Sir Paul Smith, who turned 80 in July, may still be zany, but he's been in a reflective mood of late, publishing a memoir, pondering his legacy and supporting the work of his eponymous foundation.

Paul Smith was standing in his store on Albemarle Street in London — where he works every Saturday on the shop floor — when a fascinating customer caught his eye. “A lady came to the store as a rabbit. She was as we are now, just chatting,” says Smith, who’s been collecting lucky rabbit figurines for years. “I said, ‘Can I help you? Do you need a new tail or anything?'”

Smith’s customers, an eclectic bunch, tend to treat him like an old friend, while anonymous admirers from around the world send him inexplicable gifts — a 20-foot-long yellow pencil, carved fish, bicycles, duck and goose statues and the crinkly wrappers used to pack fresh fruit — all of which he stores in his curiosity shop of an office.

His past 56 years in business have been just as colorful. He’s mingled with everyone from King Charles III to David Hockney and Andy Warhol, and made suits for Paul McCartney, David Bowie and the British cycling champion Bradley Wiggins.

Through it all, he hasn’t lost the zaniness of his youth. He may be Britain’s most successful fashion designer, and an establishment pillar, but can still twist his lanky figure into a pretzel, and never misses the chance to let slip a silly pun — or a hearty laugh.

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