My mother was extremely controlled, sort of flawless. And I always tend to be a bit more hippie.

All I did my first year at Vogue was Xerox.

I think fashion is intensely personal. It should be. It should give a woman a creative outlet, it should give her a little bit of an escape, and it should give her a little bit of individuality that she can add to her life. I don't mean redoing your entire closet. I mean that a great shoe or a great handbag or a great top or a great coat or jacket can change everything.

I do speak Mandarin, and I also relate to the hunger that China has for culture and architecture and style.

The key is falling in love with something, anything. If your heart's attached to it, then your mind will be attached to it.

I always see where I didn't do things the right way. I only see the heavy lifting. That's a bit of my wisdom, if you want to call it that.

In the dream world of Matisse and the gritty reality of American frontier, the diversity of women in our society offers the chance for greater exploration and even greater inspiration.