"Heather...come along, there's a lot more to see." Mrs. Behrend's voice trailed somewhere off in the distance. It was the Vanity Fair exhibit at the Met and my second grade class were jostling around me trying to move on to the next shiny thing beyond the glass. Absolutely transfixed, I was glued to the spot. Luminous acid yellow silk looped and skittered across the mannequin's shoulders, cascading to a shimmering pool that trailed across the floor. It was magnificent. Lanvin, I think. That part didn't matter. I was 7 years old. Didn't know what fashion was, or how it worked, but in that moment, I knew I just wanted to be a part of it.

So now, all these moons later, I design womenswear (and still LOVE it) . I feed my design addiction by acquiring mid-century classics from the modern masters-Arne Jacobsen, Paul McCobb, Karl Springer, Harvey Probber, Tommi Parzinger...and discovering more every day. And painting stripes all over my apartment.

I still kick myself for selling my Milo Baughman chairs. A matched set of 4. What was I thinking?

P.S.: I just bought a set of 6! Woot!