Designer

At Yves Saint Laurent, I felt like the son-in-law - like I was part of the family, but not quite. When I was fired, I felt like the widow.

I barely finish one pre-collection before I must start on another. Sales start, but I am already elsewhere creatively. The men's show is being prepared, but we also need to think about accessories, perfumes and other items. In sum, I never stop.

How do you stand out as a fashion ad campaign? By using people off the street; it does generate buzz.

I adore women, and the one thing I want to do more than anything is to see a transformation of personality when someone puts on one of my dresses.

I live many lives at once.

'Commercial' is not the word that has to be said only by CEOs. It has to be something that is maybe the essence of design, because design has some sort of art in it and creation, but it's also some object that you have to use. There is also this pragmatic end to it.

Women try to be the best everywhere, and it's impossible. I want my clothes to give women the freedom to just be - I want them to put on my dresses and shine.

Why not touch things that we hate and turn them upside down and inside out?

I thought, 'It doesn't matter what that woman is wearing,' but then I realised actually it's our job as designers to make women smile; to bring them the chocolate without the calories.

If I am in a beautiful place, but I don't like the people, I am miserable.

I don't think you can be a designer if you don't care.

I'm not a religious person in the regular sense, but in the Bible you're not allowed to steal, you're not allowed to lie and you're not allowed to feel you're above other people.

Many, many times I find that whatever is looking good on the screen doesn't always look or feel good on the body. So who do we design for - do we design for the screen, or do we design for women?

If I wasn't a designer, I would love to be a doctor. That is my fantasy, my dream. A doctor will give you a tablet if you have a headache, and I will give you a dress, and we both make you feel good.

I do sport at the gym a few times a week, but I hate it. Work is my only remedy. I feel so twisted and horrible in the morning, but then I go to the office and I start feeling better. Work is my Tylenol. Extra-strength.

Our clothes are not always beautiful on the hanger, but put them on, and they fit like bathing suits.

I used to hate L.A., but I met such a great group of people there that I fell in love with it.

The problem with couture is not designers; it's what happens when the couturier will no longer be there.

If you change a woman's look, you change her persona.

I am very much a people person.