“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.”

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

My bedroom is my sanctuary. It’s like a refuge, and it’s where I do a fair amount of designing – at least conceptually, if not literally.

People get very trapped where they are. When they hear “fashion” they get intimidated, particularly at the upper end because it’s so elitist. If you can bring your own concept or your viewpoint and translate it not down but out, then you’re really successful in the truest sense.

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

My closet is organized by tops, pants, and outerwear, but not a lot of dresses. Gowns are in another room because I don’t often dress formally, even though I design gowns. Like most designers, I have a uniform, and mine is a legging.

I was an art history major, but never specifically contemporary. I would say where I really stopped were the abstract expressionists in the New York school.

The intricate engraving, fine lines, beading and milgrain accents echo an era defined by elaborate embellishments.

Bridal is always about who you are as a person and as a woman and as a lover and as a mate. People always ask me how a woman can pick just one dress. And the funny thing is they always know.

I wanted to define the vocabulary of a wedding both visually and intellectually. The book is about more than weddings or wedding dresses. It’s a metaphor for women’s lives, their creativity.

The art of missing you, crafted to perfection. – artisan.

Writing for other artists helped me figure out that magic you have to capture to make everyone connect with a song.

I want to be role model for people to be like, ‘I don’t need a major label to be a successful artist and to have a successful song.’

I am not an angel and do not pretend to be. That is not one of my roles. But I am not a devil, either. I am a woman and a serious artist, and I would like so to be judged.

The scientist needs an artistically creative imagination.

For an artist to think in terms of success is like a priest trying to think in terms of success.

The artist shall never run out of paint. Because the artist, my love, never runs out of pain.

You are born an artist or you are not. And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a fireworks. The artist is always there.