Today in particular, I am feeling very European. Maybe it's because I just drove 6 hours listening to my favorite French music. During my drive, I let the music take me home, and I thought about my godmother Dominique, an incredibly important figure in my life, and my style inspiration.

As the youngest in my family, who grew up surrounded by strong independent women, I was able to build my future with insight and perseverance. My first role model was my grandmother, who my older sister and I called "Mimi."

Of the over one hundred etiquette subjects I have taught, dress and etiquette are always in the top ten. Dressing is not like setting the table, where rules rule. Are there rules for dress? You bet, but there's a lot more freedom of style.

Sustainable fashion is a contradiction in terms. The three R's of sustainability are fashion's ultimate saboteur. Can an industry based on excess go green?

Metallics, safari, ruffles--popular runway-inspired themes--are all at Bebe. Yet, nearly everything has been sexified.