From Park Avenue princesses to A-list movie stars and society grande dames – Dominican-born designer Oscar de la Renta has dressed them all. They seek him out for the perfect skirt suit, an opulent cocktail dress or the most extravagant opening-night ballgown. And at the age of 80, he shows no sign of slowing down. Quite the contrary: he has attracted a fresh wave of fans with his stunning FW12 collection which feels fit for a younger generation with its bright trompe l'oeil jewel prints. We spoke to the man himself to discover just how he does it.

Your fall line feels fresh. Where did your inspiration come from?

Our jewelry line dictated the direction. We blew up images of the bijoux pendants and printed them onto skirts, dresses and jackets. Embellishment was an important theme.