Celebrity interview with Caryn Franklin, by Sarah Edwards
Caryn Franklin has worked in fashion for 25 years as a writer, presenter, producer and director. As a mother of two daughters and having single parented for a while, she understands only too well the demands most women experience on their time. She is married to TV director Ian Denyer and they live in London.
Formally a fashion editor and later co-editor of i-D magazine, she is best known for presenting the BBC’s much loved Clothes Show for 12 years and BBC’s Style Challenge for three years.
She has regularly appeared on GMTV, LK Today and This Morning as well as hosting her own programmes such as The Frock and Roll Years. Caryn is currently filming a second series of Clothes Show now re-commissioned for UKTV Style.
She has produced and presented four documentaries including a programme for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign, and even played herself in the recent British cinema hit Confetti.
Having interviewed everyone from Giorgio Armani to Yves Saint Laurent, as well as having strong opinions about women and image, Caryn is also regularly asked to appear on a programmes such as Trevor Macdonald, The Wright Stuff, and news programmes.
She has written for a variety of magazines including i-D, Time Out, Marie Claire, Sunday Times and Woman's Own, and is currently writing for Eve Magazine. Caryn has also produced four books.
As well as lecturing at colleges such as the London College of Fashion and consulting for a variety of fashion brands, Caryn has co-chaired the award winning Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign with Amanda Wakeley, for ten years, raising millions of pounds, and has been instrumental in the Oxfam Clothes Code Campaign - travelling to the Dominican Republic for government and union talks. She has also been a patron of The Eating Disorders Association for many years.
Caryn celebrates all bodies, and her website www.howtolookgood.com is dedicated to demystifying fashion.
She has just launched a new collection for Simply Be, which will be available in the new spring catalogue.
Caryn revealed that early starts are not unusual in her household! She said: “Sometimes I have early starts, sometimes normal. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to get dressed in the dark so as not to wake others; our youngest always finds her way to our room! I can be up the other end of the country and back late or over nighting, or working at my desk in my jeans and able to take my youngest to school. There is a lot of variety in my job.
“I have always worked since I had children, and I took Mateda everywhere with me when I went back to work two weeks after giving birth. It helped that I was on a very popular TV series at the time and I had a lot of support. My mum came out on shoots with me. I was breast-feeding of course so there was a lot of stopping and starting. I remember interviewing the lovely Anita Roddick while I was wearing Mateda and jigging her up and down. Anita didn’t bat an eye! With Roseby I went back to work after three weeks but I had a different schedule so I was able to start slowly and build up.
“Most women I know work incredibly hard. I try my hardest to let my children see me not working all the time and having spontaneous fun. We’re not all necessarily better mothers for working but we are more independent and that is my motivation. We have different frustrations to stay at home mums but I have chosen my path and I’m very happy with it, I believe my daughters are too since they have a contented and motivated role model in me.
“I know the fact that I work irritates them from time to time when I can’t drop everything to attend an impromptu event. Or maybe I’ve had a booking in place and even with notice I still can’t attend a concert but it’s rare. When I can make something happen like a holiday or just things they need, I remind them of the benefits of working.”
Caryn added that women who work should not be judged. She said: “Many women don’t have any choice but to work. I have two single parent sisters who would have plenty to say about that. I believe I am a better mother for working because I am strong, in charge of my own life, excited by the work that I do and the socialness of it and content with my life. This is the woman my daughters both see each day. Both are independent and equally expectant that their lives will deliver the same level of pleasure. I’d say that is an important role model too.”
All working mums need support, and Caryn is no exception. She added: “My partner, and au pair support me, and I have extended family if I need it. I’ve had some fantastic women in my life who have acted as my wife and I’d like to thank each and every one of them for the part they’ve played in mine and my daughter’s lives.”
Caryn’s secret to staying in control is all down to flexibility. She said: “Flexibility and being able to control your own diary is important. Remind yourself when something does clash that you have chosen this path and talk to your children at all times to let them tell you what they feel about your work. We keep a family diary in the kitchen too because this is crucial for us to write all school happenings and work commitments down as soon as we know them.”
So what about the critical work life balance issue? Caryn added: “I take each day as it comes but I do also book myself out for a day here and there at half terms and holidays and make sure I have special time with each daughter doing the things they want. The biggest help to my working life is my mobile and the fact that my oldest can text me at all times. We have great communication that way and with my youngest, she knows she can always reach me too.
“Because women can multi task and running a business and running a house and a family alongside it makes sound economic sense for lots of us to work from home these days. I know that I can get a huge amount done during the days I’m at my desk buy apportioning my time. I will put a wash on then write a piece. I’ll hang it out then make a domestic phone call alongside business phone calls. I make a list down to every phone call that needs to be done for each day and tick it off.”
Jenni Trent Hughes is one of the nation’s best known advice columnists and broadcasters, and Mums in Control Magazine is delighted to have had the chance to speak to her as part of our regular Inspirational Women series.
Jenni is a regular commentator on social issues for BBC1 Breakfast News, has co-presented ITV’s Loose Women and Toddler Taming, and is also the relationship expert from CH4’s Perfect Match.
She is about to grace our screens with Donny Osmond in an upcoming 30 part series for the BBC, and though she is neither old nor grumpy she is a mainstay of BBC2’s Grumpy Guide to Life series. She also appeared regularly on Big Brother’s Little Brother.
Jenni’s career began, and still continues, in radio. She recently wrote and presented her first radio documentary What My Daddy Told Me for Radio 4. She interviewed Michael Winner and other men on their relationships with their fathers. The program was both poignant and thought provoking and was chosen as Pick of the Week.
Her book, Tough Talk Made Easy – 101 Difficult Conversations and How to Have Them was published Thorsons/HarperCollins, and she is currently finishing a book on relationship and dating tips for the Greatest In The World …..series. She was agony aunt for handbag.com for three years, and had a column in RED magazine
Jenni was recently named as one of the leading women on the internet and has recently launched her new website KickUpTheBackside.com providing advice, one-to-one counselling and life-coaching; it is also the banner under which she delivers successful seminars on self-improvement, self-confidence and very popular dating events.
Jenni is separated and has a 13-year-old son. They live in North London.
She told Mums in Control: “I am exceedingly lucky in that I get to work from home most of the time. I tend to work through the week and whenever possible I take Fridays off. I tend to be a nocturnal creature and now that I am separated I will sometimes take time off in the day and write at night instead. I usually wake up at about 6.30 when my son comes in for his morning hug and a chat.
“I make his packed lunch the night before and we make sure that he is prepared for school in advance so I actually don’t have to get up in the morning anymore. I will catch up on the news until about 8.30 then up for a shower.
“Sometimes I will go out for a coffee just to be sure that I don’t spend too much time on my own. At about 11 I will start working and work straight through till my son comes home at 5. I will catch up on his day, help him with his homework and prepare dinner. From 7.30 to his bedtime at 9 I don’t work, and then sometimes if I feel the urge I will write after he has gone to bed.”
Like many mothers, Jenni has not always worked, and when her son was born took the decision to stay at home for the first few years.
She added: “My son was five when I started working part time, and he has always been supportive of the fact that I work, possibly because from the very beginning I made a point of bringing him along with me whenever possible. I think that as long as we keep apologising for being mothers and pretending we don’t have children that there will always be bias against mothers in the workplace.
“There are pros and cons for continuing your career when you have children, but it is hard enough job to do without people putting in their two pence. Personally I believe that whenever possible it is beneficial for you to stay home with younger children if you can. However I believe that as your children grow older it is very important that you work outside the home as it sets a good example.”
One of the most important aspects of running a home and a career is having a good support network in place. Jenni added: “My biggest support is actually my son Jack. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your children is to teach them how to help around the house. It will make your life easier now and more importantly it will make them self-sufficient adults. His father also helps out which is very important as my work often involves unsociable hours or being away from home. When that happens he moves back in so my son’s schedule is uninterrupted. One of his ex-teacher’s lives close by and she also pitches in when necessary. I desperately need a cleaner but that means that first I would have to clean up!”
It is a fact that most working mothers suffer from pangs of guilt, and Jenni has sound advice for dealing with this.
“Don’t be guilty – it’s a waste of time and can affect your relationship with your children and yourself. Whatever your decision is about working then just say to yourself ‘This is what I’m doing and that’s that. I would also suggest that you take advantage of whatever labour-saving and timesaving products or services that you can.
“Make a list of everything that you do in a month. Check to see where you are duplicating or possibly places where you can combine tasks, and if you are part of a partnership or your children are over five then delegates, delegate – they’re never too young to help out.
“And finally, we should all accept the fact that there is no such thing as The Perfect Mum – at least not in the real world. So stop trying to be one. Be the best you can be and your children will love you for it. All they want is a sane, happy mum!”
Celebrity interview with Jenni Trent Hughes, by Sarah Edwards
