My Style

LIZ O'DONNELL, former PD minister, now working in public affairs and advocacy

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE WEARING:This red coat in double-faced silk with a taffeta collar is by Yasmin Velloza, an Irish designer. The black dress underneath is also by her and the South Sea pearl necklace comes from her new shop in Dawson Street in Dublin 2. The black high heels, which I bought in London, are by Georgina Goodman.

ARE YOU A SHOPPER?No, I'm not a great shopper. I tend to go to small boutiques where you get service. I get overwhelmed by big shops.

ARE YOU A BIG SHOE FAN?I like shoes, but I am not an Imelda Marcos! I wear flats during the day and high heels for glamour at night. I love old-fashioned glamour, though I had to tone it down when I was in politics. Yasmin's clothes have that, yet they are modern and tailored to the feminine shape.

WERE YOU ALWAYS INTERESTED IN FASHION?My mother, Carmel, was always very stylish and I learned very early on watching her do her make-up and dress up. I inherited that interest in style. I was going to do art as I was always interested in drawing, life drawing and the female form, but instead studied law. In another life I might have been a fashion designer.

YOU'RE INTERESTED IN IRISH DESIGNERS?I got married in a John Rocha dress. It was cream organza with pink and orange polka dots, like a pierrot. I was interested in original design. As a politician for 15 years, I always tried to wear Irish designers. The President very actively supports them too. I was abroad a lot, representing Ireland, which was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Irish fashion. I never held back and I felt it was part of my public duty to look well. I've always enjoyed dressing up.

ARE FEMALE POLITICIANS SCRUTINISED MORE?Women do come under scrutiny and the danger is that you could be spoken about only in terms of your clothes. I have steered away from talking about fashion because I felt it was important to get the focus on work. I wouldn't allow myself to drift off in that way, but I never made any apology for looking glamorous. I certainly don't feel that if you have a serious job you have to wear a black suit all the time.

WHAT ABOUT GROOMING?I think a lot of people can get stuck in a make-up rut, and my daughter, Laura, who is a make-up artist, has shown me how make-up can update and change your look completely. It's just as important as what you wear.

WHAT DO YOUR CLOTHES SAY ABOUT YOU?I suppose that I have an interest in clothes, that I am interested in beautiful things, even though I am also a serious person. Clothes are my way of displaying the lighter side of my personality.

Make-up by Laura Taylor Carson at Nail Make Up Bar, Blackrock, Co Dublin, tel: 01-2104641

PORTRAIT BRYAN O’BRIEN