"Dream big and wear fabulous shoes" has always been one of the mottos I live by. After all, a new pair of shoes can brighten even the darkest day! Thankfully, I’ve had the good fortune to experience many bright days—fueled by a lifelong love for fashion and a fabulous collection of shoes, accessories, and style discoveries gathered from adventures around the world.

My passion for fashion sparked early, but it ignited into a full flame during a summer trip to London at the impressionable age of 13. It was then I was introduced to the bold visions of Dame Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne Westwood—two women whose fearless creativity, statement-making designs, and rule-breaking spirit left an indelible impression. During that same trip, I purchased my first-ever Vogue: British Vogue, July 1978, which featured The Zandra Rhodes Dossier by Georgina Howell—a dreamy, fairy-tale-like spread filled with fantastical dresses and daring advertisements. I still have that issue today.

These two iconic designers were instrumental in fueling my fascination with fashion. And their influence has only grown stronger with time—joined by a few modern-day muses who continue to shape and inspire my style sensibility:

• Judge Jeanine Pirro, whose sharp intellect, unapologetically glamorous style, and quick wit remind us that fashion, brains, and a bold sense of humor are a formidable—and fabulous—combination.
• Victoria Beckham, who motivates me with her relentless work ethic, poise, and poignant words in an interview with Good Morning America: "Dream big and then dream even bigger. If you refocus, work hard, and keep your head down, there is so much that you can achieve..."
• Sarah Jessica Parker, whose fearless fashion in Sex and the City taught me to mix and match the unexpected—and who forever embedded a love for statement shoes deep in my soul.
• Christian Siriano, whom I’ve followed faithfully since season four of Project Runway (2007). I deeply admire his inclusive vision of beauty and his ability to create couture for everybody—and every body.
• Dr. Gloria Williams, my impeccably dressed mentor and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, who introduced me to Elsa Schiaparelli, her favorite designer, and Harold, the now-legendary Minneapolis boutique where she sourced couture-level looks that matched her elegance and intellect.