Model, businesswoman and new mum Faye Dinsmore talks all things sartorial with Donegal Woman.

Faye and baby Cloud

Faye Dinsmore has had a dramatic change in her personal style selections since her new arrival last year. The Ballintra native is known as one of Ireland’s top models and has graced many magazine covers and catwalks, both at home and internationally.

Faye has flitted between Paris, New York and London at the height of her career, and has now settled in Dublin to adjust to life as a new mum.

She and her husband Paddy Cosgrave, founder of the Web Summit, welcomed their baby boy Cloud to the world in October 2016.

Caring for Cloud has meant she is too busy to think about fashion recently, she says, but she has amassed an enviable collection of styles and knowledge from her many modelling campaigns.

Faye took some time out to share her style secrets with Donegal Woman this week.

From high-end fashion to maternity wear and effortless off-duty dressing, here is Faye’s Style Study:

How would you describe your personal style?
Soon after having my first baby just over 6 months ago I decided on a uniform of black trousers, black t-shirt over a breastfeeding vest and boots. I much prefer the breastfeeding vests to bra, as when you have to pull your t-shirt up, at least I’m not exposing my whole belly so it’s much more discreet.

Feeding a hungry baby while waiting for a bus in Dublin.

Who is your style icon?
I don’t really have a style icon, I much prefer being comfortable with what I am wearing than trying to emulate someone else’s look.

What is your favourite piece of clothing?
Over winter I wore my sheepskin Joseph coat nearly every time I went outside.

What inspires you when choosing an outfit?
I really try to be comfortable. I don’t mean wearing tracksuit pants all day – I mean whether dressing up or down you have to be happy with how you look.

How would you accessorise a look?
Good coats and shoes!

What is your most recent fashion purchase?
I really didn’t want to go down the giant baby changing bag route so I bought myself a nice hand made leather backpack from Kinsale Leather.

Where do you usually shop for clothing?
I love upstairs in Brown Thomas for all the french labels and Zara for basics. To be honest though, I am not a big shopper, especially now with a new baby it’s nearly impossible to shop for clothes at all!

Beauty shoot. Photography: Johnny McMillan

Do you have any favourite local fashion boutiques?
Om Diva on Drury St in Dublin, a mix of vintage and up and coming Irish designers. I got nearly all my maternity wear there, not actual maternity wear but vintage dresses that allowed for my big bump.

What are your wardrobe staples?
Until I start to fit into my old clothes again I will remain in my all black post baby uniform. I’m all about living as stress free as possible and that is difficult enough with a new baby, but at least if I don’t to put too much thought into getting dressed in the morning it is one less thing to worry about!

Rossnowlagh Beach

Do you follow trends?
On a whim I bought one of those little black choker necklaces in H&M a few months ago. That’s as close to following a trend as I’ve gotten.

Heels or flats?
Flats mostly, I’ve always tried to take good care of my feet especially since I’ve had to wear heels for work for so long.

Shoes or handbags?
Shoes for sure, good shoes can take you anywhere!

What is the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever heard?
Don’t let your clothes wear you.

What do you think about the fashion scene in Donegal?
Donegal women (and men!) in general are very stylish and really on trend.

What has been your best investment piece?
Manolo Blahnik black stilettos.

What’s the wackiest item you own?
Vintage tartan flared trousers!

If you could wear only one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If the weather, my lifestyle and my budget permitted I would happily live in floaty floral Erdem dresses forever.

Faye and Cloud outside Nick’s coffee in Ranelagh with school friend Anna West from Convoy.

What has been your biggest fashion faux-pas?

When it comes to dressing for any actual event that I might be photographed at (something I try to avoid anyway) – I nearly always make very regrettable sartorial decisions. I think it must be the pressure to be ‘on trend’ or something but I readily admit I’ve had more than a few faux-pas.

If money wasn’t a factor, what would you buy?
More Joseph coats! I love coats, it doesn’t really matter what you have got on underneath.

How do you feel when you’re in your favourite outfit?
Fantastic. I wish there wasn’t a link between how good you feel and how you feel about what you’re wearing but there is a small bit and I feel a little ashamed to admit that. I’d love to say that I wasn’t bothered at all but sometimes I used to cringe a bit if I’ve totally got the dresscode for an event wrong. It’s happened so often now though I’m learning to cope with my bad decisions better!

Want to share your fashion secrets in the #DWStyleStudy? Email us on news@donegalwoman.ie