Take the high road. No matter how much strife, and consternation, frustration and anger you might be confronted with - don't go to that level.

I'm really not a trend promoter because I feel that people push trends on people they shouldn't.

I just don't like conspicuous consumption. I find it distasteful.

I was a teacher and an administrator at Parson's School of Design, and as an administrator, I was associate dean. And in that role, I went around fixing things that were broken. And the Parson's fashion program was broken.So fashion chose me. It needed to be developed and evolve. I don't know if it comes naturally to anyone.

Fashion it's not just about learning how to draw pretty pictures, and how to sew, it's everything that makes up your life.

I've had my own moments in front of designers when I've actually said, 'You know, there's a market here for expanding your work, and here it is. And frankly, there are two markets: The women who are larger than the 12, and then there are women who are petite. And most designers that I talk to have absolutely no interest in addressing either of those populations, which I find repugnant.

I have a couple of thousand books in my personal library. Choosing a favorite is next to impossible. But I do love the written word.