I just hate people who are lazy. To be on my team, you have to have energy and a sense of wanting to learn. That really excites me.

I didn't even have a portfolio, but I went to Tom Ford the next morning. He said, "I'd love you to come in with me. Get a lawyer." It was quite exciting, obviously, because it was a complete departure. But mind you, what he was looking for was the exact opposite of what I thought. My first collection for him was Cher-inspired. It was flower trousers, California, hippie cool, all the stuff I did at Oscar. It was making me sick. I wanted to see the other side of the spectrum. Tom was always very secure about the way he did things, so it was quite interesting for me.

I could never before say that I loved color or that I understood color. But Oscar de la Renta opened up a side of my brain.

I came to New York when I was 21, 22. I couldn't speak English. I knew I wanted to go to fashion school.

I just hate people who are lazy. To be on my team, you have to have energy and a sense of wanting to learn. That really excites me.

I didn't know who Calvin Klein was, really. But Brooke Shields, we knew her from those incredible commercials - "There's nothing between me and my Calvins." I knew very little about American fashion then. I had no money, and Charivari was very educational to me. And Parachute. I was fascinated by those stores. I couldn't buy anything; I just went through the clothes.

My resolution is to make positivity, thankfulness and happiness my new mantra.