Aisling O'Loughlin, 31, is one of the vibrant presenters on TV3's Xpose. Since joining Xposé as part of the original all female line-up in 2006 she has interviewed a galaxy of stars, such as Dustin Hoffman, Denzel Washington, Peter O'Toole, Renee Zellweger, Dolly Parton and Noel Gallagher, to name but a few.
One of her most memorable interviews involved stealing a kiss off George Clooney on the red carpet in London's Leicester Square (lucky girl!). Never afraid to take a fashion risk, Aisling is known for her elfin blonde crop and her quirky style.
Georgina Heffernan caught up with the glamorous presenter for a quick fashion fix.
Georgina Heffernan: You have a very individual look - how has that evolved?
Aisling O'Loughlin: Growing up, my eldest sister Caroline was my biggest fashion icon. She was a teen of the eighties with a screwdriver perm and ripped jeans adorned with zips at the ankles; I copied her every move. My next big influence was my close friend Samantha Wright who I met in secondary school. Her mother Breda was a style queen who was passionate about fashion. She introduced us to Vogue magazine and showed us how to put an outfit together without fear of recriminations from the Bland Brigade. Breda and Samantha are still my favourite fashionistas and always look immaculate.
GH: The tabloids seemed to go crazy when you cut your hair into an elfin crop last year. Do you prefer a shorter look – and were you surprised with the response?
AOL:I was surprised by the response and by how intolerant people can be of change and personal choices. I call it the Truth Haircut because I really saw another side to some people when I chopped off my locks. Some people I thought I knew treated me like I’d murdered an innocent child – it was stunning and hugely disappointing. The cool skins though loved that I was brave enough to make such a dramatic change and backed me up.
Personally I’m happier with shorter hair; I feel freer and lighter. I was out on the street shooting a piece the other day and this man stopped up and told me I look like Annie Lennox with my new hair. That’s the best compliment I can think of – Annie Lennox is such a symbol of a strong, independent woman who makes her own rules. I’d be happy to look like her any day of the week.
GH: What do you wear when you are on TV and how does it differ to your everyday attire?
AOL: Finding an outfit for the television everyday can be a bit of a nightmare but I’m lucky in that TV3 is situated right beside Fashion City so I get to borrow lots of samples. I love to wear dresses from Fran and Jane and KF Agencies who supply to shops around the country. On my travels with the show, I’ve also come across some super boutiques which offer a wonderful selection of labels. Caru on Drury Street in Dublin is packed with goodies and Belle Boutique in Ashford, Co Wicklow has some great exclusive labels.
GH: Who are your favourite fashion designers and why?
AOL: Just today I’ve found a brand new favourite designer and she’s Irish! Her name is Yasmin Velloza and she’s set up shop at 43 Dawson Street in Dublin City Centre. She’s a serious talent and I predict great things for her. Yasmin’s favourite materials are cashmere and silk and you should see what magic she can do with them! I’m very excited about her – she has that elusive thing they call ‘the eye’ and can really make a woman feel feminine with her clothes. I also love the creations of a young Kerry based designer called Caroline Matthews. I’m wearing one of her gowns to the IFTAs this weekend and funnily enough the dress is called Aisling; it’s written in the stars that we get together.
GH: Have your shopping habits changed since the credit crunch started to bite?
AOL: Not really. Actually I think I may be buying more – there are so many incentives to shop in this recession. Retailers have concocted all sorts of tricks to get us to spend and I’m a sucker for a deal. Apart from a pay cut, my financial situation hasn’t changed much. I’m still generally broke! Thankfully I didn’t have far to fall during this recession so the pain isn’t as bad as it could have been.
GH: What's the worst fashion mistake you've ever had?
AOL: I’ve made so many it’s hard to pick just one! Fashion is all about fashion mistakes though – I mean fringing is a big trend for Spring Summer as is stone washed denim. I say they were wrong the first time round, just say no the second time round. I am regretting wearing feathers on the Xposé Live ad campaign. It was one of those ‘it was a good idea at the time’ situations. I loved the look in studio because I felt like a warrior but it didn’t really work when the team was standing side by side with big, cheesy smiles. I needed to look fierce and ready for battle but… I didn’t!
GH: What's your favourite city to shop in and why?
AOL: I love Dublin. I think it’s better than any other city in the world to shop and I’ve done a fair bit of travelling. The more time I spend in this city, the more I love all it has to offer. I like that it’s so central and you can spend a day strolling around the shops, stopping for coffee in the numerous cafes. The Dubs are sound too, and you can always bank on a laugh with the person behind the counter when making your purchase. The city has a great personality that you don’t find elsewhere.
GH: How has your personal style changed as you've grown older?
AOL: I’ve grown to appreciate beautiful materials and tailoring with age. I’ll spend money on the staples, like a good pair of black trousers and a decent coat. It’s all about the fit. I’ve learned to accentuate the positive and hide the negative... Celia Holman Lee gave me great advice about wearing what suits your figure. Anything that accentuates my waist, hides my arms and shows off my legs tends to work well on me. When you’re younger you’re more of a trend slave, now I’m into buying classics that will stick around my wardrobe for longer.
GH: What's your favourite high street store?
AOL: I love Reiss for its neat, grown up cuts but they sure know how to charge for the pleasure. I also like Topshop for its kooky take on fashion and Oasis for its leather jackets.
GH: What's next for you?
AOL: I’ve no grand plan, at the moment I’m grateful to have a job when so many have found themselves out of work. Xposé is so varied it keeps me busy and creatively motivated which is great. Whatever I do next, I’d like to apply all the knowledge I’ve accumulated through my years on the news and then on Xposé. It’s been a huge learning curve and I wouldn’t like it to go to waste.
