Carolina Herrera on Dressing Jackie O.: "She Was So Natural and Knew Exactly What She Wanted"

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The June issue of Harper's Bazaar features an interview with designer Carolina Herrera wherein she looks back on her 30 years in the fashion business—she talks about designing for Jackie O., Andy Warhol, her first show ever, and more. Some choice excerpts:

On the beginning of her fashion design career: "I went to Diana Vreeland and said, 'You know what? I'm going to design fabrics.' And she said, 'Oh, that's so boring. Why don't you do something else? Why don't you do a collection of dresses? It's much more fun.'"

On dressing Jackie O.: "When I started, she came to me, and I dressed her a lot for those last years," says Herrera. "It was fun to have her there and a great inspiration. She was so natural and knew exactly what she wanted and what looked good on her." "Jackie had a great sense of history and responsibility for what and who she was. She said, 'I am nothing. He was the president. I was only the first lady, so I don't have anything to say.'"

On Andy Warhol: "Andy [Warhol] and I used to see each other all the time with Bianca [Jagger] then," she recalls. "When he did my painting, I went to his Factory, and he took 40 or 60 Polaroids." "He was quiet, but he did say key things in a very funny way," says Herrera. "Andy seemed to be very timid, shy, but he liked being very successful. I remember when he wanted to be a fashion model. He was cast in a Halston show. Bianca and I were in the audience, and when Andy walked in and saw us there, instead of going backstage, he stopped and said hello to all of us. That was the end of that."

On one of her other nearest friends, Robert Mapplethorpe: "He would say, 'You have to let me photograph you,' and I would say, 'Why?' And he said, 'Because I'm going to be so famous, and you're going to be so mad you didn't!'"

· Carolina Herrera [Harper's Bazaar]