It's important to view fashion as personal and creative - even for brides. When brides ask me, "What's the best advice you can give me on my wedding day?" I always have the same answer: "Be yourself." Someone's marrying you, they love you for who you are, and they don't want you to be someone else, they want you to be who you are. If you never wear blue eye shadow, why would you put it on on your wedding day? If you wear your hair simply, why would you suddenly dye it a different color and get a big 'do? To me it's about respect and self-understanding and honesty.

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When you have a passion for something then you tend not only to be better at it, but you work harder at it too.

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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.

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People get very trapped where they are. When they hear 'fashion' they get intimidated, particularly at the upper end because it's so elitist.

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When you love something, every day goes by in 10 minutes.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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I love a black wedding dress.

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