Day in the life of a Fashionista - Aoibhin Cassin, Fashionista!

Aoibhin Cassin is 22 years-old and lives in Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny. She attends Aurora Hub five days a week where she discovered a real love and passion for fashion. 

Aoibhin likes to be on trend and has a keen eye for shopping around Kilkenny. She also loves to travel so she has decided to set up her own fashion blog and Instagram page to illustrate all her great fashion finds with the help of the lovely people she has met along the way. 

Kilkenny People's Siobhan Donohoe, Fashionista Aoibhin Cassin & her PA Kathleen Drennan 

As you may know, I love a bit of style myself and was very honoured to be asked to the launch of Aoibhin's Fashion Blog along with her family and friends in Aurora Hub. The fashionista has a great eye for colour and is a thrifty shopper. There is a lot of style in her wardrobe from Kilkenny shops and I spotted many pieces that I wouldn't mind having myself.

Kathleen Drennan is Aoibhin’s personal assistant and supports her four days a week in the Aurora Hub. They both take in weekly shopping trips together, while also travelling around Ireland. Here is a glimpse into Aoibhin’s world through the voice of Kathleen…

Kathleen I am going to start with you. What do you do for Aoibhin as her PA?

I’m on the journey with Aoibhin, she brings me along. As her PA and as a service in Aurora we look at a ‘yearly visioning’ for Aoibhin with her circle of support and discuss her roles and goals, things that Aoibhin has an interest in and what she might like to do, and we plan around it.

My role is to support Aoibhin to try and achieve these roles and goals to the best we can. Some are achieved very quickly, and others take time. I’m here to support Aoibhin and to give her the best life and fulfil her dreams just like any 22-year-old.

Aoibhin is a very sociable lady, she loves to go out and about, listening to live music and meeting new people. Her day trips are her favourite and swimming in the Ormonde Leisure Centre which she attends three days a week. She has developed a lot of friendships in the Ormonde Leisure Centre and people know her by her first name. Elaine and other members of staff always have a warm welcome when Aoibhin arrives and were great supporters for her launch.

We are not a day centre anymore, it’s very centred around the individual and tailored for what they want to do.

Aoibhin's family and friends: Siobhan Donohoe, Aoibhin's Mary Cassin, Nicky Costello, Community Inclusion Lead at Aurora, Aoibhin's mother Ann Cassin, Aunt Monica and Emma Butler, Community Inclusion Manager 

And Aoibhin has set her heart on fashion.

The yearly visionary is a lovely event. We link in with the family and we have a slide show of all the things we achieved and the different outcomes in the previous year. It’s really key to us. Aoibhin has picked her year ahead to explore fashion more and build on her Instagram account and see what the future holds.  

Everything is on Aoibhin’s terms. Just like most 22 years old women, Aoibhin loves music and fashion. She is well able to tell us what she wants and what she likes as well as dislikes. Aoibhin is a great communicator and is able to communicate through her eyes, using her hands and facial expressions. She can make choices for herself when she is out and about. She chooses her colours and her own style. Once she decides what she wants to buy she won’t look at anything else.

What is it particularly that Aoibhin loves about fashion?

She loves the style and shopping. She loves picking out clothes and accessories, even down to her pjs. She is a real typical young lady.

Lovely bright colours attract her which match her beautiful complexion and dark hair. She gets lots of compliments from the outfits she puts together. Currently a pink pleather jacket is her favourite to wear over dresses and leggings. Barbie the movie influenced that purchase!

Pennys have been very supportive of Aoibhin's blog.

Pennys is one of Aoihbin’s favourite places to shop. We approached the manager of Pennys in Market Cross, Jackie Costigan and asked if she would be interested in assisting Aoibhin in becoming a fashionista blogger.

Jackie was so obliging and very helpful in supporting Aoibhin to make it possible. We meet Breda, a staff member from Pennys once a fortnight and she shows Aoibhin all the latest trends of the season. Breda also assist Aoibhin to mix and match outfits and accessories.

Pennys have been very good to her; she is treated like royalty with her own dressing room and personal shopper.

Aoibhin likes to be on trend, and this can be expensive. By doing a lot of her shopping in Pennys she can stay up to date with the ever-changing trends. She loves their style and affordability as well as the compliments she gets when she wears her outfits.

You had a launch party recently for Aoibhin’s Fashion Blog.

Aoibhin’s love of style and fashion has really grown over the years and to showcase this she was supported to come up with a plan to create a blog on social media.

Aoibhin loves showing her appreciation, so we threw a launch party to say thank you to all the people that supported her and made her fashion blog journey possible.

On behalf of Aoibhin we would like to thank Emma Butler, Nicky Costello, and the team from Aurora Hub. Stephen Mungovan, Domhnall O'Mathúna from Twilight International Cultural House and Murty Brennan. Kieran Kelly, Web Designer & Digital Marketing. Breda, Lisa and Jackie in Pennys and Aoibhin’s Mum, Dad, and family.

To view Aoibhin’s Fashion Blog, type Aoibhin’s blog in Google search. You can also find Aoibhin on Instagram too.