Trending 5th September 2015 by Victoria Stokes
#MyBlogLife: Meet Blogger Aoibhe Devlin From The Secret Obsession
STELLAR chats to Aoibhe about growing her blog and the Irish brands she can't get enough of.
Name: Aoibhe Devlin
Age: 26
Website: thesecretobsession.com
Facebook: The Secret Obsession
Twitter: @aoibhedev89
Instagram: @aoibhe_devlin
Snapchat: aoibhedev89
Do you blog full time?
The Secret Obsession (TSO) is my part-time job and I have a great team of ladies who write for me. I just secured a new role as a senior manager working with one of the top retailers in Ireland so I can’t wait to start that.
How many people work for your site?
I have Tori Delahoyde, Lynda Hennebry, Erin Healy and Sarah Doherty. Sarah and Erin are just new and I’m so excited to have them on board!
What’s the best part of running TSO?
It’s my baby, I love it. The best part has to be the feedback that I get off my readers. I posted a blog in May about life in Australia called ‘The grass isn’t always greener, my journey from Ireland to Australia’ and it crashed my website for a night so many people were on the site.
How many lovely goodies do you get sent?
I do get sent loads of nice things! It’s amazing but I do share with the girls on the team too; only fair. I think a trench coat from Joules.com was my favourite. It’s one of my must-have pieces and would rival the Burberry trench any day.
Tell us about your Gold Fever extensions
I LOVE them. Gold Fever hair is so thick in comparison to other brands. My hair is just so full now and the match is spot on. I got mine done with the lovely ladies in Zero One salon in Greystones. This is my first set so I’ll see how long they last but I think four to five months. The price is based on the amount of hair you get and colours.
Favourite Irish brands?
- Cocoa Brown
- Glitz n Pieces/Betty and Biddy (jewellery)
- Fuschia (makeup)
- Blush Boutique in Donegal
- Waxperts
- Opsh.com
- Beverly Hills Formula
- Blank Canvas Cosmetics
- Voya
- Custom Vintage Dublin
I love nothing more than supporting Irish women and Irish businesses.
What products do you swear by?
Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips, Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White toothpaste, Sleek Makeup Contour palette and Fuschia Setting Spray.
Autumn trends to watch?
All things Khaki-parkas, jumpers, skinny jeans. It’ll be everywhere. Invest wisely in a piece and mix & match around your current wardrobe. Also the trench coat is set to be back for Autumn again.
Top celeb style icons?
I love Olivia Palermo for her classic chic style. I think Victoria Beckham is always on point. I like Miranda Kerr, Alexa Chung and Kendall Jenner’s style too.
What should we invest in for our winter wardrobe?
A trench coat is definitely a good investment. It’s a coat that will last you through the season and will be a timeless piece that you can take out again and again.
Best fashion investment you’ve ever made?
My Chloe Susanna studded boots in Brown Thomas. I just love them.
Fave places to shop?
Zara, Topshop, ASOS, Opsh.com, Warehouse, River Island and PrettyLittleThing.com
Congrats on the wedding! Fill us in!
I’m so excited! Andrew and I have said it’ll be 2018 and will definitely be a wedding abroad. Maybe Greece or Italy but nothing has been confirmed yet. I have an exact dress in mind and let’s just say one word: LACE. I love lace. Pinterest is my favourite for inspiration. You could spend all day on there getting ideas.
What’s next for you and The Secret Obsession?
I’m extremely excited about TSO right now. We have just been shortlisted for Best Fashion Blog at the Irish Blog Awards so that’s something we can’t wait for. We’re collaborating with some really fabulous brands over the coming months in the beauty and fashion industry too.
Give us a couple of tips for starting our own website
Blogspot is how I started my blog and it grew from there. I got the guys at Ocean Design Studio in Blackrock to look after me with a website as I wouldn’t be great at that sort of thing. I have self-taught myself everything else. Starting your own website is so fun but you need to make sure you’re prepared to keep it updated.