"Someone set off a bomb in the science lab"

Eve Roth Lindsay is an image consultant in design and fashion. She was talking to David Phair.

I went to my first school in Manhattan at the age of two and its images remain vividly etched on my mind. Everything in the room at The Little Red School House had large language cards on it with the corresponding words in English and French. I can still see window/fenetre and chair/chaise - not surprisingly it was there I fell in love with the French language.

At Trinity School, my primary school, it's the walk to and from school I remember most. It took about 25 minutes and we did it in rain, snow and hail. I hated it and vowed I'd live somewhere warm. Overall, though, I really enjoyed Trinity School. When John F. Kennedy was president in the early 1960s I wrote to him and he replied with a letter and photo. I was so proud when they put it up in the principal's office.

At age eight, under mum's guidance, I started sewing, first for my dolls then myself. Mum would buy me as much fabric as I wanted instead of new clothes. I had wanted to be a French teacher but it was my parents who spotted my design talent long before I did. It was from them I received my real education. My dad, Arthur Rothstein, was a world-renowned photographer, made famous at the age of 21 by a photograph he took of the depression-afflicted Dustbowl in 1936. (http://www.cartermuseum.org/Inspiring_Visions/Rothstein/rothstein_artist.html)

My mum, Grace, was studying law when she met my father. She was also a singer, seamstress, photographer and latterly gained her master's in teaching children with special needs. Ours was a creative home. There was an organ, piano, set of drums, stand up bass, electric guitars, clarinet and flute in the living room. We had jam sessions every day.

My eldest brother Rob Stoner (http://www.robstoner.com/bio.php ) is a well known bassist and was musical director of Bob Dylan's band. My sister Annie Segan is an artist and author, and has a company that helps people gain an education later in life. My youngest brother, Dan Rothstein (www.danrothstein.com), is a dentist, accountant and an accomplished classical jazz guitarist.

By the time I went to junior high at 12, I was making a new dress every day. As an honours student, I became the photographer for the school paper to get out and about. I could go into any class and take pictures and cover sporting events.

The High School where I went next was famous for being burned down. A disgruntled kid set off a bomb in the science lab. As a result, we were taught in portable classrooms with very little heat. When another student tried to set them on fire, all that happened was that they smouldered because they were fire retardant. Luckily, school was half a day long, meaning I could get a job which I did with the Singer Sewing Company. I sold fabrics, gave advice and made evening and prom gowns.

At 16, I won a place at Parsons School of Design in New York. I was accepted based on my eight-year portfolio. At the same time, I studied for my bachelor's in Fine Arts and made gowns to pay the rent. I was the first student in my class to get a placement and was sent out to buy equipment only to nearly be mown down by a clothing rack typical of New York's garment district.

I ended up in the gutter with a very bruised ego but learned my lesson: be alert and act like you know where you're going even if you don't. After years of being a designer in New York, I wanted to travel. Eventually my work took me to Hong Kong but now I was traveling too much and longed to spend more time in the city.

I trained in colour analysis with colour me beautiful in the UK and now have my own company Savvy Style which offers advice on image, colour, fashion and style to people and corporations. Education is the greatest gift in the world. I was lucky enough to have parents who showed me the value of education. Hopefully we have passed this on to our two daughters, Asia and Jasmine.  People are the best teachers.

My biggest education in business came from Allan Zeman who created Lan Kwai Fong. He's a genius when it comes to work and design. My best teacher is my husband David Lindsay who taught me how to slow down and enjoy life. My best advice came from my parents: "Find something you love to do every day and then figure out a way to get paid for it."