About half my designs are controlled fantasy, 15 percent are total madness and the rest are bread-and-butter designs.

You put high heels on and you change.

About half my designs are controlled fantasy, 15 percent are total madness and the rest are bread-and-butter designs.

My shoes are special shoes for discerning feet.

A lot of things trigger my inspiration. It can be the most banal things.

Everything is global now. It's not London, it's not Spain, it's not Italy - everything is everywhere. So you have to be everywhere, I guess.

I always love China, especially the old China.

I am insecure. Everyone's insecure.

I am not a movie star or a football player, I just do my thing.

I couldn't care less about business.

I do and re-do things that I used to do in a flash, because I want to be more perfectionist about these things. Maybe it sounds pompous and pretentious, but that's the way I feel.

I do think one should have clean feet.

I don't belong to anyone.

I don't consider myself a fashion designer.

I don't know why my shoes are so popular - I am always surprised and mystified by it.

I eat a lot of chocolate.

I get more tired by travelling than anything.

I hate celebrities.

I hate these platforms that are all over the place today; they are all about grabbing attention. They are suburban! I never do a platform. Well, I did, in the 1970s, but that was a bad experience.

I hate to travel with stuff.

I just don't get death at all. Yes, it's there. But I don't get it.

I like women with style to wear my shoes.

I never thought that I would sell to young people, but now girls who are 14 and 15 buy my shoes.

I never wanted to be the most famous, the most beautiful, the most extravagant.

I put everything I think is sexy into my shoes.

I think I am one of the smallest surviving brands.

I think of each new season as an evolution, not a change in style.

I was possessed by London.

I'm OK: I don't need money.

I'm like an old vampire, so it's important to talk to young people.

I'm mad for satin.

I'm very painful to deal with when I create a shoe.

I'm very self-critical.

If I look back I feel frightened, not happy, because my life is a bit of a mystery to me.

If I was a woman, I would be dressed in the same thing for a month and just change my hat and gloves. Maybe my shoes too; yes, I see what you mean but, really, it's jewels that change an outfit.

In London I feel free; nobody bothers anyone and everyone is free to express themselves.

Maintenance is terribly important.

Men tell me that I've saved their marriages. It costs them a fortune in shoes, but it's cheaper than a divorce. So I'm still useful, you see.

Most of the people nowadays send their things by internet. But I cannot work that way. I like to do it myself.

My mother has an incredible rigidity, which is very Catholic.

My mother is incredible. I mean, still is today.

My whole life has been a huge mistake, but what a divine mistake - doing something that I adore.

Papa died when he was 77.

Paris is paramount for fashion, always was - always will be.

People walk differently in high heels. Your body sways to a different kind of tempo.

Really, the '70s and '80s were a blur.

Some people just use beautiful things to just shop or to have a tribal feeling - 'Oh, blah, blah, blah, I'm wearing Hermes; blah, blah, blah, I'm wearing Saint Laurent; blah-blah blah' - because it's like a need, a tribe, recognition: 'Ahh, my Rolex.' But I run away from anything which is too recognizable - it's my nature.

Sometimes I hate a shoe in seconds.

The greatest luxury is being free.