Fashion designer Amanda Wakeley on Tracey Emin’s embroideries, a denim trouser suit and cruising in the Greek islands

My personal style signifier is my nails – I like them to look immaculate. A manicure always makes me feel groomed and I always wear a dark colour – currently OPI’s navy blue. They are so glamorous. Light My Sapphire, £12.50; opiuk.com

The last thing I bought and loved was a pair of black Tibetan lambswool-covered beech chairs by the Czech designer Jindrich Halabala. They are a bit mad but beautifully designed, with incredible sweeping arms. Similar at 1stdibs.com

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a khaki bikini by Kiini. It makes flattering pieces with multicoloured crochet trim. I love that they are handcrafted – the longer I am in the industry, the more the provenance of my clothes is important to me. £220; kiini.com

The last music I downloaded was Anjunadeep 08, an album mixed by James Grant and Jody Wisternoff. It’s a laid-back house mix that’s perfect for playing on our yacht, which is moored in St Tropez

My favourite room in my house is our sitting room. We live in Chelsea, right on a kink in the river, so we have uninterrupted views down and upstream. At night it is completely magical. Because we love being on the water, to be on the river with all the movement and activity is spectacular.

The best book I’ve read in the past year is London Uprising: 50 Fashion Designers, One City. It’s beautifully produced, on matte brown paper, but it’s also a sensitive, behind-the-scenes insight into this amazing creative hub. The depth and variety of designers and their studios is lovely. £69.95; phaidon.com

If I had to limit my shopping to one town, I’d choose St Tropez. We are always there in May, just as it’s coming to life before the craziness of July and August. Sénéquier is a wonderful pâtisserie that does the most sublime pain au chocolat. The old fish market is close by, in an alleyway – it’s so beautiful with its marble counters, which are all scrubbed down by midday. La Cave du Golfe is a great wine merchant where there’s always an open tasting for the rosé of the season, and close by is a music shop, Rapsodie – it always has great new mixes. Isabella M Vintage is a treasure trove with stunning vintage jewellery. Isabella M Vintage, 22 Rue de la Citadelle (+336-3003 9176; isabellam.com). La Cave du Golfe, 3 Place aux Herbes (+334‑9497 2475). Rapsodie, 18 Rue Sibille (+334-9497 1494). Sénéquier, Quai Jean Jaurès (+334-9497 2020; senequier.com)

A recent “find” is Morentz, a furniture dealer in the Netherlands. I’ve bought a few pieces, including a Willy Rizzo coffee table – it has beautiful furniture, and the service is above and beyond. morentz.com

The best gift I’ve given recently was a pair of vintage diamond and jet dress cufflinks to Hugh, my partner. I bought them from the dealer Humphrey Butler in St James’s, who specialises in antique jewellery. humphreybutler.com

And the best one I’ve received recently was an amazing platinum palladium-on-linen male nude print by Horst, from 1952. Hugh got it for me; I am a very lucky girl. It’s exquisitely beautiful – I love Horst’s work – but made even more special as it’s one of a small series that was shown at Hamiltons in 2006. hamiltonsgallery.com

An object I would never part with is my rose gold Rolex Daytona which I have worn ever since my father died; it reminds me of him whenever I put it on – it’s very special to me. rolex.com

My favourite websites and apps are Ski Tracks, an app that measures everything from how high you have climbed to your top speed – especially useful when skiing with family, as it can get quite competitive; Ruuby, a beauty concierge app that is brilliant for women (and men) on the go – it’s so quick to use; and Matchesfashion.com – it has a real point of view, a good mix of brands and amazing customer service.

My style icons are all sorts of women who are effortless in the way they put themselves together, and women who really own their look. But there’s no one that I would single out.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is the Rosablanche in the Swiss Pennine Alps. Hugh, my partner, and I are keen ski tourers, and mountain glaciers are always awe-inspiring places to be, with the enormity of the crevices, the solitude, the quiet. One day, we summited and toured across the glacier and came across a herd of 20 bouquetin [wild goats]. It was absolutely extraordinary; even our mountain guide who is there every day in the winter couldn’t believe the sight.

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is some beautiful shots of those animals. I am not a souvenir shopper but I will treasure the photographs that we took for the rest of my life.

The people I rely on for beauty and wellbeing are my trainer, Jason Progl – we do ballet, deep stretch and interval training and no two workouts are ever the same; I’ve broken my body so many times and he’s always put me back together – and Yusuf Gonen, who colours my hair. He comes to me, which suits me down to the ground. I don’t have time for regular facials and all of that. Jason Progl, 07973-717 059. Yusuf Gonen, 07445-141 417

The last meal that truly impressed me was a dinner at a friend’s house cooked by the culinary anthropologist Anna Colquhoun. She cooked mostly vegetables but in the most mouth-watering combinations – a courgette, fennel and kohlrabi salad, for example.  Everything was utterly delicious. culinaryanthropologist.org

In my fridge you’ll always find avocados, eggs and smoked salmon, which, combined, are an instant meal. And there’s always a bottle of Stolichnaya Elit vodka and a bar of 90 per cent chocolate from Lindt.

An indulgence I would never forgo is travelling, at least once a year, to an amazing, inspiring place. We are very opportunistic about where we go, so it can be anything from combining work with a trip somewhere I have always wanted to go – this year it’s Shanghai – to revisiting incredible places. I love cruising through the Greek islands and crossing through the Corinth canal is pretty magical.

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Tracey Emin – but there’s a specific piece I’d like: one of her large-scale embroideries. I went to see her at her studio when one of these was being worked on, and the combination of crafting and art is so powerful.

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a crinkle denim trouser suit from my summer collection. It’s a new and refreshing way to wear denim, and I love the fabric, which we have specially developed at one of the mills we work with in Italy. Denim Echo trousers, £795, and blazer, £895; 18 Albemarle Street, London W1 (020-3691 2982; amandawakeley.com)

The beauty staples I’m never without are Dr Sebagh Serum Repair, which is really light; Trish McEvoy Even Skin Water Foundation, a new discovery – it feels like you are wearing nothing on your skin, which I really like; YSL Opium – I love the spicy fragrance and I don’t feel dressed without a spritz of it; and Dior’s DiorShow Black Out mascara, which goes on really well. I’m pretty low-maintenance but a good mascara is a must. DiorShow Black Out mascara, £25.50; dior.com. Dr Sebagh Serum Repair, £69 for 20ml; drsebagh.com. Trish McEvoy Even Skin Water Foundation, £55; selfridges.com. YSL Opium, £44 for 30ml EDT; yslbeauty.co.uk

If I didn’t live in London, I really can’t imagine living anywhere else. It has such an inspiring mix of culture, restaurants, creativity. Perhaps at another point in life I can imagine living in a village somewhere, or spending a year in Venice, but London really is the global capital.

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a sculptor. I really like the idea of getting back to using my hands and working with beautiful raw materials.