Shopping with . . DEBORAH SIMS

As a former member of the Hong Kong Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimming teams, a holder of the Hong Kong 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke records, Deborah Sims is well qualified to run a fitness salon. BBD (Body By Deborah) health and beauty spa launched in Causeway Bay in 1996, and her second salon opens next week in Central.

'I love shopping, I just never have the time to do any. And I always buy what I like - not what I need - like jewellery, bags, belts, shoes, earrings . . .

'Funnily enough, I don't wear much sports wear. I usually order from the Carushka catalogue (13940 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, California 91423. Tel: 818 904 0574 or www.carushka.com), an American brand that caters for health clubs. Leotards are out of fashion - now it's more tank tops and long tight pants. Carushka makes flattering sports wear in traditional blacks, whites and reds and I like the tight fitting style. The cutting suits me and I can wear them exercising but also when I'm out casual.

'Trainers, basically I wear whoever sponsors me, so usually Reebok and Nike. I haven't bought trainers for 10 years so I can spend money on other things!

'I do most of my shopping in Europe - Paris, London, Milan - when I'm sourcing new treatments for my salon.

'I don't have the time to walk around so I like department stores like Harrods (87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1. Tel: 4420 7730 1234 or www.harrods.com) where you can buy everything under one roof. I love the accessories floor. I recently bought a thick crystal choker by Butler & Wilson there. And I could spend a day in the food halls.

'I'm not into brand names, I just go for styles. I tend to buy clothes from eclectic boutiques in Paris like Plein Sud (2 rue Vide Gousset 75002. Tel: 331 4236 7502) and Morgan (92 avenue Champs Elysees 75008. Tel: 331 4359 8372). I like shoes, all different styles, but they must be interesting. Style is more important to me than comfort. I have about 300 pairs and I don't throw any away. I look after them and train my maid to look after them. I like Stuart Weitzman (625 Madison Avenue, New York, NY10022. Tel: 212 750 2555

or www.stuartweitzman.com for branches), an American designer who makes really feminine shoes, and Fiorucci platform shoes. In Hong Kong I buy shoes at Lane Crawford (70 Queen's Road Central. Tel: 2118 3388 or www.lanecrawford.com.hk for other branches) which has a huge selection of brands, such as Via Spiga.

'I'm a big collector. I collect perfume bottles, new and antique, mainly from France, England and Italy. I've been collecting them for seven or eight years and I have about 400 bottles, mainly quite ornate Victorian styles in glass and silver. I find them at perfumeries and antique markets, like Portobello Market in London (Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove, London, W11).

'I also collect silver tea sets. I have about 18 sets, mainly bought from markets like Portobello and Camden (Camden Lock, London N1). And I collect Lalique glass ornaments in the shapes of leopards and tigers (Shop 122, Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2522 5400). I have the whole set.'