Donatella Versace

“I'm like a little kid when it comes to music. I mean, the music is always blasting wherever I am that people always knock on my door and say, 'It's too loud!' But I think music gives so much inspiration.”

“I studied at a university in Florence and finished my degree. My mother was very strict about this recipe: You need to get your degree.”

“The body should be reconfigured by the clothes, never again the other way round.”

“Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas.”

“Showing your femininity should help your career and not go against your career. Dressing like a man, using the suit to look powerful - that was the '80s, and that didn't help women.”

“I'm a feminist. I want to fight, but I don't see many people with this desire to fight for something. Women don't help each other, especially in fashion.”

“You can never forget the time you're living in because the past is the past and it will never come back. So to adjust your philosophy and creativity in fashion to the time you're living in is the most important thing.”

“I have long been a fan and enthusiast where art is concerned.”

“For so long Versace couture was identified with celebrities and music, which I love. But at the same time it could overwhelm the clothes.”

“The first thing I do each morning is get out of bed and give my dog, Audrey, a hug. She's a Jack Russell. I think having an animal is a wonderful thing, particularly dogs. They are great levelers, there's no nonsense with them, and they just want simple affection.”

“How do I keep young? Haven't you heard? I sleep every night in the deep freezer!”

“I think there was a time when I was too strict and controlling. I think I asphyxiated my children.”

“I've learned how to appreciate what I have. And it's a lot. I'm very lucky.”

“When I meet celebrities, I have to know what they are like and only then can I design. The clothes have to fit their personality.”

“Scent is very important. Strong fragrances suit some men, while citrus types suit others. I like my men to smell fresh and woody, but also like a man.”

“It's no good being too easily swayed by people's opinions. You have to believe in yourself.”

“I don't see anybody categorized as a 'fashion diva,' except for me! And I like that. I am thought of as a diva because I wear an evening dress and I take care of my look when I go out. I go to parties regarding business, not for fun. And that's why they call me a 'diva.'”

“Sometimes big designers are afraid that people won't recognize them if they change that much.”

“I have worked with wool all my life as a designer. There's so much more to it than knitwear - it's an amazingly versatile material and can be used in so many different ways from chic to rustic.”

“To define the era we live in is very difficult. How do we define it? We define it by music.”