Designer

Design is about point of view, and there should be some sort of woman or lifestyle or attitude in one's head as a designer. So my being able to reach the masses was something that meant a great deal to me - especially for women who could never wear Vera Wang.

I don't live through my kids. But I do know what will happen in life, and I just want them well prepared.

My mother is the reason I'm in fashion. She worshiped it. Unfortunately, she infected me.

I see myself as a true modernist. Even when I do a traditional gown, I give it a modern twist. I go to the past for research. I need to know what came before so I can break the rules.

Don't be afraid to take time to learn. It's good to work for other people. I worked for others for 20 years. They paid me to learn.

As the mother of two daughters, I have great respect for women. And I don't ever want to lose that.

If I were to say at any point that I feel really confident or really in control, that would be a mistake. Because I don't. I always see where I didn't do things the right way.

I've always tried to push myself technically and to push myself visually. That's been part of the journey.

I love sportswear in my own weird way. Fashion is such a personal journey for me. I'm much more of a girl that's a T-shirt, legging, layering kind of thing, and outerwear.

I'm not really a girl who likes to go out to lunch or cocktails or store openings.

All those years of skating and dancing have carried over. I can't design anything without thinking of how a woman's body will look and move when she's wearing it.

All I did my first year at Vogue was Xerox.

When I decided to get married at 40, I couldn't find a dress with the modernity or sophistication I wanted. That's when I saw the opportunity for a wedding gown business.

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.

It's hard to juggle being a businessperson with being a creative person. You have to organize yourself - PR needs me for PR, and the licensing division needs me for licensing, the bridal people need me for bridal.

New York for me is about work. If L.A. were to become a West Coast version of that, I'd shoot myself. The climate, the lifestyle - it really fits as the yin to my New York yang.

Brides today are increasingly sensitive to the tastes, feelings and finances of their attendants.

Design is about point of view, and there should be some sort of woman or lifestyle or attitude in one's head as a designer.

Fashion offers no greater challenge than finding what works for night without looking like you are wearing a costume.

I make things of my own that aren't that glam, but I'm not known for that, which has always been a bit of a frustration for me.