What is your favourite item in your wardrobe and why? The white cotton shirt because it is snappy and seductive at the same time.

What is your fall-back outfit? A wonderful black dress is easy to wear; you can dress it up with a great belt or patent shoes.

What is your one piece of fashion or beauty advice? Long hair after 40 is out in my book as it looks too messy and too young. Women need to learn how to age gracefully.

What aspect of fashion do you dislike? The enormous egos in this industry.

If you could steal anyone's style, who would it be? It would have to be Rose Bertin, the woman responsible for Marie Antoniette's wardrobe. Think of the fun you could have with the clothes she made. She changed the fashion every week.

If you could change one part of your body, which would it be? My hands, definitely; I'd love longer fingers.

What are your five desert island staples? A good book, wild flowers, lipstick, sun screen and a ticket to get me out of there as soon as possible.

What is a Day in the Fashion Life of Carolina Herrera? I'm fortunate in that no day is ever the same; which means that I wear a variety of things, from my white shirts, which can be mixed with skirts or trousers, to a little sweater.

Times recommends

• McDonald’s: the world’s local restaurant
• Help me to be a mum: a foyer to fulfilment
• A life online: God likes a laugh