If I were a buyer today in one of the American department stores, I would go with extremes-the most beautiful, the more expensive, the more eccentric. I would take risks. The worst thing would be to buy only the little black dress. You know why? Because everyone has it already. I would go with a purple dress, something different

Pure, intense emotions. It's not about design. It's about feelings.

When I'm traveling the world, I don't ever look anymore at the geography - just enough to catch galleries and paintings.

I am very much a people person.

I am very sensitive to the smells and sensations that are part of perfumes because they remind me of things: moments from the past, people, events.

Wear flats. You're short. It's much cooler not to pretend.

I was thinking recently, If the body really is the new dress, as some are saying - with women buying boobs, butts, faces - then who needs a dressmaker? So I started designing spring like a plastic surgeon - everything stretchy and nude. But after three weeks, I was so bored with myself and the world, I began adding diamond butterflies and chiffon and colors. I realized that fashion is not about second skin. It's not the perfect white shirt or camel jacket. What women need is a dream.