Lili Sumner

It’s no surprise that model and director Lili Sumner has spent her life playing muse to many. Embodying an elegance and quiet confidence that defies her years, shs is a constant inspiration for some of the industry’s most prolific designers and photographers. Fronting global fashion campaigns and walking runway shows for Saint Laurent, Céline and Miu Miu among others, Lili brings an element of electricity to everything she touches. 

There is no denying the magnetic and undeniable charm that Lili exudes. Nothing about her is a copy – she is eclectic, wise and  unbelievably talented, and has a curiosity that carries her through. She has immersed herself in learning – whether it’s through, books, scriptures, or memoirs from ancient days (most possibly about female heroism or medieval women and their magic), Lili brings with her a timeless sense that there is something bigger going on than what we see.

She has recently moved from her solid position in front of the lens, to behind the camera where she does what is so natural to her, and explores the beauty around her. 

Directing the first beauty motion feature for The File with her long-time friend and model Sofia Fanego, Lili draws on her lived experience to bring a sense of vulnerability, offering zero imposition. Maybe that’s the charm of Lili, she doesn’t anticipate or expect and is fully content with life as it presents itself to her.

Whether she is in front or behind the camera, it’s important she is there, bringing something more to everything. Lili is the ultimate The File woman, forever a muse to us and a role model for what we are here to bring – truth, humility, presence, and honest beauty. 

Beauty means powerful presence. I honestly think it’s just that for me. 

Caring for the body, from the inside out, is important to me—treating myself and others with reverence is what makes the difference.

I value age a lot more than I did. I’m probably more drawn to that older woman who is self-assured. I want to know her story and her perspective. Living life and holding yourself with self-respect, knowing your inherent beauty – that’s enticing to me. The wisdom.

 I think for me I feel more empowered being on the other side of the lens because I’m interested in storytelling rather than just being the character. I like switching to that side. I feel more powerful and it’s just indelibly exciting. I’m grateful for my time as a model because I understand the vulnerability of being depicted and being someone else’s vision.

I think, because I started modeling so young at 14, I haven’t really known an adult life outside of that perspective of seeing yourself and how others might perceive you, but I think everyone deals with that. I have managed to be reasonably healthy with my relationship with myself throughout modeling, somehow honestly, I don’t really know how. I think if you have some sort of self-control with that negative view of yourself and you are aware of it, then you don’t allow other people to get into your head too much or the media to get into your head too much.

But I think it has to be an active job to fight off the gaze and the ideals that we’re told we should be.

In the morning because I cleanse the night before, I just splash my face with cold water and dry with a towel. Then I use some sort of serum. At the moment I’m using  Emma Lewisham oil cleanser, and then use a little bit of a blemish face serum, and then squalane Omega Repair Cream from Biossance. I love this – It helped heal my perioral dermatitis 

If I had makeup on I would cleanse with Micellar water first. I love the Clean Slate cleanser from May Botanicals, Georgia May Jagger’s brand and if I have any sort of spot or anything red coming up, then I use a little dot of the Boots Teatree & Witch Hazel Spot Wand it’s my secret weapon. Then I would do the same serum as before, and add an Augustine Bader retinol serum every other day. And if I’d had a bath, I would do a body oil. I love just the one that you get in Paris at the pharmacy, Nuxe. the Neroli one, It’s kind of like a men’s one, but it smells delicious. And jojoba oil. Honestly, I’ll oil my body up. And maybe a magnesium balm on the feet.

 I’m using Sam McKnight’s Intense Treatment Mask. And I kind of switch it up with shampoo. Sometimes I use Olaplex conditioner. I dye my hair so its all about getting moisture back into it and keeping it lightweight. I also like the Rossano Ferretti spray.

I don’t wear much make-up bar concealer and lip balm. I use a tiny bit of Hourglass concealer on redness. On lips, I love L:a Bruket lip balm and sometimes I use a colour lip crayon from Ilia. I use Paco Rabanne mascara occasionally. I used to experiment with make-up but I’ve gone off it – unless I’ve had my make-up done on set by an amazing artist – then I always want to keep it on and go out. It’s fun when it is a collaboration.

I take all the usual suspects: vitamin C, B, D, fish oil, probiotics, green powder. I love pilates and yoga. Yoga I do at home and I go to a studio for pilates. Meditation is about creating space; noticing the world, checking in with myself through journaling, bathing, breathing, and in ceremony with friends.

I bathe like Cleo Patra; ritualistically and sensuously. This is my reset. I take my journal, books, music, candles, salts and oils into bathtime. I also love sharing ritualist practices with friends. Writing together with prompts on special occasions such as the full moon. Sharing my practice is something new and powerful I have discovered, especially in a world of such heightened individualism. I find myself uncoiling into trusted friendships. These practices make me a kinder, more open person. Honesty with self is the greatest tool for growth!

Conventional perfumes make me sneeze! But I love scent. My friend Zoe has been making me delicious oil perfumes with hinoki wood and frankincense. They smell like a church. Corpus deodorant in cedar flora is the most sensual delight of a deodorant.

Tommy Stayton in London does the most fantastic hair.