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24 Hours With Shoe Designer Jennifer Chamandi: The Sacred Shift From Entrepreneur To Mother
Her bridal shoes are the accessory du jour, worn by everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Queen Rania of Jordan. The British/Lebanese founder and creative director who is obsessed with Self-Portrait, hooked on Nescafé and swears by Rodial, shares her schedule…
I usually wake up at 7am. I sleep best when cocooned with black-out curtains and a silk eye mask. I should start my day in stillness and meditation (I try every morning), but my hand goes straight to my phone! Some mornings, I pull a card from my Daily Reminders deck, which I created to inspire and align. It's a real anchor.
Daily Reminder cards, POA, Jennifer Chamandi
By 7.15am I'm in the kitchen with my twin girls, who are already bursting with energy. We have breakfast together; it's our bonding moment before the outside world begins. I drink the most delicious banana smoothing from WelleCo by Elle Macpherson. It's become a morning ritual I look forward to.
7.45am I keep things simple but sacred when it comes to my beauty routine. If I have a shoot or meeting, I go for light make-up. I love Charlotte Tilbury's Wonderglow and Victoria Beckham's Satin Kajal Liner. My skincare is by Rodial – its Bee Venom and Dragon's Blood lines are transformative. I alternate between the Bee Venom Cleansing Balm and Dragon's Blood Cleansing Water, followed by Sculpting Gel and either VIT C SPF30 or the Bee Venom Night Gel. The Bee Venom eye cream at night is magic.
Wonderglow, Dhs125, Charlotte Tilbury
Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel, Dhs480, Rodial
8am My wardrobe is a balance of structure and flow, just like my life. I gravitate toward pieces that allow freedom of movement but make me feel powerful. For office wear, I turn to Max Mara and Anine Bing. For evenings, my latest obsession is Self-Portrait, feminine with a touch of sparkle. And, of course, always in my Jennifer Chamandi shoes.
Dress, Dhs3,380, Max Mara at Net-a-Porter
Mattia Shoes, Dhs3,210, Jennifer Chamandi
At 9am I head to The Apartment, my atelier and creative sanctuary in Mayfair, London. It's a space filled with light, music and intention. I make my Nescafé (one Nescafé, two Coffeemate, one brown sugar – don't mess with the formula!), then check in with my team before diving into emails, strategy and connecting with my factory in Milan. How many emails do I get a day? Can I say a million? I back them into one to two-hour blocks, so I don't get swallowed by the screen all day – a discipline that transformed my productivity. Otherwise, the to-do list becomes the day.
For lunch at 12.30pm I keep it simple, a salad or soup at my desk. Not ideal to eat in front of my screen but a bad habit I inherited from my banking days.
2pm The afternoons are a creative crescendo, reviewing samples, brainstorming designs, checking in with my factory, or nurturing partnerships. I put on high-frequency music to stay in the flow. I sneak in a few gummy bears (Jelly Tots are my new obsession) and a little wink to the old-school pick'n'mix from my banking floor.
I aim to leave by 6pm to be fully present with my daughters. That sacred shift from entrepreneur to mother grounds me. Presence is the most generous gift you can offer anyone, especially your children.
At 7.30pm it's phones down (at least I try, my husband may say otherwise!). Bedtime with my girls can take an hour, full of existential questions, giggles and infinite cuddles. They keep me mindful and inspired all at once.
8.30pm Once the girls are asleep, I spend time with my husband, debriefing on the day and usually attempting to watch a movie or a series after watching a billion trailers. Before bed, I might read a little. I've currently got two books on my nightstand: Grit by Angela Duckworth and Elle by Elle Macpherson.
10.30pm Sleep is sacred, and I need a minimum of seven hours to function but eight is my sweet spot. I always try to close the day with a short meditation and visualisation. It clears the noise and reconnects me to purpose. I usually need a few deep breaths to fall asleep as I lie in bed mind planning my next day and new inspiration flows. It's often where many of my best designs are born.
All Imagery Supplied
