Azzedine Alaia quotes:

Who will remember Anna Wintour in the history of fashion? No one.

There was a woman in Tunisia called Madame Pinot. She was a midwife and had helped in the birth of my siblings and me. I assisted her. I helped women give birth to a lot of babies when I was very young.

My father could be very strict, but very fair. His father was the same. We all respected my grandfather; he was the head of the clan. Every morning, we all had to say good morning and kiss his hand. But not me. I jumped on his lap and bit him.

I'm happier about my friends than I am about my work. I still have a long way to go with work. My friends, that's the one thing I'm sure about.

Anna Wintour doesn't deal with pictures; she is just doing PR and business, and she scares everybody.

I have total confidence in Beaute Prestige International to accompany me in creating a perfume that interprets my work and my world.

You know Sarkozy offered me the Legion d'honneur medal? I refused. People said I refused because I don't like Sarkozy, but that's ridiculous. I refused because I don't like decorations - except on women.

Bill Cunningham he knows fashion better than anybody.

I'm working 24 hours a day. I have had a house in Tunisia for 20 years, and I never have time to go because there are collections, fittings.

If you're sad about what you see in the mirror when you wake up every morning, you must change it.

I put myself on the same level as everyone else around me - from the directrice to the workman, everyone. Except my pets - they are the Kings; you must treat them like royalty.

As a child, I was raised with my grandmother, alongside all my cousins, and the kitchen was always full.

I learned French in Tunis, along with Arabic. I also learned French history. I knew the entire history of the kings of France. And I was fascinated by Versailles.

Beyonce is a beautiful, elegant woman who is also a wonderful dancer. And her voice is sublime. Just like her husband, Jay-Z, Beyonce has real talent. They are both the kind of truly great artist who will be remembered by history. Their child will be lucky to have such talented parents.

I think women should be seductive, not triste. There's enough sadness in life now without making women look sad, too.

I even do my ready-to-wear samples like couture.

In an ordinary suit and tie, I'd look like a little macho. I'd be ridiculous.

Fashion will last forever. It will exist always. It will exist in its own way in each era.

I don't wear perfume, and I don't like the air to be too saturated with scents.

Ballet costumes are easier that opera because they are designed for movement.

My obsession is to make women beautiful. When you create with that in mind, things can't go out of fashion.

Women must know themselves better than anyone. If you have ugly legs, wear long dresses. If you have long, great legs, show them.

It's important to make women feel confident, because I think they are more important than men.

I take it to heart that, for example, there aren't enough funds for AIDS research, but people pay 20 times the value of an item of clothing.

I have been offered the highest paid contracts in the world. I refused them all. It's not my thing. I don't want to cheat people.

If I don't have a model in front of me, I don't have an idea.

I'm always telling young designers to take the time to surround themselves with women.

I make clothes; women make fashion.

I never followed fashion. It's women who have dictated my conduct.

I love American girls. They're audacious. They put more outrageous things on their bodies than anybody.

There is a sensuality about fabric. I think all materials should be inviting when they touch the skin. When I watch children stroking their mother's clothes, I feel that I have succeeded.

Karl Lagerfeld never touched a pair of scissors in his life.

Bill Cunningham... he knows fashion better than anybody.

As I said many times, the fashion world, its system, can be disturbing.

As for success, I don't care for it. It is a fragile thing.

I had used the stretch materials for years to shape the inside of garments I made for private clients. Then I just started using them on their own.

I am never sure that anything's good enough. Something that is good today will not be good tomorrow.

Who can really say who invents something first in fashion?

Fashion will last forever. It will exist always. It will exist in its own way in each era. I live in the moment. It's interesting to know the old methods. But you have to live in the present moment.

When I see beautiful clothes, I want to keep them, preserve them... Clothes, like architecture and art, reflect an era.

I make clothes, women make fashion.

I like black, because for me it is a very happy color.

I am never sure that anythings good enough. Something that is good today will not be good tomorrow.

The present fashion system is too hard - there are too many collections. The designers have no time to think! Money is too important. Schedules are too crazy.

I think women should be seductive, not triste. Theres enough sadness in life now without making women look sad, too.

Perfection is never achieved, so you need to go on working.

There is a sensuality about fabric. I think all materials should be inviting when they touch the skin. When I watch children stroking their mothers clothes, I feel that I have succeeded.

The foundation of beauty is the body.

I have been offered the highest paid contracts in the world. I refused them all. It's not my thing. I don't want to cheat people. And there are certain people I am allergic to. I even intervene when I don't like a customer; I rush in and check all the names. If I don't like them, I don't take them.