My father was an artist. When life was harder and he couldn't get jobs, he painted houses, but he was artistic. When I went to see his work, it was special. Somewhere along the line, I felt I was special. I didn't know why.

Success isn't based on 'look what I can do!' but more on an inner sense of self and believing you have something to say in your own consistent way. And I think we all have to fight to maintain our unique style and taste in a world that would have us conform.

Enjoy your family. Do things that you like to do. Stay strong. That's the secret to remaining happy.

I didn't have a vision as in, This is where I'm going. I had a vision as in, "This is what I love to do."

Sometimes when I walk into one of my own stores, I look at the display and say, "This looks so good - I want to buy it." Yet other times I walk in and the displays and mannequins will be all wrong, and I don't want to buy anything. When a customer walks into a store, she's looking for inspiration. So I'm tuned in to people, and I care about what they need and who they are.

I'm a fan of people that have quality, that do what they do and that are not into the showbiz.

If I get to the point where I don't like my clothes, I'm in big trouble.