Secrets of a stylist

By IMAGE
22nd Aug 2014

Paula Hughes

For someone with her immense talent and fashion brand knowhow, this stylist flies not only under the radar, but often to all corners of the globe with huge crews (often upwards of 30) for Primark (Penneys) campaigns; or is hunting down the perfect location in Ireland for IMAGE or Brown Thomas fashion editorials; or en route to London, where she divides her working time as a style and brand consultant. Visit a Primark store anywhere in the world (there are 250 of them), and Paula’s styling touch is on the walls, in the windows, at the tills, and subsequently on the pages of pretty much every fashion magazine.

Paula’s top tips

Don’t let your clothes wear you. Clothes are secondary to the wonderful character that is wearing them.
If you’re not happy with your own style, get advice. Find shops or sales assistants you trust, then let them help you – it’s what they are there for.
Discover new labels and avoid buying the same pieces as everyone else

Paula’s top buy

The sweater and sweater dress were all over the catwalks. My favourites were from Stella McCartney and Chlo?.

Sweater dress, €141 at ASOS

Celestine Cooney

This Irish-born and bred stylist now calls London her stomping ground, where she has gained some seriously impressive cred, boasting styling work for big titles like US Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar; Vanity Fair; Dazed & Confused; V Magazine; and now Twin magazine, where she is the fashion director. She’s one serious style star who leads by example, with an innate sense of killer style, which means she never fails to rock the right look, whether it’s styling for London Fashion Week runway shows for Simone Rocha or Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, a high-end magazine editorial, or something more low-key.

Celestine’s top tips

If you’re sale shopping, don’t buy things you wouldn’t have bought full price.
Never buy something that’s on the small side – your thighs will probably not get skinnier, just accept them and work with what you’ve got.
Wear your expensive pieces; don’t save them for special occasions. The more wear and happiness you get out of them, the better – let them earn their keep.