Fashion Week: Five minutes with designer Tadashi Shoji

Tadashi Shoji is a master at creating gorgeous gowns, including the dresses Octavia Spencer wore at last year's Oscars and Golden Globes (where she took home top acting and style accolades). amNewYork caught up with the designer in advance of his Lincoln Center fashion show Sept. 6.

How would you describe your collection in one word?
Worldly.

What's your Fashion Week motto?
Work hard, keep calm and sleep whenever possible.

If you could have anyone sit in your front row, who would it be?
Marlene Dietrich.

High heels: Fashion Week must or asking for disaster?
Not a must. Flats are chic now, too, thankfully.

Ever commit any Fashion Week faux pas?
I tend to do my best work under pressure and would procrastinate. Now I am organized and prepared.