Although in skating you compete with other people, anyone who achieves a certain level of success is first and foremost competing against themselves. And for me the idea that I could always do better, learn more, learn faster, is something that came from skating. But I carried that with me for the rest of my life.

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Success isn't about the end result; it's about what you learn along the way.

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

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The key is falling in love with something, anything. If your heart's attached to it, then your mind will be attached to it.

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They never ask the celebrities why they don't wear their own clothes on the red carpet.

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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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Service is a prerequisite for anything relating to luxury. That makes it (shopping) sensual and pleasurable.

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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.

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My normal routine is pretty much putting out fires all day.

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Every woman hates her own body. I don't know a woman who doesn't . . . well, I do know a few who love themselves but in the case of most women it's like, "ugh." And when I dress a woman, my design intention is to give them an attitude or a grace, no matter whether it's a wedding gown or ready-to-wear.

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