I wanted to dress the woman who lives and works, not the woman in a painting.

I am impressed with America's capacity for change, and their ability to bring someone as inspirational as Barack Obama into the White House.

Today, people no longer go out with a total look or ensemble taken straight from the runway. Customers mix and match between labels and between price points. The idea is to create something for yourself: what you want, and how you want it. I realize that shoppers want more flexibility and choice now.

The world is changing and so is fashion.

There are always protests, whether you do something good or bad. Even if you do something beneficial, people say you do it because it's advertising.

I've used a lot of jersey, but I've also done a lot of complex pattern weaves in these fabrics in solid colors, and there are lots of little dresses for cocktail and evening. I've done a series of very important evening dresses as well, just to show that these two ideas can also work well together. Today's woman can wear an important evening dress or a simple pant and top. It's all in the personality of the woman.

I find that fashion recently has been a little too hasty. Often times, it's put together quickly to catch the attention of the media, and I didn't want to do that.