Great fashion is all about surprise. It should always be about doing something that isn't by the book.

I think of my life as divided between a lot of different periods. I grew up in the country, but as I got older I became more of an urban person. That's really when I started to become more of a creative person who was interested in fine arts, painting, drawing, and music. I studied jazz for a long time. Looking back, all those things were great training.

Great fashion is all about surprise. It should always be about doing something that isn't by the book.

I'm attracted to that mix of things that are very refined and polished, and things that are almost accidental. I feel like the best things happen when you're on the path to making something, even if where you end up is not where you thought you would.

The collection under my name is an exciting opportunity to really express my own aesthetic and connect with a very different consumer.

Having your own store is one of the most immediate ways to connect with the customer, to really get to know her and develop a more intimate relationship.

I feel lucky to love what I do. It doesn't feel like working. I do all the projects I do because I like doing them, whether it's a book or a photo shoot. For me, my work and my life are the same.