New York Fashion Week comes only twice a year, make it count

I like to spend time with my family - that's the most important thing in my life.

Fashion is about affordable luxury ... To succeed, designers need to be affordable, wearable, accessible, and aspirational.

Winning a trophy is always nice, but my personal satisfaction comes from reflecting on the passion, motivation, and determination that went into getting me there.

Consumers around the world always want something unexpected and exciting, and that's what drives me. I love the challenge of reinterpreting my designs in new ways each season to keep the "prep look" modern and fresh.

I looked at the rap community like street kids wanting their own brand. But now I look at that period with the rappers in the 90s as a trend of the moment. What it taught me was never to follow a trend, because trends move on.

Trying too hard to follow every trend. You want to look fashionable and put-together, not like you hit every sale rack this season.