Fashion icon Twiggy wanted to be a fashion designer when she was a teenager.

The British model, who became known in the 60s for her wide-eyed, striking appearance, designed and made her own clothes as a youngster and believes her unique outfits and designing skills are the reason she was successful as a model.

“My first memory of knowing exactly what I wanted to wear was when I was 13 - I was a mod and mod clothes were very specific. There weren’t really teenage clothes back then, so I made them myself. That was when I became very aware of fashion. In fact I became so obsessed with clothes that my plan was to go to art school and become a designer. In 1966 that all changed when I was discovered and started modeling. And I think my look had a lot to do with me being discovered. In one of the first shoots I ever did I was wearing bell bottoms in bright yellow jersey with big green petals appliquéd all over them that I’d made myself.”

These days, the 60-year-old beauty is inundated with beautiful, designer clothing: “I’m not a hoarder. I’ve got special pieces that were made for me by people such as Bill Gibb, Barbara Hulanicki and Ossie Clark that I hang on to, but sadly I didn’t keep everything from the 60s. I go through my wardrobe every few months - the family get first choice, then friends and the rest goes to Oxfam. Even so, I do have a walk-in wardrobe that’s full, but then you always fill the space you’ve got. I’m very lucky that I am given some wonderful clothes as gifts - and, if I’m going somewhere very special, my very nice designer friends will lend me something - but at heart, I’m a bargain-hunter.”