Quotes from Nina Garcia

My style is about making things last forever. When you're on a budget, it can be daunting to spend $300 on a pair of boots or a coat. But such basics are the building blocks from which your look is crafted.

My passion for fashion originated in my mother's closet. She was a woman who loved fashion. She enjoyed dressing up a lot, and she had a closet that was like her sacred room that belonged only to her. She wouldn't let us go in and play there very often.

I was so passionate about being in the magazine industry, even when I first started at 'Mirabella.'

I actually started my career interning at Perry Ellis and got to work with Marc Jacobs.

I'm a big believer that accessories can make or break a look.

I do not do selfies! That's a tough one because I don't do selfies, but I think it's all about personal style. The more outrageous, the better.

Your wardrobe should complement your skill set, never detract - or distract - from your assets.

I've had to adapt my wardrobe to my various roles, both at the office, as a mom, and for television. When I shop for the season I look for pieces that will suit every facet of my daily life, not just one single occasion.

I love 'Project Runway' because I can really be of help to an industry and I can be supportive to designers.

Some girls on the street don't have a lot of money, but they have the best style. It's not about being able to buy everything in the store.

One of the most magical places on Earth is a small island in the Caribbean called Mustique. With brilliant beaches, warm water, and lush vegetation, this tiny green swath of land is my idea of paradise.

I think my Latino culture has equipped me with a different point of view than the rest of my counterparts, and seeing things from a different angle has helped me a lot. I feel very proud of my culture, of my Latino heritage.

I tend to wear leather pants with crew neck sweaters or leather jackets with denim.

We all get a little rush of excitement at the prospect of buying a brand-new outfit for a first date, but this is not the time. You're much better off wearing clothes, shoes especially, that you've already tested.

It's refreshing to see a woman who can artfully weave her individuality into an otherwise safe ensemble.

I have seen everything possible covered in studs and grommets. Also, what I call angry shoes: those platforms with the multiple buckles and studs. I think the polished girl is back.

I'm not sure if I can cook. I probably can. But I'm really good at cajoling anybody around me to cook for me.

My mother was a very big inspiration. She loved fashion. I loved art in school, and I was very good at drawing. I could sit at the table forever and just dream up collections and draw.

For so many years fashion was shrouded in mystery, this glamorous profession that people knew very little about, they thought it was so glamorous. It now has become so available, with the Internet, with shops like H&M and Target that do designer collaborations, so it's more available to everyone and that's created more interest.

I don't ride the subway. Either I walk, or I take a New York City taxi.

After assessing what's in your closet, make a list of what you need. Not want, but need. Write down the basics missing from your wardrobe. It could be a classic white shirt, a trenchcoat, or the perfect little black dress. Whatever the blank spots, write them down. This will be your reference for shopping.

Fashion is an expression of a time, of a place, of history. It's putting things into context.

Working from home or going on maternity leave is no excuse to let go of your look. The more you schlep around in drawstring pants and tees, the less you're going to be able to pull yourself together when necessary.

Putting on fierce boots is an instant pick-me-up.