Constantly on the move and always with something entertaining to say, Fashion Television's Jeanne Beker recently touched down in Ireland for a few days. During her visit, she found time to answer 10 questions put to her by Robert O'Byrne.

Q. What would you insist every woman should always have in her wardrobe?

A. A high quality, tailored black jacket, a pair of stilettos, sexy lingerie and a sense of humour.

Q. What would you recommend a woman to buy for the season ahead if she wanted to make only a single purchase and still look up-to-date and fashionable?

A. Anything cashmere.

Q. What is your definition of a stylish person?

A. Someone with the courage to be her/ himself.

Q. Who in Ireland do you regard as a stylish?

A. The always chic and talented Louise Kennedy.

Q. What is the most common mistake women today make with their clothes/appearance?

A. Subscribing to seasonal trends that aren't right for the individual. It's hard to resist all the hype sometimes, but a long, hard, intelligent look into the mirror could save you from becoming just another fashion victim.

Q. Who do you believe is the designer currently making the greatest contribution to fashion, and why?

A. Probably Calvin Klein . . . but certainly not for his innovation. It's more for the amazing ability he has to suss out global trends and reinterpret them for the mass market. He's committed to modernity and comfort, the two most basic driving forces in successful fashion today. Some may say he merely waters down the avant-garde concepts of others, but I truly believe he has his finger on the pulse of our times and a keen understanding of what we want and need. Anyone who can moderate the concepts of the Japanese and make them understood to the average person - in fact, sell that back to the Japanese - has got to be pretty darn clever. Calvin's controversial ad campaigns in the past have also helped tweak our sensibilities, and set the tone for provocative imagery in fashion advertising this decade.

Q. Who is particularly over-rated in the fashion hierarchy?

A. Fashion magazine editors. Certainly we all crave their guidance, especially since designers have decided they're not dictating any more. But when certain high-powered editors start playing the role of fashion gods, things can get scary. We all have to realise that, as well-educated as these mere mortals may be on the subject of style, many of them have their own agenda in mind when dishing out direction. I don't know about you, but I detect a certain amount of hypocrisy in some of the magazines I read. On the one hand, they're encouraging you to be realistic about the way you dress, and the next minute they're shoving fantasy in your face. Granted, we all need to dream but I don't think most editors guide us down the fine line fairly enough.

Q. How would you describe your personal style (and is it worth copying)?

A. Hopefully unpretentious, fairly consistent and recently a little more sexy. I've been working out with a personal trainer and now relish the fact that I can wear jersey, tight jeans and T-shirts for the first time in 10 years. I go for lines that are classic and am devoted to anything black, but I usually try to inject a subtle bit of flash into my outfit, whether it be an interesting piece of jewellery or a fabulous scarf or a funky pair of shoes. Is my personal style worth copying? I don't think ANYONE's personal style should be copied. We're looking for originals here. It's nice to inspire others . . . but inspiring them to do their own thing is what we're talking about.

Q. Must quality always cost a lot of money?

A. Unfortunately, it usually does. But there's expensive . . . and then there's EXPENSIVE. Top designers charge megabucks for their quality products because they've spent millions on their ad campaigns and have to be compensated. There's great, quality clothing around by lesser-known designers and more obscure labels that's much more affordable than the image-driven, big-name designer stuff. You just have to keep your eyes open and shop around a lot. Q. If you were a fashion dictator, what would be your orders?

A. To thine own self be true.