Fashion designer Nicholas Kirkwood on the ’80s look of Theo Hutchcraft, Siena’s Palio horse race and James Turrell’s Roden Crater

My personal style signifier is my 1980s Timex gold watch that I bought on eBay. It’s like the original Apple Watch in its design, and I love the 1980s aesthetic. I am also obsessed with sneakers and wear Nike Air Max 90s – I have them in multiple colours. nike.com. timex.co.uk

The last thing I bought and loved was a work called Orion & the Water Giver by Haroon Mirza, from the Lisson Gallery. He takes everyday objects and applies neons and colours – this one uses solar panels. I’ve liked his work for a while and am trying to get a few pieces for the office or the Georgian house I am renovating in Margate. lissongallery.com

And the thing I’m eyeing next is an Italian table from 1stdibs in glass and lacquered wood. It’s an articulated design from 1980 that can be split into many parts and reconfigured in different ways.

A recent “find” is the Chess Club in Mayfair. It seems quite hidden away and I love the playful, eclectic interiors by Fran Hickman, which make it feel like a home away from home. The food is fresh and seasonal, lots of it from the chef Jackson Boxer’s family’s Sussex farm, and in interesting combinations like bavette with salt-baked beetroot and anchovy. 1A Chesterfield Street, London W1 (020-7495 6171)

The people I rely on for personal grooming and wellbeing are Claudia Louch, a nutritionist and dermatologist I discovered a year ago; it takes ages to get an appointment but she is excellent and a great believer in holistic natural solutions. Michael Charalambous has cut my hair for ages – he used to be next to our store on Mount Street; he’s really good but also really fun. Boniface Verney-Carron has a health practice where I go for osteopathy a couple of times a year, and if I am in LA I try to visit Touch of Faith Aesthetics, which uses lots of light therapies and collagen. My skin feels babysoft for a week afterwards. harleystreetskinandnutritionclinic.com. nyumbasalon.com. tofaism.com. vchealthpractice.com

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose Gangnam-Gu in Seoul; it’s probably the most concentrated collection of some of the best shops in the world. I love Boon, a large concept store designed by Peter Marino. It has amazing brands, a restaurant and bookshop. I also like the other concept stores such as Space Mue or Rare Market – and 10 Corso Como, which has a lovely café. Boon the Shop, 21 Apgujeong-ro. Rare Market, 95-5 Cheongdam-dong. 10 Corso Como, 416 Apgujeong-ro. Space Mue, 93-6 Chungdam-Dong

The grooming staples I’m never without are Nasomatto Black Afgano – I love the darkness of the perfume; it’s quite woody – and Epicuren skincare that you can only get in the US – it’s simple and natural, which suits my skin. I use three products: an exfoliant made from ground bamboo, a facewash and a probiotic moisturiser. Epicuren Acidophilus Probiotic Facial Cream, $87 for 125ml; Clarify Cleanser, $30 for 60ml; Micro-derm Ultra-Refining Scrub, $28 for 15ml; epicuren.com. Nasomatto Black Afgano, £118 for 30ml parfum; nasomatto.com

The best gift I’ve given recently is a black and blue snakeskin Céline Belt bag to my mum. She’s quite classic in her tastes and wore a lot of Céline in the ’80s. celine.com

And the best one I’ve received recently was a first edition Helmut Newton book, Sex and Landscapes, that my team bought me from Assouline on Piccadilly last Christmas. 196A Piccadilly, London W1 (020-3327 9370; assouline.com)

The last music I downloaded was La Sveglia by Alessandro Cortini. It’s fantastic-sounding, but also energising and uplifting. I found him on Spotify – it’s a really great way to discover new artists.

My favourite apps are Procreate, a drawing program that I use on my iPad – I do all my sketching on the iPad now, so I use it every day – and Curiosity Stream, which is like a TV channel with an amazing edit of science, technology and documentaries. I also use HeadSpace, a meditation app – it’s simple but really useful for relaxing on planes or in the morning before work.

My style icon is Theo Hutchcraft, the singer from Hurts. He has a slightly ’80s look – slick but simple. 

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a black zip-front bomber jacket by Berthold, which has a studio just across the road from ours. I don’t particularly like shopping for clothes, so it’s very convenient. berthold-uk.com

My favourite room in my house is the living room, which has a library area with Pietro Russo shelving and a 1950s chair by Edward Wormley.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Siena, where I went last summer for a friend’s birthday. I had been to Siena before but never to the Palio, and it was the most amazing experience. The whole town transforms, there’s lots of pomp and ceremony, and the actual event is really intense and dangerous.

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home was some coloured hexagonal Murano glasses that I watched being made in Venice. The glassblowing is sort of violent with all the heat, but so delicate at the same time; the precision is incredible.  

In my fridge you’ll only find skimmed milk (often out of date) – I always eat out or order in – and there is usually ice cream in the freezer.

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is James Turrell, although I would need a lot of space. I have always admired his work and I am obsessed with going to see his Roden Crater in Arizona’s Painted Desert.

An indulgence I would never forgo is my morning yoga lesson at home with Pandora Paloma, who I have been seeing for about a year. I started doing yoga to de-stress, but also just to get more flexible – and it does take my mind off work. rootedlondon.com

The last meal that truly impressed me was at Belle Parti, a very traditional restaurant in Padua, where we recently went for a team dinner. It’s almost like you are eating in someone’s living room. It’s very old-school but the attention to detail is incredible, from the superb cocktails to the exquisite presentation of everything. The menu is quite short, with lots of fish and pasta, but it’s all beautifully done. I had the same thing I always have – spaghetti cacio e pepe. Every time it feels like a treat. Via Belle Parti 11, 35139 Padova (+39049-875 1822; ristorantebelleparti.it)

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Elon Musk’s Tesla SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic Future. I am fascinated by him and his ambition – he’s so inspiring. A lot of people have invested in digital and software, but he’s focused on hardware and technology, whether it’s solar panels that don’t look like solar panels, or electric cars – products that can genuinely be incorporated into our lifestyles.

An object I would never part with is my iPhone. I don’t know how anyone dealt with life before the smartphone was invented. If I am somewhere with a bad signal, I get quite anxious. 

If I didn’t live in London, the city I would live in is LA. It’s the opposite of London – the weather, the people – and it’s very easy to be healthy there. I love Maxfield: the menswear is great, but I also love the decor of the shop and the books and curiosities. The sneaker shopping is amazing – I like Undefeated in Silver Lake; you can get limited editions and other designs you just wouldn’t find in the UK. Sushi Park doesn’t look anything much, but the food is amazing – you sit at the bar and the chef will just make you whatever he wants. The Broad museum downtown is an incredible building with a great contemporary art collection. And I love staying at Chateau Marmont, where you can either hide away or be part of the scene. It’s so notorious you never know what might have happened in your room. The Broad, 221 South Grand Avenue (+1212-232 6200; thebroad.org). Chateau Marmont, 8221 Sunset Boulevard (+1323-656 1010; chateaumarmont.com). Maxfield, 8825 Melrose Avenue (+1310-274 8800; maxfieldla.com). Sushi Park, 8539 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood (+1310-652 0523). Undefeated, 3827 West Sunset Boulevard (+1323-668 1315; undefeated.com)

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a furniture designer. Designing is the only thing I am good at. I’d love to be an architect, but I couldn’t face a seven-year course.