"I work with structure, but I go outside the box and give it my own spin. I adore the challenge of creating truly modern clothes - where a woman's personality and sense of style are realized."

"It's for all the women who embrace my aesthetic, but can't afford a Vera Wang dress. If women can get anything out of it - a little bit of me or a lot of me, that's what's important."

"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 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."

"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."

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

"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."

"I adore the challenge of creating truly modern clothes, where a woman's personality and sense of self are revealed. I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman."

"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."

"A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes."

"To me, eyewear goes way beyond being a prescription. It's like makeup. It's the most incredible accessory. The shape of a frame or the color of lenses can change your whole appearance."

"When I design a wedding dress with a bustle, it has to be one the bride can dance in. I love the idea that something is practical and still looks great."

"It's a remarkable exercise to sit and look at your own work over the years."

"I've been designing since I was 8. I started sketching dresses I could wear when skating. I was always involved in all aspects of skating, not just the technique, the choreography, the music, but the visual aspects, too - what I should wear."

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