Alexandra Van Houtte, a fashion tech entrepreneur, has created a distinctive home in Paris that reflects her British and French heritage. Located in an Art Deco building opposite the Luxembourg Gardens, her apartment combines traditional Parisian features—such as wooden floors, tall windows, and zinc rooftop views—with colorful, relaxed décor marked by gingham patterns and floral motifs. Van Houtte, who founded the catwalk search platform Tagwalk in 2016, lives in the home with her husband David, an infrastructure finance professional, and their two-year-old daughter, India.
Van Houtte describes herself as feeling "more English" despite her dual background. Her family has a strong entrepreneurial history; her maternal grandfather David Stapleton and grandmother Annabel bought seafood producer Pinneys of Scotland in the 1970s, supplying smoked salmon to retailers including Marks and Spencer. Their family later settled in Cumbria, England, where three of their daughters maintain ties. Van Houtte grew up in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, which she characterizes as “conventional” and “stuck-up,” but found a more fitting environment on the Left Bank, where her parents relocated during her teenage years. There, she embraced the literary and international culture as well as the green spaces around her.
Van Houtte met her husband David through Tinder in 2020, and together they spent time seeking an apartment that met their exacting criteria: an open kitchen, wood floors, lift, caretaker, two large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a reading room, and proximity to a park and metro. Their eventual home features an open-plan kitchen opening onto a gingham banquette seating area and living space, which connects to a library-style snug. The inclusion of a reading room instead of a traditional dining room reflects Van Houtte’s preference for a laid-back atmosphere, contrasting with classic French style.
The couple’s home is furnished with a mix of vintage and contemporary items, sourced from flea markets, online platforms such as eBay, and the Brussels-based Edji Gallery co-founded by Van Houtte’s brother Edward. Among the art pieces are paintings by Studio Lenca and Killion Huang, as well as unique ceramic plates issued by Dior as fashion week invitations. Van Houtte also curates sentimental and protective objects, including lucky amulets, elephant images, and evil eye motifs positioned near the front door. A stained-glass window featuring a sunbeam motif adorns the apartment landing, which she recalls as a serendipitous symbol at the time of viewing.
Professionally, Tagwalk serves around 450,000 users—comprising designers, stylists, journalists, buyers, and merchandisers—who rely on the platform to research and analyze fashion trends. The company has incorporated artificial intelligence to enhance image tagging and trend prediction, streamlining its staff from 30 to 14 employees. Major clients include Adidas, Walmart, and Burberry. Despite the digital nature of her work, Van Houtte emphasizes the importance of separating professional and personal spaces, focusing on relaxation and escapism at home.
Van Houtte embraces social media cautiously, using it primarily to share personal recommendations through her Substack and Instagram accounts. Among her favorite local spots is Chantelivre, a bookshop with a hidden children’s room offering books and activities, which she frequently visits with her daughter.
Beyond her daily routines, Van Houtte places importance on annual retreats to Marbella’s Buchinger Wilhelmi health clinic, where she disconnects from technology to fast and immerse herself in self-help literature. Her personal reading preferences vary from easy, light-hearted fiction at home to heavier works like Dostoevsky shared with her husband.
Van Houtte’s Parisian residence serves as a blend of cultural influences, family heritage, and a pursuit of comfort and joy, reflecting both her professional ambitions and personal values.