Carine Roitfeld has both a personal and a professional bond to Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld. Not just is she Vladimir’s mother, but together, they also launched CR Studio, a creative and production house offering brands—ranging from Chanel to Yeezy— access to her unique vision, and they worked together on her new fragrances.

In honor of the Founder’s Award, we challenged Vladmir to come up with two questions he always wanted to ask his mother, and had Carine answer them!

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld: What, in your opinion, has been the greatest influence in American fashion?

Carine Roitfeld: I have always loved exploring the idea of Americana. We devoted an entire issue of CR Fashion Book and some of its iconic models who have set new standards of beauty and style. America’s next generation of designers are also setting new standards, with its interconnectivity of fashion and music, and very much driving the fashion conversation forward. I also happen to be a real fan of the absolute simplicity of the jean & white T-shirt combination – borrowed from the workplace and turned into universal pieces, genius!

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld: What about the gender-fluid movement in fashion?

Carine Roitfeld: In 1996, I styled Taber Schroeder for a Visionnaire shoot, only dressing him in the Saint Laurent womenswear collection. Then, a few years ago, we photographed Young Thug for CR Fashion Book. I was captivated by the idea of a rapper wearing dresses, and thought about other musicians who have influenced the fashion world such as Kurt Cobain, and of course, David Bowie, who had been incorporating women’s wardrobes. I have long believed that style and beauty are genderless, and for this same reason, my first fragrance collection is genderless. Because fashion is not about the clothes, it is about a look.