I wanted to be an independent woman, a woman who could pay for her bills, a woman who could run her own life - and I became that woman.

Don't let any of your good habits get boring.

My clothes are great for a honeymoon: They're light and sexy, colorful and pretty, and not expensive.

There is nothing more thrilling than arriving in a new place on your own and feeling the sense of possibility and excitement that brings with it.

I was a very young girl and I got into fashion very much by accident, wanting to be independent. What was wonderful was that while I was learning and discovering - learning about the work, discovering myself as a woman - I was allowing other women to feel the same way.

The other day I went to a school in Harlem to talk to some 7th graders [12-year-olds] and I said, ‘If I have to give you some advice, the most important thing is: the sooner you become your own best friend, the better your life will be,’ 

Animals come from nature. They were not designed. All my inspiration comes from nature, whether it's an animal or the layout of bark or of a leaf. Sometimes my patterns are very bold, and you can barely see where they come from, but all the textures and all the prints come out of nature.