Fashion is not frivolous. I am a businesswoman, a very serious person.

New York is full of creative people, not only in fashion.

I have worked with wool all my life as a designer. There's so much more to it than knitwear - it's an amazingly versatile material and can be used in so many different ways from chic to rustic.

The first thing I do each morning is get out of bed and give my dog, Audrey, a hug. She's a Jack Russell. I think having an animal is a wonderful thing, particularly dogs. They are great levelers, there's no nonsense with them, and they just want simple affection.

It would be very easy for us to do a collection that everybody would like and not criticize. But criticism is a part of life. You have to take it.

When I worked with Gianni Versace at the end of his life, I was the person with whom he would confide and say anything. If there was something I didn't like, I would be honest and say, "No, no, no! Do something different."

I don't like balance. Balance is not a word you can use in Versace fashion.