Phoebe Philo

“When I was deciding whether or not to take the job at Celine, I didn't really look at the history of the house. I had other offers to come back, but they weren't right, or they wouldn't let me stay in London, which was non-negotiable.”

“Because I'm a woman, and I'm petite and blonde, you wouldn't believe how often I'm asked to model the clothes.”

“I was very, very eager to work. It's just the way I am.”

“I had my daughter, and with that came a deep sense of responsibility; my time for work had become precious, and it had to have more meaning.”

“I want to show my personality through my designs and stay pretty anonymous outside the industry.”

“My favourite eras for styles are still the 70s and 40s, and there will be a few iconic pieces to build the wardrobe around, like there were at Chloe, but I want there to be a feel of mix-and-match.”

“Until you go through with it yourself, you simply can't imagine it. But it is the transition of going back to work and the guilt of how much time you spend with your child that's hard. I worry about not getting back in time for bath-time. I am not a neurotic person at all, but every time the mobile rings, my stomach leaps.”

“Women should have choices, and women should feel good in what they wear.”

“I wouldn't want to even try to begin to describe our customer, as I think she likes a certain amount of anonymity. I try to offer clothes that allow that. I myself do not like being defined so readily, so I imagine that she is similar?”

“I never had a massive desire to buy clothes. I liked to customise the clothes I already had or was given when I was younger. If I didn't like them that much, I made them how I wanted them to be.”

“I have a fantastic team, and it's much easier having children, because that creates a natural limit.”

“Time is my biggest luxury. Finding time to do things outside of fashion, which I think for a designer is incredibly important.”

“I just have to be very, very organised.”

“My relationship with fashion is playful and very expressive of what I'm feeling at the time.”

“I feel very much that I am a human being, with human limitations, and I need to respect that.”

“I don't believe in making fashion difficult.”

“I'm just not very interested in decoration.”

“Everyone wants new things all the time; shops require so much - there has to be consistency.”

“I'm not interested in clothes that just convey a certain look or fashion. Clothes for me have always been a form of self-expression.”

“I decided to work on things that obsess women because women can't resist things like lace, sequins, animal prints and python.”