Quotes from Blake Lively

I was in a show choir. I can't sing or dance to save my life, but I was very passionate. People said my parents paid the choir director to let me in. It was actually the parents who started that one!

You can learn a lot from criticism if you can take what's constructive out of it. If you read a review that starts with, 'This person is an idiot; who do they think they are?', you're not going to learn anything from that.

I'll never forget the time my mother showed up with her best friend and two daughters, and all four of us dressed up in matching clothes, shoes and hats to go pick up my brother from school. I thought it was a fun thing to do, but we stepped outside my brother's school and he was mortified!

I always like hair being a little messy because I think there's something appealing about the whimsy of putting on a gown with any hair or make-up - just stepping into it, and you're ready.

To be around me, you must love food, or I'm the most obnoxious person you've ever met.

There have been so many things written about me that are untrue and horrifying.

You know that old saying, 'A way to a man's heart is through his stomach' - that's me.

Emma Stone, I think, always looks beautiful.

I should hope I dress differently at 25 than I did when I graduated high school. I hope I never stop changing.

Actually, I'm happiest in Williams-Sonoma in New York. That's a wonderful cooking store.

When I see old movies with women in floor-length dressing gowns, or when they're going to the store and they've got a pillbox hat with a net over the eyes and white gloves, I'm offended that I can't go to the store like that.

I'm passionate about anything I align myself with. You want to talk about chocolate chip cookies? I'm not going to open a chocolate chip cookie store, but I will talk your ear off about it.

Creating something I can use is the best stress reliever.

I have a strong sense of myself. That gives me a sense of security, you know? If I define myself by things that are always changing, like the public's opinion, or what I'm wearing, or what job I'm doing, there's no stability in that.

I want to get involved in causes I believe in, and I know so many others that want to also get involved, but it's hard to know how. Often, it's through big organisations, and you don't know exactly where your money is going or what effect you are having.

I'm guilty of going to a fitting, then going out to buy the same outfit. It's been a problem for my bank account!

There are looks that I see on other people that I think would look horrible on me, but I think if somebody has the courage to be really daring and try something outlandish, then more power to them. That's just encouraging and inspiring.

Ngila Dixon is such an incredible costume designer. She's such a cool, stylish woman. She has such an understanding of character.

I think I became my own stylist by not knowing any better.

My mom taught me this really great beauty tip. She used to put oil or mayonnaise on the bottom half of her hair before she would shower.

When I moved to New York, I started switching fragrances. Between different seasons I would change fragrance, or if I was going out for a big fancy night versus going out in the daytime. But I also found that I was changing and growing so much.

I've never been a big fan of gossip. Being a victim of it, I knew how much it hurt.

I've been so lucky to work with such great people: people that are such hard workers and have such a respect and appreciation for one another.

The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence.