“I had one small request when we moved into our apartment on Rue Dupetit-Thouars in the Third Arrondissement: that we would reserve a corner by the window as my portrait corner. It’s meant keeping the wall bare of decor or furniture, which Philae has reluctantly agreed to. I’ve lost count of the number of portraits I’ve made here – from casual ones of visitors and models on go-sees to formal ones for friends’ businesses; even a cover for FEMALE and now this of Philae.”

Saint Laurent by Anthony Vacarello tweed jacket, silk top, leather shorts and brass earrings, Saint Laurent

Silk blouse and brass necklace, Chloe

Celine by Hedi Slimane silk dress and Maillon Triomphe bag, Celine

“When Philae and I were apartment-hunting during our first few months in Paris, we were sleeping on a sofa bed at my brother’s place on the Ile Saint-Louis – the smaller of two islands on the Seine right in the middle of the city… The best part about that time was that the Seine was at our doorstep whenever we left the house, crossing north when we headed towards the Marais and the right bank, or south to Saint Germain and the Rive Gauche. We still like to reminisce about those months whenever we walk by the river.”

Cotton-blend cardigan dress and Classic tweed handbag, Chanel

Embellished silk organza dress, brass necklace, leather cuff and boots, Dior

Silk-blend jacket, denim jeans, cotton hobo bag, metal belt with leather and leather sandals, Chanel

“Just behind where I’m standing to take the picture of Philae on the steps in front of our building is what we jokingly refer to as ‘our tree’ as it has been our constant companion in the years we’ve lived here… Especially now that we’re in our second Europe-wide lockdown, we’ve been toying with the idea of moving to the outskirts – the banlieues – where we fantasise about having the perfect atelier in which I can have a small studio and Philae a separate bureau to do her perfume formulations. But when we think about our place now – our little street where neighbours know us by name; this little nest that we’ve built – we realise that we might be sticking around for a little longer.”

Silk dress, viscose-blend boots and Hourglass top-handle bag, Balenciaga

Cotton garbadine trench dress and leather tote, Alexander McQueen

Photography Chuck Reyes Styling (via Facetime) Chia Wei Choong

This article first appeared in the Dec 2020 Be Yourself edition of FEMALE