I hope the average woman feels she needs practicality but with a little bit of fantasy. Otherwise it's just not fashion.

I don't love reading so much, but I love book shopping. It's just because I don't have much time.

I came to New York in 1986. My father didn't think it was a good idea. I didn't know how I found it, but I went to Hunter College. I had no money and I couldn't speak English.

I wanted to be involved with fashion, though I didn't know what being a designer meant.

I cannot live without art: it excites me, it challenges me, and it leads me to the next thing.

I get so much inspiration from my travels, but I also started an exercise where I write down so many words every week. Then I begin crossing them off. We create a grid of words and also images, but words for me are more ample because you can interpret them your own way.

It's so hard to actually find that niche for yourself. It's like when Nicolas Ghesquiére found Balenciaga. I hate to sound esoteric, but there is something about a house that leads you to that one chair, that one corner, where you just sit and feel comfortable. I feel very comfortable at Calvin Klein. My name is associated with it enough, and we have a fantastic team here.