SIXTY
SECOND
THERAPIST
STYLIST ’S�LIFE�COACH��
LISA�MERRICK-LAWLESS��
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Giles Deacon
unravels his
private life
The King of British fashion, Giles
Deacon, 39, talks to Stylist about life
behind the catwalk and why he can’t
switch off from work
You’ve worked for Gucci, Louis
Vuitton, Tom Ford and designed
a collection for New Look. Do you
put pressure on yourself to succeed?
Sometimes. It’s hard because I’m
putting my name to the designs
so immediately there’s huge pressure.
But I’m a real pusher for things
and very determined. I’m a weird
combination of being very ambitious
but not a forward planner, unlike some
people who are bulldozers and know
exactly what they want from life.
I don’t agree with 10-year plans, I have
no idea where I want to be in 10 years
time, I concentrate on now.
Do you feel pressured to dress well
because you’re a designer?
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No! My fashion isn’t about me. I dress
for work, not for style. I’m in the studio
getting dirty so it’s not practical to get
all dressed up. If I’m going out, I’ll make
more of an effort but I don’t have much
time to think about it. Day-to-day I’m
in Levi’s, Uniqlo T-shirts, silly coloured
socks and trainers. It’s not about what
I wear – it’s about what I design.
Have you ever struggled with the
nature of the fashion industry?
It’s a massive misconception that
fashion is bitchy. It’s no worse than
Do you have the right work/life balance?
1. It is common for me to work through my lunch break
2. I think about work in the evenings and at weekends
3. I often miss important occasions with family and friends because of work
4. At the end of the year I always have holiday left that I haven’t taken
5. I generally feel stressed or exhausted most of the time
6. I bring work home with me in the evenings and at weekends
7. Most of my time seems scheduled in some way
8. My hobbies outside work are non-existent
9. I haven’t got time to find a partner/start a family as I’m always at work
10. I spend more than 10 hours away from home most working days
any other industry. I’ve been talked
to in a condescending and bitchy
manner but you can get that anywhere.
Tempers can run short in fashion
because it’s so fast-paced. I’ve always
maintained that I should be nice
to people and work hard.
Your former girlfriend, fashion editor
and stylist Katie Grand, said you were
“fantastically talented” but also
“slightly subversive”. Is this accurate?
I do let work rule my life quite a lot and
I am very determined, it’s hard not to
YES NO
GILES FINDS IT
DIFFICULT NOT TO LET
WORK TAKE OVER
when there’s so much to get done!
I wish I could be better at switching
off. The amount of hours I work varies
hugely, but in the month before a show,
18 hours is standard. I have eight
full-time people and employ around
35 extra in the run-up to a show. I'm
a demanding boss, but I like to be fair.
It’s a democratic studio from a design
point of view; everyone’s ideas are
taken into account.
What are you most proud of?
Being named British Fashion Designer
Of The Year in 2006. It was a huge
honour for me and the studio.
I remember having to get an early flight
the next day and couldn’t drink loads
to celebrate. My talents are all really
art-based so if I wasn’t designing
clothes I like to think I’d still be heavily
involved in art. But on a completely
different note, I’d love to be a pool
cleaner in LA! In one of those amazing
mansions, watching unusual, decadent
and brilliant things going on. I have
a thing for swimming pools, I really
love to swim.
For an industry focused largely
on appearance, does it ever make
you self-conscious about your
own appearance?
No, I’m not particularly vain. I’m comfy
with myself. I was a lot more selfconscious
in my 20s. But now I’m
nearly 40, I can’t be bothered. I’m fine
with it and have more to worry about.
I try to eat healthily but there are
days when I just have a massive
craving for chips.
MEET OUR
THERAPIST
Lisa Merrick-
Lawless is an
NLP coach with
Headspace (the
headspace.co.uk)
0-3 Yes You’re on the right track and have your life
fairly in balance. If life gets too much for you, then
for every task that makes you stressed commit to
doing one thing that makes you feel good.
4-7 Yes Careful you don’t start to burn out.
Look after yourself by eating properly, keeping
reasonable hours and taking breaks. Ensure you
leave your building every day even if it’s just for
10 minutes. Commit to never taking work home.
8-10 Yes STOP. You need to take action straight
away. You could stand to lose a lot if you carry
on the way you’re going – friends, family, health and
relationships are all at stake when you devote
yourself to work. Write a list of the things you want
to do for yourself in January and make it happen.
WORDS��LISA�MERRICK-LAWLESS���PHOTOGRAPHY��REX�FEATURES
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