Grace Coddington on the Secrets of Reinventing Yourself

The Unstoppables is a series about people whose ambition is undimmed by time. Below, Grace Coddington explains, in her own words, what continues to motivate her.

I’m not modern. Now is not the moment for people who are very particular and very precise. Now is about being on the move and not being tied to anything.

At Vogue, I didn’t want to be part of that. And on the other side, they didn’t want me. For me, it’s never been “Oh, I want to just get this done.” It’s “I want it done better than I did it last time.”

It’s important to keep your brain occupied, to keep just one step ahead. If I were to retire to the country, I’d probably end up in bed, not doing anything. So I have to push myself. The more you get into doing things, the more competent you become.

The things that have always inspired me inspire me now. People in the street can inspire me. Even if I don’t really approve of how they are dressing, I may see something emerging or a kind of story that I can put a twist to or have fun with.

I’ve been told that I’m always reinventing myself. That was said of me even back in the ’60s, when I was a model. I had long hair, and I would chop it to nothing. Then I would grow it again and dye it blond.