From the ages of five to twelve, I attended the Saint Laurence O'Toole elementary school in Lawrence, a city next to Methuen, and was taught by sisters of the Catholic order of Notre Dame de Namour. I enjoyed all my subjects there. I do not remember ever learning any science, except for mathematics.

Watching my dad, Ralph Lauren, design clothes when I was young, I was always inspired.

I went to my boss, and I said, 'Look, I'd like to design these ties because I think they could be new.' He said, 'The world isn't ready for Ralph Lauren.' I never forgot that because... I thought that was a compliment.

Sloppy casual has always been my default look. My preppier classmates in high school would sometimes sport two, three, even four shirts at a time - Lauren, Izod, Brooks Brothers, all collars-up - while I wore secondhand faded olive German-army fatigues and this cool T-shirt with a troll on it.

Some people just use beautiful things to just shop or to have a tribal feeling - 'Oh blah blah blah I'm wearing Hermes blah blah blah I'm wearing Saint Laurent blah-blah blah' - because it's like a need a tribe recognition: 'Ahh my Rolex.' But I run away from anything which is too recognizable - it's my nature.

Laurence Olivier said in an interview once that when he plays a tragedy he always aims for the funny parts and the other way around. Because in a comedy you look for what's serious. I think that's true. Sometimes things are really funny if you're absolutely earnest. If you're really serious it's hilarious.

Food was always a big part of my life. My grandfather was one of 14 kids and his parents had a pasta factory so as a kid he and his siblings would sell pasta door to door. After he became a movie producer he opened up De Laurentiis Food Stores - one in Los Angeles and one in New York.

My brother and Lauren are very close with me and they are in Sun Valley so sometimes I need to go there and feel their presence. And there are times I need to see my bro' alone.