I was the first in my family to go to college, and so, growing up, I thought that dressing well opened doors.

The 'National Suit Drive' collects gently used professional attire, but what it's really collecting is inspiration and a chance for men to feel empowered as they head into their next job interview.

I was getting paid to be involved with what I loved more than anything on earth: clothes.

I come from a blue-collar family. My father worked at the American Can Company as a mechanic. He broke his back and was disabled, and the first memory I have of him is in the hospital. My mother was a working mother - she had two jobs. Everybody in the house had to help out.

I grew up in this household where reading was the most noble thing you could do. When I was a teenager, we would have family dinners where we all sat there reading. It wasn't because we didn't like each other. We just liked reading. The person who made my reading list until my late teen years was my mom.

I am very lucky, I have a very tight group of friends and a very supportive family, and to this date no-one has ever sold a story on me.

The Batiste family is a large musical family in Louisiana, out in New Orleans. People go to New Orleans, and if they go to any club, four days out of the week I guarantee you that you will find a Batiste playing in the ensemble.

I come from a family of working women, my mum went to work two weeks after I was born - my parents had no money, there was no choice.