The 5-minute Interview: Elizabeth Saltzman, Fashion commentator and journalist

'I'd make everybody pick rubbish off the ground'

As the international social editor of 'Vanity Fair', Elizabeth Saltzman, 42, sends out some of the most exclusive invitations around, including those to the magazine's Oscars Party. Next week, the former 'Vogue' fashion editor is in London to chair the Prince's Trust Fashion Rocks festival at the Royal Albert Hall. For tickets to the event, which takes place on Thursday and includes performances from The Gossip, Lily Allen and Razorlight, visit www.fashionrocks.co.uk

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Eating sweeties and talking to people about "Fashion Rocks".

A common misperception of me is...

That my life is easy or perfect. People think I'm always happy and never have problems because I'm always smiling. But everyone has ups and downs.

I wish that people would take more notice of...

The people around them. Not just friends but everybody. It's just common courtesy.

A phrase I use too often...

"You only live once so don't waste a minute". And "hey baby".

The most surprising thing that happened to me...

Was that I got old. I still expect to be 21, then I turned 42 and suddenly I'm twice someone else's age. But I could hang out with anyone – a five year old or a 90 year old.

I am not a politician but...

I would make everybody pick at least one piece of rubbish off the ground.

I'm good at...

Helping people. Connecting people. Laughing with my children. Trying to find a solution. That's the real answer actually. You need to remember there are no "nos" in this world.

I'm very bad at...

Holding my tongue. Keeping my opinion down.

In weak moments I...

Eat as many sweeties as possible then try to find the bright side. I always turn to sweeties.

The ideal night out is...

A night in. That's my ideal – just turning the lights out and having dinner with my family, or even on my own, or with friends. Good music too. Any music. I don't care if its rock 'n' roll or yodelling.

You know me as a fashion editor but in truer life I'd have been...

A surfer in Maui with my family. I'd have a small, cool shop called Bahama Mama. This is not just fantasy – it will happen one day.

The best age to be is...

I don't know all of them yet. All ages have challenges. They all are cool.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this...

Look at the bright side. There is just no way you won't find one ray of light.

Alice-Azania Jarvis