Nicole Richie's style was inspired by her mother.

The reality TV star turned fashion designer confessed her mum, Brenda Harvey Richie's ladylike look has had a huge impact on her fashion choices growing up despite describing their styles as ''very different''.

She told People magazine at the launch of her label, House of Harlow 1960's home fragrance collection: ''I always thought to myself, 'That's what I want to look like when I get older.'

''We have very different styles.

''She was much more of a lady than I ever will be, but she was my inspiration to really step into this world.''

Nicole, 33, also shared her top tips for cross seasonal dressing, having perfected the technique splitting her time between California and New York.

She said: ''I love even throwing on a turtleneck and layering some summery pieces over it, so fall and winter are my go-to season.

''I love staple blazers, I love big jackets, coats, and hats. I think that the world's kind of your oyster when you just have so many layers to play with.''

The blue-haired beauty - who has Harlow, six, and Sparrow, five, with her husband, Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden - added that she is keen for her children to find their own sense of style.

She explained: ''[Sparrow is] a rock n' roller. He loves The Eagles and Jimi Hendrix and he's a huge Don Henley fan.

''My daughter's [Harlow]'s a girlie-girl. Joel and I both have always let our kids be 100 percent who they are, as far as the way that they dress and the things that they're interested in. Whatever they're interested in, I'm interested in.''