Anna Dello Russo, Secret Olympian?

Anna Dello Russo Turned
I mentioned in last week’s post about Taylor Tomasi Hill and Joanna Hillman that Anna Dello Russo is the owner of quite possibly the greatest legs in fashion. “But she’s not a model,” you secretly think, laughing at my childlike enthusiasm (a lot of people do!). Since when have you ever seen a high fashion model who is the picture of health and vitality, excluding the anomaly that is Gisele? But what about that Refinery29 slideshow… oh that’s right, it was about how unhealthy they are at the end of fashion week. Discoloration of the hands and feet is one side-effect of eating disorders.

Anna’s athletic, toned body is as much a part of her street-style imagery as the over-the-top outfits. In a few different interviews she’s disclosed her early morning work-outs and healthy eating habits as the key to her remarkably in shape body. My mom is an avid runner and she used to invite me to go on runs with her from time to time. I accepted because I never turn down a challenge, but was always secretly miserable because I could never keep up. I felt bad because not only is she my mom she was also in better shape at 40 than I was at 14. In her defense she always encouraged me by saying “you can’t just wake up one day and run six miles fast without training” to try to get me to go on more runs. I saw right through that one. I’m a perfectionist and could never get past the “warm up” stage of running when your calves burn like hot coals.

Fast forward to now, and my best friend from college is a big runner too. Every time she stays with me in Chicago she runs in the morning while I sleep in an extra hour. Yup, I’m that girl. My ability to eat whatever the hell I wanted and maintain a svelte figure, which lasted a full 25 years, finally disappeared this summer. I’ve fallen out of shape and I think this photo is the inspiration (aka a kick in the butt) I needed to get back into shape. After all, now both Anna Dello Russo and my mom are in better shape than me, and they’re both twice my age at around 50 years old!

Obviously since winter is around the corner I’m not going to run around in the snow crying tears of ice about how my metabolism finally slowed down! I’m going to be proactive and join a gym.

So, my loyal readers, can you recommend a gym in Chicago for me to join?


4 Comments


  1. I'd love to know of one good gym as well. I'm new to Chicago and have been suffering from the same problem. At least now you've got the motivation you needed to start.
    http://www.luluabroad.com

  2. i dont like going to the gym, not because i´m lazy but because something always comes up, i prefer going running because the minute i get, the minute i can run in my neighborhood, and also is more fun!! but of course here in my small town in México doesnt snow, soooo enjoy your time at the gym for now, but you´ll have more fun when spring arrives!

  3. I loathe working out and would also rather snooze for an extra hour, but I've found that hot yoga really works for me. It's a great relief from Chicago's bitter winter weather and changes your body fairly quickly. Om on the Range in Lakeview is a great hot yoga studio. The instructors are down to earth and helpful, as are most of the people who attend the classes.

    Good luck!

  4. I would recommend David Barton gym(that's where I workout and love it). Its not as expensive or pretentious as some of the other gyms around. The classes are fun but challenging(rope burn,guns and spin),try it out.

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