What is your idea of perfect happiness? The right husband

What is your greatest fear? Loosing that husband.

What historical figure do you most identify with? Mme. de Pompadour

Which living person do you most admire? Azzedine Alaïa

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Phonaphobic

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Dishonesty

What is your greatest extravagance? Luxury hotels

What is your favorite journey? Any vacation

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Optimism

On what occasion do you lie? When the truth hurts.

Which living person do you most despise? Religious extremists

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Good for you.

What is your greatest regret? Not cruising the Yangtzee River before the dam was built.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband.

When and where were you happiest? Now is pretty good.

What talent would you most like to have? Musical ability.

What is your current state of mind? Overwhelmed.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Fashion Show/Paris Collection 2006. I can’t believe I got all of those houses to agree to participate.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be? A dog with a good home.

What is your most treasured possession? My mother’s Singer featherweight

Where would you like to live? Southwestern France.

What is your favorite occupation? Museum work

What do you most value in your friends? Humor and intelligence.

Who are your favorite writers? Jane Austen, George Elliot

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Dorothea from Middlemarch

How would you like to die? Quickly

Which era of fashion history do you personally romanticize the most? Eighteenth century France

Which three fashion icons, past or present, would you most want to meet? Rose Bertin, Madeline Vionnet, and Paul Poiret

Who do you think has made the greatest contribution to the art fashion in the past 10 years? Alexander McQueen

Where did you first experience the power of fashion? Eighth grade at St. Mary’s School in Hales Corners

What is your current go-to fashion accessory? Bracelets

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Don’t know.

Which contemporary designer do you believe will stand the test of time? Azzedine Alaïa

How do you weigh in on fashion versus style? They are two different things.

What trend do you regret having followed? Padded shoulders in the 1980s.