Mama Mia!

2009 September 12

Christine and Danielle Staub
Dresses, Calvin Klein Collection. Christine's shoes, Bruno Frisoni. Danielle's shoes, Brian Atwood. Cap, stylist's own. Photograph by Gilles Bensimon View Gallery

I use cream that has collagen in it. I do maybe 30 minutes a week on my legs—about 200 to 300 lunges in 20 minutes. I’ll do leg lifts, side squats, step-ups, and pliés in a squat position while doing curls at the same time. And I love crunches. I have a six-pack
and I’m 47 years old.

You should make a workout video!

Yes, hopefully that’s one of my next endeavors.

I saw you eating cookies off the catering table a minute ago.

Oh yeah, like four or five of them. I’m a big cookie fan, and I eat pizza.

What type of shoe goes best with a great set of gams?

The hotter the better. Eight inches! Dior! I don’t think a girl should compromise on shoes. I’d rather own one pair than 20 cheap pairs. I haven’t shoe shopped in probably six years. I’ve just been wearing my stock. I shopped a lot when I was married.

You haven’t shopped in six years?

Some tops, a pair of jeans here and there, but I just call everything in my closet “vintage.” I’ve also been lucky to have people come forward and ask if they can dress me. I can’t afford to go buy something new every day, so if people want to dress me, by all means! I’ll wear ’em proudly!

Do you read fashion magazines?

I do, and I drool. There was a period when I couldn’t even look. I went from having a black American Express to just having an ATM card. It was hard for me to look at things and not just pick up the phone and have it delivered overnight. It was a really good lesson. I miss handbags, and I miss shoes.

What will it take to make you start shopping again?

A credit card. I think as soon as my book hits the shelves, I’ll get one again. I was definitely addicted to shopping. I could spend a hundred thousand in a day. Everything was designer label, third-floor Neiman Marcus. I would have spent $50,000 in 20 minutes at the Dolce & Gabbana store on Madison Avenue.

Will we be seeing you at Fashion Week?

I’m absolutely going to shows. I’ll go to any show that I’m invited to. I do like the front row, I have to be honest with you.