Quotes from Alber Elbaz

My father, who was a hair colourist, died when I was young, so my mother had to work very hard. But at the same time, I do believe that if you have everything, it is easy to make a dinner. When you only have flour and water and olives and potatoes, you have to be much more creative, and that's what my mother is all about.

'Commercial' is not the word that has to be said only by CEOs. It has to be something that is maybe the essence of design, because design has some sort of art in it and creation, but it's also some object that you have to use. There is also this pragmatic end to it.

I don't think you can be a designer if you don't care.

When you come into a house like Saint Laurent, or Chanel, or Lanvin, and you go into a place that existed before you were born and will exist after you die, it takes some time to get in, to get to people, and to get the energy of the place.

I know amazing people in fashion who are anything but fake. They are very real and very sensitive. They are happy and sad. They are loyal friends.

In fashion, the time is so short, and even with pre-collection, there are not only dresses, shoes, bags, and furs but now raincoats and T-shirts. It's just an endless amount of work that we have to produce in no time.

The nature of fashion is family.

Fashion is not always about what's new, it's also about what's good. And I think if you need to see what's good, you have to be there.

I've always said fashion is like roast chicken: You don't have to think about it to know it's delicious.

Why not touch things that we hate and turn them upside down and inside out?

At Yves Saint Laurent, I felt like the son-in-law - like I was part of the family, but not quite. When I was fired, I felt like the widow.

I don't go out to parties because I'd look terrible in pictures. My escape is television - it's like meditation to me.

I like having the freedom to dress as I desire.

The problem with couture is not designers; it's what happens when the couturier will no longer be there.

Fashion is like life. It needs fear and uncertainty if you are to move forward.

In high fashion, we're always accused of doing things that are not very relevant, not the real world. I know that it's important sometimes to do fantasy, but I felt like touching people and going back to different women and men, especially the idea of different ages and body shapes.

I think a good designer can exist everywhere and anywhere and all the time. It's all about being good, and I think that our job basically is to make women and men look good.

I hate the word 'cool.' It gives me a rash.

I always say that women are very strong and men are powerful. But beauty gives you both strength and power. I never think of it. It's just one of those natural things. It's the only thing I know how to do.

I was a fat child; I was asthmatic. No wonder I'm a hypochondriac.

Run away from laziness; work hard. Touch intuition and listen to the heart, not marketing directors. Dream.

I spend my time backstage at the Lanvin shows, and when I come out at the end, all I see are people's eyes.

Our logo for Lanvin is a mother and a daughter. I've always said, 'It's not a lion, and it's not a horse. It's a mother and a daughter.' I find the logo very emotional.

The worst thing that can happen is if you're stuck within a bubble and you think that is what life is all about. It's great to see other people and hear from people of different ages and opinions.