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I think by my father owning a store, I was definitely aware of the commercial aspect of selling clothes. His shop was a place I enjoyed spending time in as a boy, so I learned things almost by osmosis at times, by literally just being around all the action and not really despite myself.

I had a fundamental love of fashion, of products and accessories. I loved the merchandising side of it and understanding how to maximize sales.

When you think about it, department stores are kind of like museums.

The thing is that any sophistication I have, aesthetically, comes from 'Vogue' and 'Harper's Bazaar.' In the '60s, I never missed an issue, even if I had to steal to get them.

This business is about working. It's really not about glamour. For me, the most glamorous thing about it is to b able to get on stage and perform my music for people. That's the privilege. And that's what all the work leads up to, and that's why it's worth it to me.

You have to be hopeful that people will be more educated in how they buy things, and hopefully more luxury brands will start to think that way on a longer-term basis.

I'm lucky that I was in retailing during the time that I call the golden age of retailing.

Even when I became the editor of 'Vogue' - America, I kept moonlighting for a garment store.

Everybody got into the rugged outdoors business and into lifestyle merchandising and so forth and so on. And everybody was getting into catalogs and e-commerce and - you name it. It was just intense.

Customers want good value, but they care more than ever how food and clothing products are made.