7 Secrets to Invincibility

1. Go Low

When I started working from home last March, I thought, I really don't want to put shoes on. Now I wear slides and socks to work. This is my uniform.

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2. Start Over

To stay relevant, you have to be willing to change. I've just retooled my whole company and even put together a new category of clothing called day pajamas, for people working from home.

3. Mask Up

When the pandemic ends, things won't go back to the way they were. I get allergies in May and September, but I didn't have them last year, because I was wearing a mask. Guess who's going to wear a mask in May and September from now on?

4. Go Fast

Intermittent fasting — for example, going 12 or 14 hours without eating — helps my body function better. You're giving your body time to rest and repair itself.

5. Plan Your Z's

A good night's sleep is the most invigorating thing. You look better, you feel better, your brain works better.

6. Plan Ahead

If I'd had a handbook when I was younger on what to expect from life, I would have been so grateful. So I decided to write one: I Am Invincible. Twenty-year-olds who read the book will get a big view ahead, and I hope the 75-year-olds who read it will see that they have power, they have promise — how cool is that?

7. Bide Your Time

I married and divorced young. For years, I thought romantic love was for other people. Then at 65, I met my soul mate, and now we're engaged. I would not have been ready for this person earlier in my life. So if you're looking for a partner, be kind to yourself. Maybe, like me, your schedule is different. 

—As told to Margaret Guroff

Pioneering fashion designer Norma Kamali is the author of the new book I Am Invincible.