Tara Sowlaty Lehrer
September 01, 2023INTERVIEWS
My Way: Tara Sowlaty Lehrer
We all have individual style and our series My Way evokes that sentiment. Here, learn how some of our favorite influencers style themselves and their canine companion and the items they consider when developing a wardrobe.
Creative director, natural food chef, and nutritionist Tara Sowlaty Lehrer is the ultimate multihyphenate. “I have clients and I do recipe development,” said Tara. “And I recently started doing creative direction with a few brands, which has been really fun. Every day is a new adventure.”
To that end, recipe development is something Tara practices daily. Her ethos around food? “All foods in moderation,” she said. “I eat and promote consuming as vibrant and colorful a diet as possible. So that means variety, getting in healthy fibers, focusing on protein, and promoting optimal digestion. It really is an individual process. Everybody responds so differently to food. And one of my main goals for my clients is to help them figure out what those foods are. If you love a certain food, then you should be able to incorporate it into your life and I teach people how to mindfully make those decisions to feel their best while not feeling as if they’re depriving themselves.”
Her mindset around food is similar to her take on fashion. Tara sticks to the basics she knows and loves and makes her feel great, but every now and then, she’ll throw in a luxury bag or shoe into the mix. “I like to know who is behind the brand I’m buying from,” she said. “I like small brands, ones that are thoughtful, and not mass-produced.”
“I like to know who is behind the brand I’m buying from. I like small brands, ones that are thoughtful, and not mass-produced.”
Here, Tara shares what she reaches for again and again, her love for elevated comfort, and why she opts for timeless and well-made items for her dog, Soba.
Tara Sowlaty Lehrer
We all have individual style and our series My Way evokes that sentiment. Here, learn how some of our favorite influencers style themselves and their canine companion and the items they consider when developing a wardrobe.
Creative director, natural food chef, and nutritionist Tara Sowlaty Lehrer is the ultimate multihyphenate. “I have clients and I do recipe development,” said Tara. “And I recently started doing creative direction with a few brands, which has been really fun. Every day is a new adventure.”
To that end, recipe development is something Tara practices daily. Her ethos around food? “All foods in moderation,” she said. “I eat and promote consuming as vibrant and colorful a diet as possible. So that means variety, getting in healthy fibers, focusing on protein, and promoting optimal digestion. It really is an individual process. Everybody responds so differently to food. And one of my main goals for my clients is to help them figure out what those foods are. If you love a certain food, then you should be able to incorporate it into your life and I teach people how to mindfully make those decisions to feel their best while not feeling as if they’re depriving themselves.”
“I like to know who is behind the brand I’m buying from. I like small brands, ones that are thoughtful, and not mass-produced.”
Her mindset around food is similar to her take on fashion. Tara sticks to the basics she knows and loves and makes her feel great, but every now and then, she’ll throw in a luxury bag or shoe into the mix. “I like to know who is behind the brand I’m buying from,” she said. “I like small brands, ones that are thoughtful, and not mass-produced.”
Here, Tara shares what she reaches for again and again, her love for elevated comfort, and why she opts for timeless and well-made items for her dog, Soba.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GO-TO PIECES WITHIN YOUR WARDROBE AND WHY?
I love my Common Projects sneakers, which are really great basics. My Redone jeans are my favorite. I also wear a lot of accessories and I always wear the same jewelry. I never take off my evil eye necklace, my daughter’s name, and I’m getting my son’s name, too. I also wear a lot of dainty gold jewelry that adorns me at all times. I love to accessorize and my daughter already has a necklace and her ears pierced.
But I would say my style is more casual mixed with elevated comfort. I really care about being comfortable.
WHAT'S WORTH THE SPLURGE?
Every now and then, I’ll splurge on a really fancy pair of shoes. It’s nice to sprinkle those classic things in that will withstand time and are so well made that you can always keep them in your closet.
“I would say my style is more casual mixed with elevated comfort. I really care about being comfortable.”
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE OF SHOPPING?
I mostly shop online and when I do shop in person, I never try anything on. I can’t be bothered. I love to shop at Doen because I know that their specific size will fit me. I buy pants from the same places because I know they’re going to fit me and I stick to that. I mostly only try new brands for dresses and stick to my go-to’s for my basics. I’m excited to get a dress from this new brand called New Arrivals, which I found on Instagram. I think dresses are where I express my creativity a little bit more. Otherwise, I’m wearing a blazer with pants or leggings with a crop top. But when it comes to dressing up and going out, I gravitate towards dresses, which are more flattering for my body.
“That’s what’s so special about PAGERIE, it is a higher price point, but they are pieces that you can use forever and will always be in style.”
WHAT PIECES ARE YOUR GO-TOS FROM PAGERIE FOR BOTH YOU AND PUP, SOBA, AND HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE THEM INTO YOUR WARDROBE?
I love The Rava leash. It has a very classic, timeless, and elevated look. That’s what’s so special about PAGERIE, it is a higher price point, but they are pieces that you can use forever and will always be in style. They elevate the everyday dog accessory. Dog stuff doesn’t have to be dowdy and boring. I admire that PAGERIE products are as important as an accessory on your wrist or purse or whatever it may be.
WHAT DOES SOBA'S DAILY UNIFORM CONSIST OF AND WHAT IS SHE MOST COMFORTABLE IN?
She’s definitely more of a naked spirit. She wears her collar and harness. Her body shape doesn’t really fit a category of dog. She’s kind of in between because she’s a shiba. She has really long legs, but a small body. She looks so cute in clothes, but she doesn’t love wearing sweaters. That’s why we lean towards more the leash and collar.
“At the end of the day, I'm a fashion girl at heart. I've always been obsessed with it.”
HOW DOES FASHION AND YOUR WARDROBE MAKE YOU FEEL?
At the end of the day, I’m a fashion girl at heart. I’ve always been obsessed with it. But I honestly don’t put that much effort and thought into what I wear. But at the same time, I’ll get dressed in five minutes and I’m very confident with how I put myself together. I just go with it and I don’t second-guess myself. I always feel comfortable, but polished. Clothes and fashion and accessorizing are so important to me.
WHAT EXCITES ?OU THE MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FASHION?
There is a demand for slower and more thoughtful fashion. Like upcycling, for example, I love that Doen is starting this new concept where they’re having people submit their clothes that are not worn, and they’re reselling them.
And then brands like PAGERIE are creating timeless forever pieces that you’re not throwing away. That’s what I’ve committed myself to. I’m not the type of person that will get the crazy pattern Chanel bag. If I’m getting a Chanel bag, I’m getting a classic, forever piece I will always love and cherish. It’s a sense of mindfulness when it comes to purchasing and I think that fashion brands, especially the smaller, slower ones, really pay attention and I want to support that.
TARA AND SOBA'S PAGERIE PIECES