Fashion Trendsetter Quotes

Before me no one would have dared dress in black

I was starstruck by Madonna. She's one of the few remaining superstars. I'm so impressed by her level of discipline towards her career. We did have a little chat, and she wasn't remotely intimidating, just lovely and open.

I think my ultimate fashion icon would have to be Gwen Stefani. I love her persona; I love what she embodies and represents. I love the fact that she was a girl fronting a band of boys in No Doubt.

I'm going to be a fashion icon in a minute. I'm not going to do it in a corny manner. I have a voice that speaks for a whole other market - not just black people, but high fashion urban people. I mix street wear with high fashion. It's never been seen before.

Kate Moss. She looks good in anything. She would look good in one of your t-shirts, in her t-shirt, in a man's suit, in a huge gown. She looks amazing naked. She even makes nude look stylish. That, to me, is a style icon. She could put a barrel on and it would be some sort of statement.

When I worked with Gianni Versace at the end of his life, I was the person with whom he would confide and say anything. If there was something I didn't like, I would be honest and say, "No, no, no! Do something different."

Yves Saint Laurent is a young man of excellent taste; the more he copies me the more taste he displays.

I was not even allowed to mention the name Madonna in my household - just because I think the '80s and '90s were so Madonna-filled. She was going through so many evolutions at that time.

I really, really like Nicole Richie, and the only reason why I always bring her up is because I'm impressed with her style evolution. This is someone that came onto the scene that people didn't necessarily view as a style icon, and she completely switched up the game. And I like how she takes risks with fashion.

I don't consider myself a trendsetter.

I was definitely inspired by Madonna.

There are the great people who have grown and loved me, like Katy [Perry] - who started as a fan and told me that one day she hoped I would dress her, and asked for a picture with me at a fan meet and greet. Now she's became one of the world's most important pop stars. I've supported her since the beginning, out of believing in a spark in her and giving her a chance because she was a girl who obviously seemed very passionate about what I am doing.

I try to set trends.

Cher's great, she's incredible. She is an enormous, enormous star, who goes anywhere and crowds follow her...and yet she's a disciplined actress and she's down to Earth and cool. I can't say enough good things about her.

Jackie [Kennedy] wore one of my dresses – it was made from kitchen curtain material – and people went crazy.

I did not go to fashion school. I arrived in New York in 1986 from Kansas City and was working as accessories editor for Mademoiselle Magazine. While working at Mademoiselle I noticed that the market lacked stylish and sensible handbags, so I decided to create my own.

Barbie is my fashion icon. People think I'm Paris Barbie - and it's a compliment.

Some of the 'worst' red carpet looks of all time, it turns out, were really just ahead of their time.

Look at Kate Moss, she's such an amazing representation of that peak '90s fashion of a slinky shimmery dress and choker. Fashion was playful in the '90s, and that's why I love music festivals as well. They have that playful essence.

Fashion is a trend, style is within a person.

Lady Gaga is my big fashion inspiration. I look up to her a lot.

Sometimes I do my walkabouts, all the young fellows will come and call me 'hypebeast Ah Gong.'

So nice to be a fashion icon in my day.

Artists can most definitely control the culture of fashion. Kids and different fans look up to us for dressing pointers.

Madonna, as we know, is very difficult.