THIRD DEGREE: Emma Murray on helping women rediscover their confidence
Hi Emma, thank you for taking this interview. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, please?
Thank you for having me. I’m from Donegal and have built my career working across Ireland and Northern Ireland, where I now run my business full time as a Personal Stylist.
I often joke that my interest in style is my mum’s fault. She had me around the shops in the buggy every week, but I really started experimenting during Transition Year, and that’s when I became fascinated by how clothing could change how someone felt about themselves.
I went on to study English and Spanish at university in Galway, and in my first year took a job with River Island, travelling back on the bus every weekend to work.
From there, I progressed through various retail roles, gaining experience in customer styling and visual presentation, with my most recent position being a Visual Merchandiser for Mango. Alongside these roles, I had been building my styling business part time for years before making the move to focus on it fully.
I also began blogging over a decade ago, which opened doors into media, collaborations, and professional styling. I’ve since trained through institutions such as the London School of Styling and continued upskilling, including advanced Colour Analysis training in London.
My skillset comes from a combination of education, hands-on client experience, and continuous learning, so it’s been an evolving journey.
How and when did ‘stylist’ appeal to you as a career – was it a long-term plan, or something that just emerged out of other jobs?
It wasn’t a clearly mapped-out career when I started. I always knew I wanted to work in fashion, but I wasn’t sure what area I would ultimately find my place in.
Styling wasn’t understood as a profession at the time. While working in retail, I naturally found myself helping customers put outfits together, building their confidence, and guiding them beyond just making a purchase. I had regular customers coming in weekly asking for me specifically because I’d previously helped them with looks – probably my first real indication that this was something I had a genuine skill for and loved doing.
At the same time, through blogging, I was sharing practical advice with readers, and the response grew organically. What began as informal guidance (thankfully) developed into services such as Personal Shopping and Wardrobe Consultations. Over time, I realised this wasn’t simply something I enjoyed, it was something I could build a business around. In hindsight it feels inevitable, but at the time I was just following curiosity and responding to opportunity.
Your Facebook page has attracted a huge number of followers. Does it take a lot of deliberate updating and maintenance just to keep it current?
Yes. Maintaining an engaged online community is a lot of work. Social platforms don’t grow passively – they require consistent posting and interaction.
I try my best to do it all myself, and that’s a mixture of planning content, responding to messages, sharing insights into my week, and ensuring what I post reflects both my brand and my clients’ needs. I’m a firm believer that it’s not about posting constantly, but posting meaningfully.
Stylist Emma Murray.
Does a social media presence allow you to function in ways that, say, a shop just wouldn’t?
Completely. Social media removes geographical limits and allows me to reach people who may never be able to meet me one to one for a Personal Styling or Shopping appointment. It gives me a space to share practical styling tips, outfit solutions, and confidence building advice that people can apply immediately. It’s a fantastic platform for ongoing relationship building, where clients and followers learn about their shape, colour, and personal style before they ever book with me.
It also lets me share client testimonials which builds trust and transparency in a way traditional retail simply can’t replicate.
What kind of customers do you have, and do they come to you mainly for special occasions, or just for a ‘general upgrade?’
My clients are very diverse – professionals, parents returning to themselves after raising children, people navigating body changes, or individuals entering new life stages.
While some book for specific events, most come seeking clarity and confidence in everyday dressing. They want to feel like themselves again or discover a version of themselves they lost along the way due to different circumstances.
I focus on longevity rather than one-off outfits, ensuring clients leave with knowledge they can apply repeatedly. It’s less about transformation for an occasion and more about sustainable personal style development.
How much does the job change from year to year?
It evolves significantly. Fashion itself shifts, but more importantly, the tools and contexts in which styling exists are constantly developing.
Digital platforms, retail landscapes, and client expectations influence how I operate. I continuously try to expand my services – it’s a career that requires lifelong learning and openness to innovation, which is part of what keeps it exciting.
Is there anything you can do for a lumpy middle-aged man (I’m asking for a friend…)?
A decent fit and clothes that aren’t older than the wearer go a long way, and if he ever gets brave enough … I won’t turn him away.
Away from style, what kind of things do you do in your spare time? (Or do you feel you must devote all your time to the business for a while)?
While my work can be demanding, particularly with the amount of travel involved, I’ve learned that balance is essential.
Fitness and well being play a big role in my life. I love going to the gym, and it has taught me resilience and self-discipline.
Outside of that, I enjoy the simple things – coffee dates, spa days, walking, travelling when I can, and spending quality time with my nearest and dearest.
Building a business is challenging, but I genuinely believe sustainable success requires space away
from it. Those moments of rest often fuel my creativity, perspective,
and motivation when I return to work.
Any major projects/plans/events for 2026?
My main focus is continuing to build my business. I’d like to introduce one or two new services over the coming year and grow my presence further across Northern Ireland, which is a relatively new region for me.
It’s important to me that growth feels purposeful and aligned with the clients I support.
Above all, I want to continue loving what I do and helping as many women as possible rediscover their style, confidence, and sense of self through the process. That impact is what motivates me most.
The Third Degree column is written by Paul Bradley
