You decided to start your own fashion styling career, what or who pushed you to make such a move? It was a natural progression; I was getting frustrated in college when designing as it took so long to get to the fiished product and I like seeing results quickly not waiting months. But loved doing photoshoots with all the collections so the fashion history tutor suggested I pursue a different path In fashion styling or photography. So I applied to London College of Fashion and got into a post-graduate course in Fashion Media, which had a strong emphasis on styling. It was there I honed my skills, got a job after in a top London Boutique as manager and stylist and after 6 months moved back to Ireland to start freelance styling for magazines and TV.
What is the most interesting part of your job and why? I love all aspects of my job… My favourite part has to be fashion editorials and campaigns though as you see creative collaborations come to life in print.
Some of your client include Hello! Skinny Jeans, BT2, Brown Thomas, Penneys, River Island, Adidas and Fran & Jane, how do you make and maintain great relationships with major clients? You need to have a business head aswell as a creative one. I work closely with the owners and PRs of the brands and work with their needs and requests. If you deliver a job to their specification then you get the repeat business. Simple As.
Where do you find inspiration from when choosing colour & style combination for a particular fashion show or a fashion photo shoot? Everywhere! It depends on the season , the brief, the mood, the concept and most importantly the client and the audience. For example: U magazine shoots would have more highstreet fashion, appeal to an age group of 20 – 35, be bright and fun, and be on the pulse of fashion trends. Then say it’s a March Issue you might incorporate pastels or an Easter theme. It s very much dependent on so many factors as to where you pull your inspiration from.
You appear as a regular fashion contributor on top TV3 entertainment shows; “Xpose” & “Ireland AM” and you seem to work with so much elegance and a sense of calm that puts everyone at ease, including the audience! On one level, this is just being professional and a very essential quality for a good stylist. Is this something you’ve worked at over the years or it’s who you are off camera? And what other qualities do you think are essential? Why thank you!! I am just me on camera, I’m not acting I am just describing a look I put together so it all comes very naturally. Obviously I used to be nervous when I first started but I have been doing it over four years now so I am comfortable on camera and know the presenters I work with so its easy to come across well on screen.