AISLING FARINELLI SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: FASHION EDUCATION'S loss was fashion's gain when stylist Aisling Farinella decided not to go down the academic route after finishing a Masters in Film in DCU. She decided that lecturing wasn't really for her and was in career limbo until a chance opportunity to work with a photographer friend led her to her true metier.

You may not be conscious of it, but Farinella's original eye and creativity influences what you wear, whether you're channelling Top Shop or Chanel, or seeking style inspiration from the pages of Image or Mongrel. Wellrespected in the industry, she's styled shoots for all the major Irish publications, covering high fashion as well as the more avant garde looks. She's also worked for retailers such as Arnotts and Brown Thomas, as well as forays into television and advertising, and she has a number of personal clients as well.

Dublin born and bred (her father is from Sicily), the project she's most excited about in 2007 is the Loft, a dynamic new artistic space and market at the top of the Powerscourt Shopping Centre, where she is creative consultant.

"I'm always looking for new things, new designers, new looksf whatever" she says. "I felt I would be able to take this (the Loft) on and do it, and that's where my interest came from.

We're going to spend a lot of time getting this up off the ground."

Her favourite designers include Consuelo Castiglioni for Marni, Miu Miu (Miuccia Prada) and legends such as Vivienne Westwood, Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garcons) and Alexander McQueen. Trends she's into at the moment? "I like anything with a big bow!"