Manolo Blahnik

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

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

“Trends don't interest me.”

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

“The greatest shoemaker in England for many, many decades; he used to be the royal shoe-maker for the Queen Mother. This is where I learnt my trade.”

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

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

“I do think one should have clean feet.”

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

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

“I put everything I think is sexy into my shoes.”

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

“I don't belong to anyone.”

“I am insecure. Everyone's insecure.”

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

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

“I'm very self-critical.”

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

“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.”