“Personalities among us” is the latest kARTu project that you will be seeing through the upcoming months for a whole year. We’ll be sharing short, friendly, intellectual conversations with the strong, inspiring personalities that surround each and every of us every day. Each month we will meet people from very different backgrounds to talk about their lifestyle, career, piece of mind, interests and style choices. By developing this project we aim to reveal these very special, but close to us people through the perspective that they don’t really see themsleves through. Every one of us is a unique everyday hero – rushing, pursuing, creating. We just need to stop for a moment and notice how special we actually are.
Irina Cybina is one of the best known stylists, the most followed fashion business personalities in the country. A significant number of women seek tips and tricks of how to create modern, unique personal style at Irina’s Instagram account that is regularly filled with the very fresh, trend setting, personal looks of hers. Irina accurately combines street and high fashion and is well aware what is worth investing in and what is one season hit only. When talking about her career path Irina mentions that she truly trusts her gut and never betrays values that she has. Irina is so full of energy it seems like she just can’t stay in one place for long. Although her everyday schedule is always tense, Irina doesn’t seem to be dreaming about getting some rest, she says that sometimes weekends just drag, Sundays become too quiet. Irina loves her job, busy days and she always waits for Mondays to come, but family will always stay her top priority. And when we asked, who would she like to have dinner with if she could choose anyone in the world she answered… no, she didn’t choose some worldwide famous designer or fashion industry legend, she said “My husband”. It’s wonderful to remember that our biggest authorities and inspirators are always here, next to us, we could constantly learn from them and cherish them.
Irina, how would you describe your everyday work?
Currently, my main occupation is working as a stylist for “L’Officiel Lithuania” magazine and during various photoshoots for such brands as “Ozas”, “Danija” etc. I also consult on various style dilemmas, do wardrobe evaluations and have bespoke clients whom I help to successfully shop for new clothes. Nature of my work is very diverse, but at the same time everything I do is related to fashion and style – one way or another.
What was the start of your career?
At the very first I was volunteering at the visual space named “Trys Seserys” that was created by Jurgita Jurkute. I was taking care of an overall image of the store, how well the assortment looks all together, window displays. At the same time I spent a lot of time consulting people at one consulting agency free of charge, where anyone could seek advice on various questions about style. It was a great experience to me while studying and after that everything else followed. Little by little orders started coming, I worked with “Virtuvės mitų griovėjai”, created an ad for “Charlie Pizza” and finally got a job at a magazine.
How does your morning usually start?
Usually – with an ice cold shower and if I have time i tend to start my day with a bit of exercising, at least a short session of 10-15 minutes. I always eat breakfast out in the city during workdays, different place each time and during the weekend we have a family breakfast at home.
What motivates you to get out of bed every morning?
My main motivation is my work and I always wait for Mondays to come. Sundays are too quiet, they lack action, Saturday is enough to rest for me. I do spend a lot of time with my family too as every day, when clock hits 5PM, it’s family time – an unbreakable rule we have. And we always spend time together on weekends too. So I always wait for Mondays to come as I know that I’ll be able to set goals for a fresh new work week.
What would you name your favorite free time activity?
My free time becomes more and more related to sports. Tennis fills a big part of it.
What helps you to run away from your everyday routine from time to time?
Routine tends to come when one lacks inspiration. And I lose inspiration when I have many promotional photoshoots ordered and I can’t be creative enough working in such environment. Then I really want to travel, to run away to some big city in Europe. I just love to watch – to watch how other people dress and, for example, in Milan or Paris I could easily do that, sometimes it takes just one stroll by the shop windows that look like museums.
How do you personally understand the notion “career”?
Career is very important to me but family will always be first. I always try to keep it balanced so my family or career wouldn’t overcome one another. If I start feeling that I work too much and doesn’t pay enough attention to family, I feel bad about it. Then my inner brake turns on and I realise that I have to decrease that load of work I carry.
What kind of handbags are your best companions in everyday life?
I change handbags I carry each and every day. After coming back home I take all the things out and neatly put the handbag into the dust bag or a box it belongs to. I always combine a handbag to what I wear that day. Sometimes I go out carrying two. My favorites are small handbags that only fits few things, I like the fact that I can always have it close to me, but when there are many things I have to take with me I carry a bigger bag too. Maybe it’s not popular in Lithuania yet but I like to carry couple of handbags. And if they doesn’t suit together, I put the smaller one into the bigger. I really like handbags, especially if they’re good quality ones. Of course, I don’t invest in those that will be popular for one season only. If I feel that I really crave for such type I buy one from a high street shop. If I see that a bag is ageless classic – I buy a good quality one. It feels good to know that I could leave these handbags for my children because me myself I have bags that were left to me by my grandmother and mother.
Is there a particular detail from your look that you don’t feel yourself without?
I think that I am not attached to a particular thing but I wouldn’t be able to leave home without carrying a handbag for sure. I am not a lover of other accessories though. Earrings, rings, necklaces – I can be without, they’re not really crucial to me. Of course there are days when I dress up and feel like I need a ring or a neckless. I am not faithful to some one and only handbag too. Also, blazers and coats, especially in autumn are those details of my style that I feel weak for, they’re those attributes that are typical for me.
Would you name a woman that you consider a true source of inspiration to you?
Maybe there isn’t one who’s a total ideal for me but I have more than one that I would call an inspiration. Number one is my mother who is an ideal to me when talking about her life values, her honesty and her dedication to family. Another woman I name would be Ingrida Simonyte. She’s an ideal by her strength, not thinking from a political side but as an individual that has a great sense of humor, a very sharp sense what to say and when to say it. And when talking about personal style, balanced overall image there are few women I admire. Business woman Lina Kucinskiene who nurtures a very sleek style, modern elegance. And with her charisma and charm it could be Agne Jagelaviciute. So I take something from each of them.
How do assure yourself you’re following the right path in life?
I have a very strong gut that I trust and it have never disappointed me ever. I also try to notice some signs that occur which could be a coincidence of course, but who knows, maybe not. I also make decisions by the way I feel, do I feel valued, am I creating value, am I not going against my own values.
If you could invite anyone in the whole world over for a dinner, who would it be?
Maybe it will sound very banal, but it could be my husband. It’s the one person that I always feel like having conversation with, I’m always interested in him, he inspires me and there is a lot I could learn from him. I haven’t met another person that I would admire more and who would be a greater example to me than he is.
Get inspired by Irina’s style: https://www.instagram.com/irina_cybina/
Pictures by Ieva Rudzionyte
Bags by kARTu