anne-laure: a quiet choice to stay close to myself

At sitre, we’ve always believed in creating a space for honest, inclusive conversations about intimacy and wellness—values that align perfectly with Paris-based Anne-Laure's deeply thoughtful approach to life. We first met her in Paris during a workshop at Paris Fashion Week, and it was immediately clear that we shared a common vision.

For Anne-Laure, self-care isn’t just a buzzword or something to feel pressured to prioritise. It’s a daily, conscious practice of checking in with herself, connecting with her needs and wants, and embracing the impermanence of life. She reminds us of the importance of staying curious—about ourselves and our partners—because, as she says, “you never know everything.”

This conversation has been a powerful reminder for us as founders of a start-up, where it’s all too easy to let personal needs fall by the wayside. But we only have one life, and as a brand, we believe we’re here to feel good. Anne-Laure’s wisdom has inspired us to truly prioritise that connection with ourselves—not as work, but as an essential part of living well. As she so beautifully puts it, self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s about staying loyal to who you are.

Join us as we explore Anne-Laure’s unique perspective on intimacy, self-care, and the transformative power of staying present with yourself and others. And make sure to follow her right here.

Hi Anne-Laure, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and how you’re feeling at the moment?
My name is Anne-Laure. I wear many hats: I create experiences that connect creative industries and brands, I guide brands in the art of telling their stories, and I also work as a talent agent, supporting creative talents in finding their place and voice.

Right now, I feel filled with a gentle, vibrant energy, as if everything around me, and within me, is quietly blooming. Spring has always been my season, it’s the time of my birthday, a moment of renewal that feels both discreet and profound. It teaches me to trust the invisible work of life, to surrender to rhythms I cannot control but can honor.

Watching nature awaken, slowly, effortlessly, remains one of my favorite reminders that growth often happens in silence.

Could you tell us about your personal journey and how it has influenced your perspective on intimacy, self-care, and wellness?
I’ve always had an intuitive relationship with intimacy. Over time, I’ve learned that intimacy isn’t first and foremost about another it’s about how we listen to ourselves, how we care for our inner world, how we respect our emotional landscapes.

Self-care, to me, is not a trend, nor a luxury. It’s a deep act of loyalty to oneself. Recognizing what nourishes us, what depletes us, what anchors us back to what matters. It’s a living, breathing dialogue, one that shifts with seasons, needs, and emotional tides. It’s the quiet choice to stay close to yourself, even when the outside world asks you to move faster, perform more, or detach.

At sitre, we aim to break down taboos surrounding intimacy. In your view, what are the most important misconceptions about intimacy that need to be addressed today?
We need to move beyond the idea that intimacy is only about the body, or romance, or grand gestures. Intimacy is much wider, much wilder. It exists in a conversation, a shared silence, a knowing glance, a simple act of being fully present with oneself, or with another.

Another misconception is that intimacy must be polished or perfect. Real intimacy is often messy, fragile, beautifully human. Its true magic lies in its rawness in the spaces where we allow ourselves to be fully seen, without control or expectation.

How do you believe intimacy and connection evolve within relationships over time, and what advice would you give to those navigating these changes?
Intimacy is not static; it’s a living, breathing entity. It stretches, contracts, softens, sometimes retreats to return stronger. And that's not something to fear, it's the natural rhythm of connection.

My advice would be: stay endlessly curious about each other, even after years. Never assume you know everything there is to know about someone or even about yourself. Make space for silences, for growing apart and then closer again, for renegotiating the ways you love. Deep, lasting intimacy isn’t about certainty.

It’s about evolving side by side, and choosing each other anew through every season of change.

We often discuss the importance of self-intimacy and self-care. How do you incorporate these into your daily life, and are there any rituals or practices you find particularly grounding?

For me, self-intimacy is woven into small, sacred gestures. A coffee alone in the sun. A few pages written without a goal. A swim in the sea when my body longs for it. A slow walk through streets or forests, with no destination, just presence.

I don't hold myself to rigid rituals I trust the fluidity of my needs and listen to what calls me at different moments.

Self-care, to me, is not about achieving wellness. It’s about offering myself a space where all versions of me tired, hopeful, heavy, light are welcome.

From your perspective, how does culture shape the way people approach intimacy and wellness in their lives?
Culture shapes the stories we tell ourselves about what intimacy "should" look like and often, it confines it to the visible, the performative, the spectacular. In many modern narratives, wellness and intimacy are framed as things to achieve, display, or perfect. But real intimacy, real wellness, belong to the invisible, the subtle, the deeply personal.

I believe we are slowly shifting from performance to presence. We are rediscovering the power of slowness, of tenderness, of vulnerability. Culture can become a liberating force if it invites us to listen inward, to honor what is felt rather than what is shown.

For individuals looking to enhance their intimate connections or cultivate greater self-love, what would be your top piece of advice?
Start by learning to speak to yourself with the tenderness you would offer a dear friend. Honor your rhythms. Forgive your imperfections. Allow yourself to remain incomplete, in motion, becoming.

Self-love is not a summit you reach. It’s a quiet home within you — a place you visit again and again, where you are always already enough.

anne-laure: a quiet choice to stay close to myself

shop sitre

home read about contact