Lacoste’s Louise Trotter on her favourite Paris neighbourhood, Ruinart champagne and the effortless style of Debbie Harry

My personal style signifiers are men’s overcoats and vintage denim. I have a ritual with my husband, Yuske, where I buy APC selvedge jeans every year, he wears them in, then I take them a year later. I have many men’s overcoats, but one of my favourites is a black, double-breasted coat that I bought from Portobello Market. It’s in a really heavy wool with black satin lining and has slightly odd buttons after years of wear. It’s probably two sizes too big, but that’s perfect for me. From €160; apc.fr. Portobello Market, Portobello Rd, London W10

The last things I bought and loved were two paintings by the artist Gordon Crosby. They are black abstracts on white canvas – very simple but beautiful. The artist is the father of a friend of mine and I’ve admired his work for a long time. I only intended to buy one, but couldn’t decide between them; they are perfect together.

And the thing I’m eyeing next is an Alta chair by Oscar Niemeyer – I’ve wanted one for ages. I recently bought a modern house and I have found a perfect place for it in a stairwell that leads to the roof. From $14,500; espasso.com

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a brown and orange check coat from Joseph. It’s a very traditional check, cut in an oversized, double-breasted, masculine shape, and we pressed the sleeves so that they are really accentuated. Coats from £595, joseph-fashion.com

The beauty staple I’m never without is P50, a toning and exfoliating lotion by Biologique Recherche that I use every evening. It’s the best product I’ve ever used – a game-changer. £57 for 150ml; embassyofbeauty.co.uk

A recent “find” is Du Pain et Des Idées, a bakery near work that does everything in-house – which is becoming rare in Paris. I used to buy a fig tart occasionally, or a croissant in the morning, but then I tried the pain des amis. It’s crispy on the outside, and is in such great demand that they bake it constantly and you can almost always get it warm – I think it’s the best bread I have eaten in my life. €2.75 for 250g, Du Pain et Des Idées, 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris (dupainetdesidees.com)

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Noto in Sicily. We have a hideaway in the hills that is my sanctuary. I am a person of contrasts, and Sicily is exactly that. So much of the island is still unspoilt and untouched and “raw”, but it’s incredibly ornate at the same time.

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is my husband, Yuske. I found him at a friend’s wedding in Ravello. We were seated next to each other and that was it.

If I didn’t divide my time between London and Paris, the city I would live in is New York. I used to live there and really miss it. I love the energy, the positivity that permeates the city and the fact that it never stops – you can be anything or anyone there. De Vera is probably my favourite store; I adore vintage jewellery and diamonds, and it has the best rare diamond rings and antique Georgian diamonds. The Landmark Diner, a really old-school place, does the best New York breakfast, and it’s always my first port of call. The Mercer is still one of my favourite places, and it’s typical of the New York I love – it feels like a home away from home. And I love Dia Beacon, a fantastic museum upstate with the best collection of Richard Serra’s work. De Vera, 1 Crosby St, NY 10013 (deveraobjects.com). Dia Beacon, 3 Beekman St, Beacon, NY 12508 (diaart.org). Landmark Diner, 158 Grand St, NY 10013 (landmarkdinernyc.com). The Mercer, 147 Mercer St, NY 10012 (mercerhotel.com)

My favourite websites are Businessoffashion.com, where I get most of my daily fashion information; Themodernhouse.com, where I found my new house; Pamono.com – fantastic for vintage furniture; and Dezeen.com for architecture and interiors.

My style icon is Debbie Harry when she was young. She was the coolest; the epitome of effortlessness. She had her own style and did her own thing in a completely natural way.

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Sean Scully, whom I discovered in an exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery in 1989. I have a few of his books and I constantly go back to his colour palettes when I’m working on collections – the way he combines colours is incredible. His work always reminds me of that moment when you fly over England; the view looks like one of his paintings. timothytaylor.com

The best gift I’ve given recently was a Leiths cookery course, to my husband Yuske. He’s already a brilliant cook, but he learnt so much there. He and my eldest daughter Coco, who is eight, keep talking about opening a restaurant together, which would be the nicest thing. From £215, leiths.com

The best gift I’ve received recently is my youngest daughter, Gaia, who is four. I had her late in life and she really was the best gift I could have received. She was the easiest pregnancy of all of them. I really thought she was going to be the softie – but she rules the house. She has so much character.

The place I rely on for personal grooming is Biologique Recherche, where I have a monthly facial. It’s the one thing I am religious about. Each facial is custom-designed for how your skin is that day, and there’s lots of massaging built into the treatment. From €125; 32 Ave des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris (biologique-recherche.com)

An object I would never part with is my grandmother’s wedding ring, which is a classic yellow gold band. It fits my middle finger perfectly. I change my jewellery a lot, but there are certain pieces that stay on my fingers. I can really remember that ring from when I was a child.

An indulgence I would never forgo is a bath. If I stay anywhere without one, I run the bath as soon as I get home. I don’t put anything in it, but I do use Aesop Coriander Seed Body Cleanser, which has quite a masculine fragrance. £31 for 500ml, aesop.com

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose the sixth and seventh arrondissement of Paris because it is really like a village, and you can find everything you need. Hermès is by far my favourite shop, and I have slowly collected men’s V-neck cashmere sweaters from there. If I have time off, I will always pop into Café de Flore for breakfast, or to meet friends for an aperitif. Frédéric Malle is my favourite perfume shop – I’ve worn its fragrances for years, and Portrait of a Lady is the one I always go back to. There’s a tiny shop called Noro that has amazing children’s clothes – I love the collections there. And Fromagerie Quatrehomme is the most amazing cheese shop I have ever been to – the selection of cheeses is exceptional, as is the service. Café de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 (cafedeflore.fr). Frédéric Malle, 37 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 (fredericmalle.com). Fromagerie Quatrehomme, 62 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 (quatrehomme.fr). Hermès, 17 Rue de Sèvres, 75006 (hermes.com). Noro, 6 Rue de Varenne, 75007 (noroparis.com)

The last meal that truly impressed me was dinner at Lucille and Richard Lewin’s home in Marylebone. It was simple food – baked fish and salads – but they are incredible cooks. And good food is nothing without good company. 

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. I have taught my daughter to read in the past year and we were both really amazed by this book. It’s a brilliant story, but it’s also a brilliant way to teach children to read. £6.99, harpercollins.co.uk

In my fridge you’ll always find all the best things in life. Ruinart champagne; dark chocolate – I am not particular about which type, although my favourites are chocolate gingers; and various cheeses – I am a cheese addict. ruinart.com

My favourite room in my house is my living room in my apartment in Paris. It started as a place for a few days a week, but it’s become somewhere I spend a lot of time. It’s in the seventh arrondissement and is classically Parisian, with parquet floors, French windows, a fireplace and a beautiful ceiling. It has beautiful proportions and is so pleasurable to live in. We have a combination of flea-market finds and a few more significant pieces, but I’m not precious about furniture – a few bumps are part of its beauty.

The last music I downloaded was Cigarettes After Sex’s cover version of REO Speedwagon’s Keep On Loving You. I am a little bit obsessed with it; I love the melancholic vocals. 

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a nurse. Growing up, I was fascinated by biology and it still really interests me. I like the idea of caring for people and, of course, I like the uniform too.