Here's why you will never see Gwyneth Paltrow in Uggs
How did you celebrate your last milestone birthday? Because you may have forgotten to upgrade.
Not for wardrobe, says Gwyneth Paltrow, 43, in a new interview with U.K.'s Red magazine. Your internal software. At least, that's what happened to her. “At 40, my life changed so much," she told the magazine. "I think every woman around that time gets this massive software upgrade. You‘re just different. You’re upgraded. For me there were just a bunch of changes I had to make to really be true to myself and really live my happiness. And you have to be brave and make the choice to do that, to truly accept yourself and love yourself and really forgive yourself for your mis-steps. So it’s been a long interesting road to get to the place where I feel really content and that I really know myself and like myself. I wish they could teach girls to do this when they are 16 instead of 40, but that’s part of life.”
Since every interview with Gwyneth proves to be as fun and savory as trying recipes from her cookbooks, here are a few more choice quotables.
On life in L.A. vs. London
“It’s funny, but I’m busier here than I was in London for all those years," she says. "I think because the time difference (with the U.S.) afforded me a lot of down time at funny hours and I entertained all the time. Here it’s less. I think it’s also my kids’ ages too. (Editor's note: Apple is now 11, Moses is 10.) My daughter dances outside of school eight hours a weeks, so it’s a lot of shuttling back and forth; also taking Moses to karate and soccer games and basketball games. In London I used to really take my time and plan out my meals. Now, it’s like, okay you’ve got half an hour, which is why I wrote this particular book. But I still entertain a lot on the weekends - a Sunday lunch, having people round, having lots of kids. It’s nice because we can do it outside as well.”
On not being a sweatpants mom
She described her personal style to Red after moving from the U.K. to L.A. (and it may not win her any fans in the carpool line.) “You know, it’s so funny. I remember coming and looking at schools and seeing mums in their Lululemon exercise pants and Uggs going out to lunch. And I remember making a promise to myself that if I move to LA, I will get dressed every single day. I dress the same as when I’m in London.”
On, yes, conscious uncoupling
“I think that I’m very lucky in that I have such a willing partner in agreeing with, and teaching me, as much as I taught him," she said of her ex, Chris Martin. "And bringing to me, as much as I brought to him, ideas about how to do it in a really gentle way, so it would be really gentle for Chris and myself because we loved each other very much and we still do love each other and we have these two beautiful children together.”
“Time is an important part in it as well,” she added. “We had broken up a year before we announced it, so we would have this time to work through everything. But it’s also almost about having to press the ‘override’ button whenever you feel angry or jealous or whatever, broken-hearted. You have to press the button - I’m going back to the baseline of I love this person, he’s the father of my children, he’s a wonderful man. I’m just going to put my (crap) aside for right now."