What do you consider attractive in a woman?

The feet: I find beauty in the fact that the foot and ankle represent the whole body.

What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?

Vintage handkerchiefs and socks. I have 200 pairs of the same black socks; they just feel so nice against my skin. At parties, I like to swap handkerchiefs with other men.

What is your one piece of fashion or beauty advice?

The easiest, sexiest, most perfect shoe is a flat sandal with a bit of sparkle. I love it. My favourite is when I'm somewhere cold, like Russia, and I see a woman wearing sandals, white jeans and a fur coat.

Biggest fashion faux pas?

When I started designing I thought all women were different - now I know that they are all the same. A woman wants to feel beautiful and contemporary.

What aspect of fashion do you hate the most?

Many designers condition women into fashion slaves. I think that women need to shop for fashion as they do for food, asparagus from one place and tomatoes from another. I don't like the pressure of creating fashion victims.

These days, do you think there is as much pressure on men as on women to look good?

No. Since Cleopatra, women have always had more pressure to look good and nothing has changed that. It is difficult to create an elegant man.

Do you use men's grooming products? Would you tell your friends?

I used to wear lipstick and mascara and listen to the Sex Pistols. Can you imagine that in a village of 8,000 people in rural Italy? Everyone thought that I was gay. Now I use only a natural moisturiser.

How do you think that people perceive you from the way you dress?

People don't think I'm a designer. I like to dress very simply.

What are your five desert island staples?

Two i-Pods, because I love my music; a knife as I always have one on my desk to use as a tool; a double-ended pencil and a set of seeds because I love to watch things grow.

What is a fashion Day in the Life of Guiseppe Zanotti?

Every day I wake up feeling a little bit sad, nervous and guilty. I drive a different way to the factory each day, as I don't like rituals. When I'm working I can't see or hear anything else. In the evenings, I like to eat out with my family.

Guiseppe Zanotti has designed his own shoe label for 14 years.

Times recommends

• Live chat: Thrifty ways to update your winter wardrobe
• Is anybody out there really listening?
• Nutrition Q&A: Will eating late make me fat?