#arkitaipmuse Patricia O'Dwyer

This month, we’d love to introduce you to our good friend, super mum and content creator Patricia O’Dwyer. We sat down with Trish to talk about her passion for fashion and how she’s managing to juggle her career and being a new mum.

You're a content creator and fashion journalist. How did your journey start?

I have always loved fashion all the way back to when I was a little girl dressing up for any occasion and have always found it to be a creative outlet for me and a way to feel good. Early 2021, after a year of lockdowns (and trackies!), I found more than ever that getting dressed and spending time on my love for good clothes was making me feel better than ever, so I started sharing this on my Instagram. Since then I have been so lucky to see a wonderful little community grow online and I have the chance to work with some incredible brands and publications.

Where is home for you?

I moved out of London just before the pandemic and now live in South Bucks, I love being so close to London but couldn't be happier to be a little further into the countryside now (especially as it meant we could get a dog!).

Patricia wears the Anna Blouse in white.

You recently became a mum to your beautiful baby girl. How do you juggle motherhood and work?

I did, and it is the best thing ever. It's definitely tricky at times, I do a lot of my content creating during naps and after bedtime and to be honest some days I find it hard to capture anything as she is absolutely my number one priority and when she's awake I just enjoy our time together. Saying that I love that I have this work to continue channeling my passion and have something that is still my own and separate from my identity as a mother.

Patricia wears the Sharon Mini Skirt in taupe.

I love your weekly 'ways to wear'-videos - what's your secret to an effortlessly chic style?

Thank you! I think the key is to wear what you want and what you feel good in - I try not to follow trends too much as I find it is a sure-fire way to overbuy and spend money on pieces that are likely not to be in the wardrobe for a long time. This is part of the reason I came up with the ways to wear series, in my endeavour to be more conscious about my purchases I understand that for better quality, more sustainable items you need to spend a bit more so it is important to make these items work hard for you! I also wanted to show people that you can shop your own wardrobe and create a new look so easily without buying more and more unnecessarily. If you feel good in a piece it shows so why not make that staple something you wear often, that’s effortless style to me.

What does clothing mean to you?

For me, it's a way to share my personality. I genuinely feel my mood heighten when I have put a bit of thought into my outfits and a well-put-together look makes me feel as if I can achieve anything.

What does a typical day look like for you? Do you have any rituals that you'd like to share with us?

I'll be honest, the last 5 months with my daughter haven't been very routine for me at all as we are all trying to figure things out and are still settling into what works best for us. But I do love little rituals to make me feel set up for the day so even the little things like washing my face, applying daily SPF moisturiser and drinking my JSHealth Collagen before taking the dog for a walk do that!

How important is sustainability to you? What motivates you to live a more conscious life?

I have become much more focused on buying more sustainably after years of - sadly - being drawn into fast fashion. I am now driven towards a capsule wardrobe of well-made pieces by brands with a strong ethos. You can make one piece work really hard for you and look so chic styled in different ways so I make sure I can do this with any item that I purchase.

What's the most treasured item in your wardrobe?

My all-time favourite purchase is a black plissee set, it’s such a simple set but guaranteed to make me feel put together and comfy but chic at the same time! I have worn it in every season and throughout my pregnancy, so I just know that it will be something I will reach for forever.

Lastly, what are your three favourite arkitaip-pieces?

The Gertrude dress is an obvious favourite, it just embodies effortless chic in my opinion - a real forever piece that you can dress up or down for so many occasions. I also love the Anna blouse and Sharon skirt for great wardrobe staples to last a lifetime but the piece that has caught my eye recently are the gorgeous Clara trousers - just so cool! I think they'd be so much fun to style up and down throughout the warmer months.