My favourite thing

For make-up artist Mary Greenwell, it’s a drawing by Karl Lagerfeld

The days of hanging out with Karl Lagerfeld, Sam Mcknight, Paolo Roversi and Patrick Demarchelier in Paris in the early ’90s are some of my most treasured memories. The era of the supermodels began in 1984, so they were at the height of their powers, and I flitted between New York, London and Paris doing their make-up, with pit stops in Milan and Tokyo along the way. We were all so connected, so close. Karl used to call me the Duchess of Portland – he still calls me ‘Duchess’, in fact. It was a very affectionate term. The public perception of Karl may not be that he’s the most light-hearted chap, but I can assure you, he’s got a wonderful sense of humour.

One day in 1992 he presented me with this pastel drawing he’d made of me. It was completely out of the blue, though I knew he always worked in pastel – he was always drawing and is still a very keen artist. I just love it. I think it’s very funny and very fabulous. I keep it in my bedroom, along with many other portraits, and I don’t always look at it but, whenever I do, it makes me smile. It reminds me of those young, carefree days.

Of course I still see Karl, but those memories of us being young, silly and skipping down the lawn at his home in Fontainebleau are incredibly special to me.

The fact that someone, especially someone like Karl, took the time out to make me this is incredibly flattering. It’s a gorgeous thing, and it makes me smile. Karl is one of the most divine people in the industry.

Mary Greenwell is the UK ambassador for Laura Mercier’s make-up artist collective