With 40 impressive years in business, Dennis Basso is taking a look back at his storied career. The designer and longtime CFDA member, has dressed the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Jennifer Lopez in elegant designs that have stood the test of time. Now, thanks to a new QVC documentary, ‘Behind the Label: Dennis Basso‘ – the designer is getting a chance to step back and reflect on his career.

We chatted with Basso to hear more about the documentary and some of his most memorable moments.

How did the opportunity for this project come about? 

QVC approached me, because they have become very involved with their streaming services and more ways to reach the consumer and engage their customer. So if you go to the QVC/HSN app, there were several different things that you could watch – different designers, cooking shows, beauty shows. I believe that I was the first one that they were starting with for documentaries on the different designers of talent that are on QVC. So I said, well, that’s a compliment to be the first one selected. I’m game. They started last August and they had several visits to my apartment. They found lots of old footage, even from high school. All different things from where I grew up.

So what was your favorite? What do you hope people will learn about Dennis Basso in the documentary? 

I think it shows that I like what I’m doing. I always had a fascination early on in my career about show business. I thought I would wanted to be in show business, but I actually thought that between fashion and show business, fashion was the safer direction. Little did I know that it was just as competitive and risky. So the idea of watching the documentary and seeing this come together was very interesting for me.

I’ve been on QVC for 29 years, so they were only in business at that time for maybe five or six years. It was pretty early in the beginning of the world of home shopping and there were no computers. There was no social media. The whole thing has just completely changed the world.

Right. Just watch when you watched the documentary, is there anything about yourself that you learned that you weren’t even aware of? 

I learned that if you are focused and you’re determined, you really are able to try to reach – I don’t want to say your dream because that’s seems so big – but reach for something. When I had my first fashion show at the Regency Hotel in September of 1983, we had no clue what we were doing, if you want to know the truth. I was 28 years old, but I was clearly aware of what was happening. I just knew I wanted to create something.

If you look back on your career, what’s the biggest highlight? Is there one moment that you remember? 

So there are a few, but when I think about it, when we received that letter that I became a member of the CFDA, it was a stamp of approval. The first time I showed with the regular fashion week schedule at the tent in Bryant Park. I got there and there was Michael Kors, Tommy [Hilfiger], and Ralph Lauren, I thought, wow, we’re moving along in the progress lane.

And when I got the phone call from Dr. Joyce Brown, who’s the president of FIT. She said, ‘we would like you to speak at the graduation this year, and we are also going to give you your doctorate.’ I was like, ‘oh my God.’ It was at Javits Center, and I walked into the ceremony right behind her. There were 6,000 people there – you know, families, kids, and they gave me the doctorate to fine arts. That was quite a big day.

And my very first fashion show! I mean, a quick little aside, when we had that show, the show was ready to start. All of a sudden a woman comes in late through the back. And we said ‘oh, I’m sorry, the show’s about to start.’ She said, ‘Oh I’m Angela Taylor from the New York Times.’ She was the fashion editor at the time. And I was like, ‘oh okay,’ not even really knowing who she was. But the next day, she basically gave us a whole page in the Times.

Is there a person you still wish to dress?

I think it would be fun to do something for Lady Gaga. I haven’t done that.

You know, we dressed the list. Joan Collins, Elizabeth Taylor, First Ladies, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama.. and you know, when you’re dressing a First Lady, really the political party goes away. You’re addressing that position. Its a very big honor. I would like to see, and it could likely happen…I would like to dress, Kate Middleton. She wears clothes beautifully.

Years ago, when you dress somewhere famous, you dressed that person. One on one. You went to them or they came to you. The assistant really was the stylist today. Now it’s all done through the stylist, which is great. The stylist is working with the celebrity. They’re picking it out. They’re looking online, they’re asking for this look, that look. But the days of fitting it themselves are behind. Years ago, we were doing the fitting right on the celebrity, which was an added layer. One of the nicest celebrities that we ever worked with was Meryl Streep. She always said beautiful things. She was a joy to work with, and, you know, we did several of those coats for The Devil Wears Prada. 

Those coats are iconic! They’re yours? 

Yes, not all of them, but several of them. When she’s in the back of the limousine, going to that big gala in Paris, she’s sitting there wrapped in my chinchilla. Its fun to say!

Now you’ve had the documentary, what’s next for you?

I don’t know! I mean, I’m open, so I feel like every day is a new adventure and I’m clearly not ready to sit back at all. I’m very open to all different things, but actually something that I thought I would like to do that I haven’t done…I’m very motivated and I’m very focused and I’m really about the glass is half full.. I think though I could be a motivational speaker. I think I have an interesting story to tell.