What I spray and slather

I stave off wrinkles with La Prairie moisturisers. I keep my body supple with body crème from Creme de La Mer. For toners and cleansers, I buy Sisley. Regular facials are not a luxury but a necessity for me. My scents are the Chanel boutique fragrances Cuir de Russie and Bois des Îles. Cabotine by the old French house Grès is a fresh and spritely warm-weather scent. I have recently discovered Balmain de Balmain and adore its masculine top notes.

What I eat and drink

I drink my two litres of water a day and then some. I eat a purely plant-based diet, so I eschew all animal products, including meat, fish, poultry, dairy and eggs. I do not eat fast foods. I never drink beer. I eat plenty of raw fruit and vegetables, always steamed or grilled. I drink copious amounts of white wine (Riesling), champagne and vodka. I am never on a diet although I always watch what I eat.

What I wear

I love Armani for jackets, Donna Karan and DKNY for dresses, Nicole Fahri for knitwear, Ralph Lauren for his classic style, Agnes B. for her accessibility and Paul and Joe for her quirkiness.

My taste in shoes runs to Balenciaga, Burberry, and Tods. For boots, Fendi and Fratelli Rossetti are timeless.

A girl should never be without gloves in winter and Loewe is a classy choice for its impeccable leather options. Loewe is equally a premier option for bags.

Myla is sexy and stylish for lingerie and Fogal is exceptional for hosiery.

What I listen to

I listen to the smooth jazz of Miles Davis and the energetic swing of Cannonball Adderley. Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane feel like old friends. The classic tunes of Duke Ellington are a joy.

I am constantly looking for new, offbeat jazz and indie sounds like the accordion of Richard Galliano and the hang of Portico Quartet. I recently discovered Moriarty - they are fabulous!

Atmospheric music, a la Susumu Yokota and Jun Miyake now have my attention.

Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin and Carla Bruni make me yearn for France. Paris Combo and their sound, so evocative of Django Reinhardt are a pleasure to listen to.

I love the reminders of my adolescence too, the 80s pop I grew up with: Whitney Houston and the pop bands The Eurhythmics and Roxette: comfort music! I dig the 70s West Coast vibes of The Eagles and James Taylor, I really do. The poets Paul Simon and Warren Zevon find their way to my heart too.

Finally, my playlist would not be complete without the crooning sounds of Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble.

What I read

I read the existentialist writers: Thomas Mann, Knut Hamsun and Milan Kundera. I read the existentialists themselves: Jean-Paul Sartre and, of course, Friedrich Nietzsche.

I am beginning to turn my attention now to the post-modernists, such as Andre Breton.

I adore the hard-hitting American realists: Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, John Updike, Richard Yates, Saul Bellow.

Among English writers, Kingsley Amis makes me roar with laughter, Iris Murdoch makes me weep and Evelyn Waugh I regard as the greatest romantic, thanks to Brideshead Revisited.

I subscribe to The Economist and Vanity Fair and regularly read The Guardian. I check in daily with Salon.com.

What I stand for

I am a classical liberalist, as well as a libertine, an aesthete and a feminist. I stand for freedom for everyone, for liberty of each soul. Relish and indulge in your own existence, but hurt no-one. I embrace life every day. I aim to live a long, full and adventurous life. I value love and optimism. I recognise those like me, the intrepid lovers of life and appreciators of beauty. I believe we never die. I believe we plan our own lives and are in charge of our destinies. I believe we must take responsibility for our choices and a large part of what we accept in our lives. I shall never give up my freedom. I shall never compromise.