It is the week that Dublin Fashion Festival commences! As we have been doing since last week, as the official Make-Up artists of DFF, we are bringing you interviews with some of Ireland’s most influential people in fashion! Today, we have an interview with Ireland’s hottest stylist, Courtney Smith!
How long have you been a fashion stylist?
Well I have been ordering my family to dress how I tell them to since I could talk! But professionally – Over 3 years!
So how did you become interested in Fashion? Did you study fashion styling?
I was always into fashion and being creative as a child – I got my first sewing machine aged 14 and used to make lots of my own outfits (even if they did start to fall apart). I studied fashion design in college and then went to do a post-grad in fashion styling and media in London College of Fashion.
What is it about Fashion that you really love?
How it is always changing. Okay yeah fashion trends can come around in cycles – but every season there is always something new and interesting, whether it be a fashion fad, designer, label or style icon. Keeps it interesting, and there is always more to learn.
What is the difference between someone who is stylish and someone who has what it takes to be a stylist?
Haha, well to me that question is the equivalent of saying to a chef – what’s the difference between someone who enjoys eating good food and a chef! The 2 aren’t automatically connected! There are so many stylish people around now, since highstreet is accessing all the biggest catwalk trends it’s so much easier for women and men to dress their best! But being a working stylist is a lot less glamorous than people think!
Where might people have seen your work?
I am a regular fashion contributor on TV3 shoes Xpose and Ireland AM so you may have seen my mug on there waffling about the latest trends and celebrity styles! But my editorial styling has been seen in GQ South Africa, Sunday Times STYLE, Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine, Social & Personal, U Magazine and lots of others.
Who is your favourite designer and why? Favourite Irish designer?
Ooooh too many to mention! I am good friends with one of the designers for Alexander Wang and have always been a massive fan of his luxe take on a sporty style. Vanessa Bruno is a recent favourite of mine. But season to season depending on the collections my opinions change! Obviously there are the classics like Chanel and Givenchy who are always iconic and inspiring.
Irish designers are leading the way as far as I am concerned and I love to buy Irish. Emma Manley who is stocked at Bow Boutique mixes leather and sheer fabrics with studding and is just amazing – I would happily have every piece in my wardrobe! I was fortunate enough to use a Simone Rocha look in a shoot in South Africa this year and the craftsmanship and beauty of her products is like no other – you can see she learned from a master! Averil Blakely is a friend and recent NCAD graduate who has set up a company called Sequins & Threads with fellow graduate Emmy Slattery, they make unique one-of-a-kind debs dresses and occasion wear on request which I think is something that young fashionable girls would love as they get a red-carpet look like no other! I recently came across Harlow and Harvey designer Sarah O’Neill in Galway and she is most definitely one to watch. There is actually too many talented Irish designers to mention really!
Who are your style inspirations?
My style inspirations for shoots come from so many different places and people. I adore the work of Emmanuelle Alt who is now editor-in-chief at French Vogue, her work can be quite cheeky! Mert and Marcus imagery is incredible, and I love the brassiness of internationally acclaimed Irish photographer Tony Kelly. Sally Matthews is an incredible editorial stylist and has worked for Harpers Bazaar among others. And of course the fabulous Grace Woodward – she is the perfect example of a catwalk / editorial & TV stylist doing it all superbly! Her early cover shoots and editorials for STYLE mag are some of my favs.
Who is your number one style icon?
In all honesty I don’t have ONE. If you’re creative you pull inspiration from a million different places – and I feel the same about my style!
Describe a typical day for you as a fashion stylist?
It’s becoming such a monotonous answer – but there really is NO such thing as atypical day! But since you are interested, I’m going to give you the really boring, realistic version of a day in the life of a stylist…
a) When shooting for Xpose: it involves much more than turning up to be on telly! I research looks, email PRs to schedule signing out stock, book
a model, liaise with producer and presenter for filming time, confirm location to film, if hair and makeup is needed book that and then go pull all the looks and film.(return all clothes after)
b) Shoots can take from a week or more to prep and plan. Usually involves numerous meetings with clients and editors. Lots of planning and
collaborating ideas with photographer, model castings, location or studio booking, emailing PRs and stock sign out scheduling, pulling clothes and creating outfit looks: Then on the day of the shoot – steaming clothes, directing hair & Makeup, taping shoes, pinning items, dressing model,
creative direction, re-tagging prices onto clothing and packing into bags, writing up credit list of items used for magazine, select chosen images with photographer. (the following day returning all clothing to stores in mint condition!)
Like I said – not as glamorous as it looks!
c) Somedays you may have 5 different things on, and also there is all the press days, fashion shows and brand launches where we see next seasons
stock so we are able to prepare for upcoming shoots before the stock even hits the shop floor!
What do you love most about your job?
The craziness! And the amazing people I have had the pleasure to work with, oh and being my own boss can be pretty awesome!
You spend your days styling others, but can you describe your personal style?
In one word – Eclectic! Like I said I take inspiration from everywhere.
What are your top 3 style tips for our readers?
1) Be true to your personal style (Just because ‘Rock-Chick’ may be on trend doesn’t mean you have to give into it!)
2) Buy less and buy well! (I have stopped my hoarding ways – buy smart from now on! This means, even if you’re in Penneys and you see a skirt for 15eur don’t buy it in 2 colours “just because”)
3) Emulate someone elses style who gets it right! (If you find shopping and wearing trends tricky, find a celebrity who has a similar shape and
style to you… pick their 10 best looks from day to night to red carpet and emulate their style…. It’s a great way to cheat having a personal stylist!
For example – if you work in an office and have an athletic physique – someone like Jessica Biel is a great option for you. She loves strong tailoring, great fitting bootcut jeans and knows how to show off her toned physique in the right way.
What are you most looking forward to during Dublin Fashion Festival?
I am looking forward to catching some of the fashion shows this year – and delighted Sonya Lennon is hosting it this year!, she is the perfect ambassador for an Irish Fashion event like this! I also love all the pop-up events that happen dotted all around the city, it really creates a great buzz!
What was your favourite shoot that you styled? What work are you most proud of?
Hmmmm, that’s like asking a mom to choose a favourite child! I love all my shoots – looking back at some of my earliest ones I feel I have grown a lot with my work and now have a specific style; which I guess is what my clients would come to me for. I love strong imagery and vibrancy. I am really proud of the shoots I recently did in South Africa – I had 6 shoots in 6 consecutive days and being in a country where you don’t have as many resources at your disposal made it very difficult to organize and very exhausting. But the results are gorgeous – in my completely unbiased opinion of course. 
If you could style on celebrity who would you most like to work with and why?
Probably someone like Rihanna – purely because she is a no-holds-barred kinda girl and I like that she takes risks! But mainly for a photoshoot – she doesn’t need my help for personal style she has that covered!
But if I could save anyones personal style I’d love to get my hands on Cheryl Cole – she can get it soooooo wrong sometimes, especially when it comes to her casual looks!
What advice would you give someone who wanted to embark on a fashion styling career?
Work your little butts off… and if that fails…. Work harder!
For more information check out Courtney’s website on www.courtneysmith.ie
