The Saturday Style Guy

A talented sportsman, intelligent and good looking, it comes as no surpise to discover he is one of the popular male models on the books at ACA Models.

Standing at 6’1 with a a chiselled jaw, Ciaran Sloan is much more than ahandsome face and defined body.

Tell us about yourself Ciaran?

I would describe myself as a motivated, kind and ambitious person, with the most important thing to me being family and friends which I am blessed to have the best of both.

Growing up, I was heavily involved in sports including rugby and athletics, but I excelled most at swimming where I swam for Ulster and at national level, competing all over Ireland and England.

Some of my best achievements include representing Ireland at the University Celtic Nations in Wales during my time studying for a master’s degree at Queens.

I swam throughout university in Newcastle and reached several finals at the British University and College Sport competitions.

However, some of my best memories from swimming originate from swimming at club and school level competing against other town clubs and swimming at the Ulster & Irish schools.

I love my job as a project manager and the challenges that it presents, while giving me the opportunity to develop key skills and understand the importance of teamwork, discipline and communication which transitions into many aspects of life.

Outside of work, some of my hobbies include paddle boarding (on the rare occasion that the weather is on my side), boxing, going to the gym, or watching a good movie during a lazy Sunday – ps. good snacks are key.

I have been with ACA Models or over three years, and in that time I have worked with some great people and been involved in a lot of fun jobs.

I was initially nervous about signing up to be a model as I wasn’t sure if I could have the confidence to stand in front of a camera or to do a fashion walk in front of fifty people, however after my first couple of modelling jobs my confidence grew and I very quickly learned not to worry about what other people think which is very important to recognise.

Everyone is different, everyone has their own opinion on what they think looks good or bad, but have the confidence in how you look and focus on bringing out the best in yourself and others around you. As my grandfather would say, “kindness and courtesy will take you further in life than a Rolls Royce”.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style would vary from smart casual to business casual.

However, sometimes I can find it difficult for items of clothing to fit me due to my body shape (44 chest, a swimmers back and 30 inch waist don’t always allow the best of fit especially for off the rack blazers or shirts). Over the years I have managed to buy in a good mixture of clothes which I can mix and match for any occasion.

Where do you get your style inspiration from?

I only became interested in fashion after university in my early 20’s and going through some old photographs my style has certainly changed for the better!Social media or taking a walk around Victoria Square can help generate new style ideas, but I generally get my style inspiration from professional/business attire especially because I wear a suit 9-5 most weeks for work.

What was the first item of clothing you ever bought for yourself?

From memory I think it the first item of clothing I bought was a shirt from Topman in my mid-teens.

Any fashion teenage faux-pas you’d care to tell us about...?

I tended to wear oversized baggy jeans and terrible t-shirts. But I think that was the common style for most teenage guys back in 2010, or at least that’s what I tell myself.

What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought, clothing-wise?

I would have to say my new tailored suit which was custom fitted by my good friend at Royalty Tailoring. Worth every penny!

Tell us about the oldest item in your wardrobe?

One of the older items in my wardrobe is a winter coat which I’ve had for 8/9 years, bought to endure the north east winters in Newcastle back when I was at university. It could be argued that I could wear it all year round living in Northern Ireland too.

What are your fashion pet hates?

Personally I’m not a fan of the cropped trousers with no socks look…… lads, just buy the socks.

Jeans or chinos?

A few years ago I would have said a good pair of slim fit jeans, but I now find myself wearing navy chinos on most days. I think chinos offer that perfect smart casual look for any occasion whether going for a coffee with friends, or out on the town for a Saturday night.

Who are your style icons?

My style icons would be David Gandy and Chris Hemsworth.

What fragrance do you wear?

For my everyday fragrance I wear Mont Blanc Explorer or Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, but for those special occasions I wear Bleu De Chanel.

Do you groom, and how do you look after yourself?

I think this is one of the things guys get nervous talking about and many overlook the basics of taking care themselves.

Everyone is different, and people have their own preference on how much time they take on looking after their appearance, but I would recommend getting the three core basics right:

First and foremost, have confidence in your appearance.

Find what works for you and your body type. Don’t feel you have to stick with the latest high street trends. I am a big believer in that less is more, and a strong classic look will help you stand out for all the right reasons.

Develop a routine to look after your skin. Use a good moisturiser and drink plenty of water.

Find yourself a good barber who can both listen to what you want, while recommending any variations which might look good for you.

So next time you’re in, instead of requesting the “short back and sides, leave the top please”, have a conversation and ask your barber what they think might look good for your appearance.

Lastly, grooming aside for a moment, exercise for me is the number one essential component to not only to look after yourself but to feel good too while letting go of any stress or tension on your body.

Exercise will help improve your physical appearance to build confidence, while delivering oxygen and nutrients to your skin which helps you look healthier, along with the added bonus of supporting better sleep.

This doesn’t have to be repetitive and mundane gym sessions, lifting weights in the same fashion every week.

Try mixing it up, setting new fitness goals or finding something new that keeps you active, you will soon begin to notice the difference both physically and mentally.

How many pairs of shoes do you have?

I have eight pairs of shoes which seems quite a lot now that I think about it……

Trainers or shoes?

Shoes, but I go to the gym most evenings so I wear trainers quite a lot too.

Do you accessorise and if so with what?

I would only accessorise by wearing a watch, a good pair of shoes and using a good fragrance. Again, for me less is more with accessorise, you just need to get the basics right.

Where do you shop?

It varies between H&M, Remus Uomo, Zara, All Saints and Marks & Spencer’s.

What’s your desert island item of clothing?

A plain white shirt so I could make my own version of Wilsoooooooonnnnn……… but mainly to protect me from the sun if I needed to use the shirt to form shade.