Olivier Theyskens

I see the city as an organism, shaped through time by the little humans having habits and doing millions of stuff in and out of it.

We always see the point of an iceberg. So I've always accepted the idea that people - they don't necessarily know everything I am.

As a designer, I'm not a guy that can be put in a niche.

I like to be lazy. I do like to be busy and really active, but when that's done, you can be sure I will be a lazy boy. I like to take time and relax and enjoy life.

Historical costumes from the 18th and 19th centuries look so complicated, but when you see the patterns, it's very systematic. I've always been impressed by how the patterns economize the fabric.

When I was young, watching historical movies made me feel absolutely sublime. But the first few times I visited costume museums, I was really disappointed because it was not at the level I saw in movies. It was not the level of the image I'd imagined.

I could live naked... I love it.

If you are a girl dressing up in the morning thinking about the whole world having a point of view on what you are wearing, it takes the pleasure out of getting dressed.

I rarely stay at home when I'm in New York. I'm always doing things. It brings you so much energy.

I am interested in the idea of 'taste.' And by 'taste,' I mean opinion, inspiration and the craft of creating a personality through fabric and design.

With couture, you feel obligated to design something modern each season, but with Theyskens Theory, I don't question anything. I'm thinking of what I'd like to wear.

For a long time I have been thinking about affordable fashion - you can be disappointed when not so many people can wear your stuff.

Art is the way people see things, and I think it's great when individuals can find in fashion something they truly believe is artistic.

I think the relationship is very tenuous between fashion and art. Many designers have built relationships with artists, which is not something I personally did. But it's true, sometimes you see artists working for a designer or a brand on some specific project or taking care of their environment and making an amazing store.

I've admired historical clothes like Victorian gowns since I was a child, and it's what motivated me to go into fashion.

I didn't understand the advantages of staying active until I was about 27.

In fashion, we don't often know the prices. We don't have time to go into the stores.

I'm kind of obsessed with cool girls.

The only shoes that look futuristic are Crocs, but they would be terrible to use in a futuristic movie.

Today there are more things you can wear for the same occasions. I still like this idea of the perfect suit, and I always love tailoring, but today you can have more things for this type of situation, clothes that have class and that are mixable, and that are super well cut.