I was always attracted to characters that were in some level of turmoil or suffering because I had so much of that in my own life and I wanted to channel it. I was always into darker things.

I'm much more of a minimalist. My mom was Russian, so she loved lots of jewelry and opulence and tons of paintings on the wall and lots of clothes. I'll buy one thing that I love a season and wear it all the time.

Everything is in our cellular level. My mom's is definitely in my cellular memory.

I want people to think about the connection between mothers and daughters. I like the idea of continuity of life and generations.

We lose things all the time. We lose ourselves every day. We lose our minds occasionally. But it's just a part of life, loss.

I grew up around so many beautiful things. My mother's jewelry and purses - they're very much statement pieces. Again, that sort of over-the-top Russian thing where it looks like treasure. I always say to my husband, you don't ever have to get me another piece of jewelry. When your mother is this amazing woman, a North Star, sometimes you want a simpler presentation of yourself.

I thought my mom's whole purpose was to be my mom. That's how she made me feel.