeds into the day. In my class, we all made Pilates playlists. It was a lot of pressure because I used to be on the radio. I’ve got some Vybz Kartel on there. I used to party and go out dancing loads; that was my main source of fitness. Now that I’m 31, I’m calming down, but my body yearns to move.”
DAPHNE WEARS ALL-IN-ONE, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, AND SHOES, NORITAKA TATEHANA, BOTH DAPHNE’S OWN
DAPHNE WEARS ALL-IN-ONE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, AND SUNGLASSES, JACQUES MARIE MAGE, BOTH DAPHNE’S OWN
DAPHNE WEARS ALL-IN-ONE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, SUNGLASSES, JACQUES MARIE MAGE, AND SHOES, NORITAKA TATEHANA, ALL DAPHNE’S OWN.
DAPHNE WEARS ALL-IN-ONE, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, AND SHOES, NORITAKA TATEHANA, BOTH DAPHNE’S OWN
DAPHNE GUINNESS
“I got into Pilates when I was 16. There was a studio in South Kensington which was opposite the tube station. What I remember very well from my first time was that people much older than me looked like they were in such great shape. Pilates also inspires my creativity. I write a lot when I’m exercising; tunes come into my head. This conversation is reminding me why I got into Pilates in the first place. I’ve pretty much exercised my whole life; it’s not that I want to be super fit, it’s really about the headspace. Apart from drinking water, movement is the most important thing you can do. It sounds boring, but it’s true.”
MAYA WEARS LEATHER JACKET, COTTON BODYSUIT, AND PATENT-LEATHER SHOES, ALL GIVENCHY BY SARAH BURTONCOLEEN WEARS NYLON TOP, ALO. FRINGED SKIRT, AND GLASS AND RUBBER SHOES, BOTH BOTTEGA VENETA.
SILK CARDIGAN, TOP AND BRIEFS, ALL FENDI. LEATHER SHOES, FERRARI
COLEEN ROONEY
“I started reformer Pilates nearly 12 years ago. I went to a physio because I was suffering with my lower back, which I thought was from pregnancy. The physio ran a Pilates studio, and that’s how I got into it. When I’m on that bed for an hour, I just switch off. You’re not picking up your phone or thinking about what you’re doing after that class. I’ve always had fitness in my life because my body needs it and benefits from stretching, especially as I’m getting older. Movement keeps you young. Now, especially as I’ve got four boys, I feel like I can keep up with them.”
JAN WEARS MODAL SWEATSHIRT, NOW YOU LIVE. NYLON BRIEFS, SKIMS. NYLON TIGHTS, FALKE. NYLON-MIX SOCKS, ALO.
FIL-COUPÉ JACKET, SILK SKIRT, AND LEATHER SHOES, ALL CHANEL
JAN DE VILLENEUVE
“Growing up, I wasn’t sporty at all. I got a C in PE, which was so embarrassing because my mum was a PE teacher. So, I’m not a Pilates expert; I have a one-to-one teacher who I practice with. It’s just me and my machine. But, at my age — I just turned 82 — it makes the whole body feel good. I’ve got a movement disorder, but Pilates makes me feel like everything has been moved. After a Pilates session, I feel physically fulfilled. I’m not too concerned with how good I am at it, I just want to get through it. Pilates wasn’t around when I was younger, but now the idea of having something like this is important and I’m so happy to do it.”
EMMA WEARS RAFFIA TOP, AND WOOL AND SATIN PANTS, BOTH ROKSANDA. SUNGLASSES, EMMA’S OWN.
EMMA WEARS DRESS, EMMA’S OWN
EMMA THYNN
“The Pilates studio is my second home. I literally plan my life around my class otherwise I get FOMP — fear of missing Pilates. The reformer is a thing of absolute mystery and chaos. There is always a spring or attachment that I haven’t used: It’s incredible. I always shut my eyes in class and I often wear my sunglasses. You really have to focus and you can’t allow distraction. I’m not a very patient person, but Pilates makes me have patience with myself. It’s grounding and challenging. There’s a phrase I heard once that says, ‘You don’t have to, you get to.’ It applies to Pilates. Aren’t we lucky to have the space, community, time and physical ability to come and do this?”
YASMIN WEARS SYNTHETIC-MIX ALL-IN-ONE AND HEADBAND, BOTH ALO
DAPHNE WEARS TOP AND LEGGINGS, BOTH SYLVA, SHOES NORITAKA TATEHANA, AND SUNGLASSES, JACQUES MARIE MAGE, ALL DAPHNE’S OWN
YASMIN FINNEY
“Pilates gives you confidence. It’s not a pretentious or judgmental environment. Keeping up with fitness can become a lot when you’re out on the weekends and working in the week. It’s good to embed some healthy regimes into your routine that can ground you. There’s a risk of trying to be fit and healthy for the wrong reasons. You can look at social media and get lost. I think you need to do it for you, and that’s what I’m learning to do. If you want to eat a burger, eat a burger. If you want to do Pilates, do Pilates. Do you. Pilates has helped me create a healthy balance between myself and my health goals.”
PHOTOGRAPHY ALEC MAXWELL
STYLING GEORGIA MEDLEY AT ARCH
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR MARSHA LINDSAY
HAIR PATRICK WILSON AT THE WALL GROUP USING BUMBLE AND BUMBLE
HAIR FOR DAPHNE GUINNESS TOM BERRY USING ORIBE
MAKEUP HILA KARMAND AT ARCH
MAKEUP FOR DAPHNE GUINNESS TERRY BARBER AT DAVID ARTISTS USING MAC COSMETICS
NAILS ABENA ROBINSON AT AGENCY41
PRODUCTION TOM HARDERN
STYLING ASSISTANTS ALICE DENCH, MOLLIE FRENCH
HAIR ASSISTANT ROGERIO DA SILVA
MAKEUP ASSISTANT CASSANDRA SCALIA
NAILS ASSISTANT PINAR SYLVA
DIGITECH ALJAŽ HABJAN.
LIGHTING TECHS SAM JUPP, SCOTT ARCHIBALD
RETOUCH SIMON INGS AT COCOON CREATIVE
LOCATION YOU STUDIO, LONDON
PILATES EQUIPMENT BY MERRITHEW
SPECIAL THANKS TO NOBU PILATES AT NOBU HOTEL LONDON PORTMAN SQUARE
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