DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE WEARING:The trousers are from Circus in Powerscourt, the cardigan from French Connection, the printed blouse from Avoca – I like supporting our own. I bought the Borsalino hat from Harlequin in Dublin, the lace-up Converses in Soho in New York, the black patent bag is by Biasia in Milan and the socks from M S – man, I'm wearing something from everywhere!
DEFINE YOUR STYLE:We will go with "eclectic". It varies. I always use as many layers as possible varying from the top half being well tailored and the bottom loose to vice versa. I like suit pants with baggy shirts, for example. I like being able to merge different genres, taking nice clean defining lines and layering them with some textured materials.
ARE YOU FASHION CONSCIOUS?:I like to see what people are wearing and new things and picking up accessories like socks and adding them to what I have already.
SO WHAT OTHER ACCESSORIES?I have a lot of hats such as a really nice grey/brown bowler with feathers and an old vintage top hat from Kennedy McSharry – they're quirky. I used to always wear bum bags and 1980s accessories like leg warmers, and I have an awful lot of cardigans.
SO YOU DON'T WEAR SUITS?:If I was going to a corporate meeting or a design meeting I would put a suit on, but normally I would wear the jacket and pants separately.
FAVOURITE SHOPS?:All Saints because everything fits and it is all about textures. I would definitely say Circus. American Apparel, which I think is almost like a high class Penneys, is good for basics and because they are completely plain, it's adaptable clothing so you can do what you like with it.
FAVOURITE DESIGNERS?:Maria Fusco of Ave Maria – she's doing private clients now and has great ideas like using wool to make an entire evening gown.
THE MOST YOU'VE EVER SPENT?:It was €200 on a floor-length ball skirt from Jigsaw.
ANYTHING YOU WOULDN'T WEAR?:Ugg boots – oh, God, I despise them. They are horrific and particularly when pyjamas get involved.
FASHION MISTAKES?:I bought a patterned green skirt that looked like an old carpet – it was horrific. It should have been a wall hanging, not a skirt.
HAS BEING A MODEL CHANGED YOUR IDEAS ABOUT FASHION?:It changed my attitude. I became a lot more adventurous. I found out about clothes that suited my shape and style and got a little bit more daring with textures. Wearing other people's clothes made me develop my own recognisable style, almost in contrast to what I had to wear. Sometimes models can look the same, but it is nice to look a bit quirky going into a job.
HOW DO FASHION AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN CONNECT?:Design trends cross all borders and fashion is the same, though it changes more frequently because it is seasonal. At present I am looking at trends for the next few years in industrial design, where there is a move towards "honest" materials that aren't covered or finished.
WHAT DO YOUR CLOTHES SAY ABOUT YOU?:I am not trying to wear my personality in my clothes and if my clothing is perceived as quirky it is because it will be a little bit daring – I am not really concerned about the impression I may give off.
ASHEENA NAIDOO Industrial designer, model
