Our Interview with SONYA LENNON
Sonya Lennon is widely regarded as one of Ireland's top fashion stylists, having established a reputation for creative excellence over almost twenty years. Her work is distinguished by a meticulous attention to detail for fashion and styling and intuitive awareness of the demands of each production. Coupled with Sonya's reputation in the fashion industry, she is fast being recognized as a leading Costume Designer in Film and more recently Theatre. While her editorial work reflects the cutting edge of her practice, her portfolio of work has broadened to include costume design for film and stage, styling for advertising and production for fashion shows. Since its beginning, Sonya has been a regular contributor to RTÉ's Off the Rails, and now presents the series with co-presenter Brendan Courtney.
Q: Sonya, had you always longed to work in the fashion industry?
A: It’s all I know. Apart from a six month aberration selling stereos, after one of Dublin’s first avant garde boutiques closed down, I’ve always worked with clothes.
Q: Is there a vast difference between styling for designer shows, high fashion editorial shoots, advertisements and theatre productions and the work you are doing on Off the Rails, where, for the make-over candidates, it is very much the science of what they should be wearing and why, as opposed to making high fashion statements?
A: As a stylist you work from your gut and each project employs the same responses. I tend to invest myself quite heavily in anything I do, so, every result has a pay-off. I’m not the kind of person who does a job thinking about what I could have been doing, I just try to achieve the best results possible.
Q: Do you find when working on ‘Off the Rails’, that self-confidence, or the lack of it, plays a huge part in how people view themselves and how they choose to dress?
A: That’s the key. Every woman that we help has a problem area. It’s the part of themselves that they really hate and focus on. Brendan and I are very involved in picking the candidates, and carefully choose women who are ready to pull themselves out of self-loathing and into the light. You can say it’s your bum, your thighs, your boobs or whatever, but, if you’re got to that point, your confidence is shot. A bit of tender tuition can help to refocus onto the positive attributes and show the girls how beautiful they can be.
Q: You have a wonderful reputation in the world of costume design and considering your creativity and attention to detail, it’s hardly surprising that you are involved in design at this level, but have you ever considered designing a ready to wear clothing range?
A: When I left school I wanted to study fashion design in NCAD but it never happened. I’m glad now. I am a really close friend and advisor to Tim Ryan,
A designer who is about to go stellar ( Rhianna is on a waiting list in LA for his pieces, and British Vogue are championing him). I love the stylist/designer relationship we talk about every aspect of his collection from inspiration through to show production. It’s feel so right for me to take that role, that I couldn’t imagine playing his. However, my life is a testament to the motto ‘Never say never’, so who knows!
Q: You are lending your vast knowledge to the young finalists in the Nokia Young Fashion Designer Awards in March as you produce their runway show. What advice will you be giving to the young designers and what can we expect to see?
A: Actually, my contact with them is minimal. There is a very effective mentoring scheme in place, but that is not the hat that I’m wearing. As show producer, my job is to showcase their designs to the best. The show will give a very slick and, hopefully exhilarating environment in which to shine.
Quick Fire Questions:
Q: How would you describe your own personal style?
A: Womanly, architectural and brave.
Q: Is there any particular person in Ireland that you would consider to be a ‘seriously stylish’ person?
A: Susan Hunter.
Q: What item (be it anything from lip gloss or your mobile phone) would you absolutely not leave the house without?
A: It’s lipstick. I’m a fiend, seventeen lip colours in one bag was my worst offence.
Q: If you could buy one thing today – regardless of cost- what would it be?
A: Marilyn Monroe’s wardrobe from ‘Some Like It Hot’.
Q: What is your favourite thing to do to unwind?
A: Walk the South Wall with my great friend. 40 minutes of deep breaths, wisdoms, laughs and silences.
Sonya Lennon will be running 'Wardrobe Workshops' later this year (in April) and they will be a fanastic and elightening experience for those who want to be educated in how they should dress for their size, shape and skin tone etc. Click Here for Details.
Below: Sonya Lennon with her 'Off the Rails' co presenter Brendan Courtney