The Good Buy Podcast Summary: "Dara Is Inspired by Eccentricity, Glamour & a Bold Sense of Style"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Good Buy
• Host/Author: Harper's Bazaar
• Episode: Dara Is Inspired by Eccentricity, Glamour & a Bold Sense of Style
• Release Date: December 20, 2024

Host Introduction: Leah Chernikov and Lynette Nylander, editors at Harper's Bazaar, host "The Good Buy," a podcast that delves into the shopping habits and style philosophies of celebrities, designers, models, and tastemakers.

Introduction to Dara

The episode features Dara, a multifaceted talent known as a model, stylist, and the fashion director of Interview magazine. Renowned for revitalizing street style and orchestrating standout red carpet looks for figures like Hunter Schafer and Addison Rae, Dara brings a unique blend of glamour and eccentricity to the fashion world.

Dara's Style Philosophy and Inspirations

Commitment to Glamour: Dara describes glamour as her "greatest coping mechanism" and a central element in her approach to both personal style and professional work. She views fashion as a storytelling tool, using it to express emotions and craft narratives through clothing.

Dara [05:42]: "Glamour is like my greatest coping mechanism... fashion is like a verb. It's like to fashion, you fashion yourself."

Artistic Roots: Her passion for fashion stems from a childhood immersed in drawing and an appreciation for narrative and color, influenced by Disney movies she watched with her mother. Friends introduced her to the world of fashion, allowing her creative impulses to seamlessly transition into her sartorial expressions.

Dara [06:49]: "My obsession with narrative and shape and color has always really been a part of my language."

Minimalism and Silhouette: Dara emphasizes the importance of silhouettes over prints or embellishments, valuing the shape, material, and drape of clothing.

Dara [08:08]: "Silhouette's the most important thing to me. It's not about prints or little embellishments. It's like the shape of the face."

Influential Icons: Her style icons include legendary figures like Diana Vreeland, Edie Sedgwick, Tina Chow, and Grace Jones. These icons inspire her to blend eccentricity with a bold sense of femininity, often balancing the lines between masculinity and femininity.

Dara [12:00]: "I love anyone with, like, sort of a commitment to their own, like, eccentricity and their eccentric style."

Shopping Habits and Favorite Brands

Embracing Vintage and DIY: While Dara has become more of a shopper over time, her approach remains rooted in vintage finds and a DIY ethic. She enjoys scouring flea markets and vintage stores, believing that with the right eye, one can find remarkable pieces anywhere.

Dara [09:17]: "I love a vintage flea market... if you have the right approach and the sort of rigorous eye, you can find something good anywhere."

Favorite Brands: Dara is particularly enamored with Manolo Blahnik shoes, treating them as her "sneakers" due to their comfort and style. She also appreciates brands like Raf Simons for their minimalist and impactful designs.

Dara [17:19]: "I'm a Manolo girl... I wear them every day. They're like, my sneakers."

Practical Purchases: Beyond designer labels, Dara values basics like white T-shirts from Lisette, recognizing the investment in quality staples that form the foundation of her wardrobe.

Leah Chernikov [02:21]: "I just bought some T-shirts... I like a good white tee."

First Significant Purchases and Their Impact

Designer Pouch: One of Dara’s first major designer purchases was a Raf Simons and Jil Sander pouch. This acquisition marked a pivotal shift in her perspective towards minimalist fashion, appreciating how simplicity could convey powerful statements.

Dara [13:46]: "I was obsessed with Raf Simons... it really shifted my viewpoint."

Shoe Obsession: Concurrently, Dara indulged in her love for heels, purchasing both white and red Manolo Blahnik pairs. These shoes symbolize her return to glamour and a commitment to high-heeled elegance.

Dara [15:58]: "I bought two pairs of heels... a white pair from Bottega and a red pair from Manolo Blahnik."

Styling Celebrities: Hunter Schafer and Addison Rae

Hunter Schafer: Dara has been instrumental in crafting Hunter Schafer’s standout red carpet looks. She emphasizes creating images that are both artistic and accessible, ensuring that even avant-garde styles remain relatable to a wide audience.

Dara [24:56]: "We did a paper hat from Margiela... and a custom Prada one."

Addison Rae: For Addison Rae’s VMAs look, Dara aimed for provocative yet accessible fashion, blending bold statements with elements that resonate with a broad audience. This approach ensures that the fashion serves as an extension of Addison's persona without alienating viewers.

Dara [26:00]: "We're at the VMAs... I love pop culture moments like that."

Balancing Act: Dara navigates the fine line between pushing fashion boundaries and maintaining wearability, ensuring that her styled looks make an impact without sacrificing comfort or relatability.

Dara [23:19]: "It has to like, be able to live without you touching it... making a look that stands still on its own."

Dream Purchases and Recent Buys

Dream Buy: Dara’s ultimate fashion aspiration is a 2009 Christophe de Cardin Balmain blazer paired with acid wash ripped jeans—a blend of 70s flair and edgy modernity that encapsulates her eclectic style.

Dara [30:26]: "I fucking love those. They would tie like the cut was just that."

Recent Purchases: Her latest acquisitions include junior striped T-shirts with playful patterns and multiple pairs of enamel earrings from Paris flea markets. These pieces highlight her love for unique, statement accessories that add personality to her outfits.

Dara [31:14]: "I bought the striped T-shirt with the big kind of circle, patent circles... I bought both of them because I was like, I don't know which one I'll like."

Regrets and Lessons in Shopping

Avoiding External Validation: Dara reflects on past purchases made to impress others, recognizing that true style must align with personal creativity rather than external approval. This realization has steered her towards more authentic and self-expressive fashion choices.

Dara [20:05]: "It's something I bought to prove to some other people... that it's not in line with how I approach and see clothes."

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Fashion as Emotional Expression: Dara views fashion as a channel to communicate emotions and stories, emphasizing its role in personal and collective expression. She finds joy in the creative process, seeing it as a way to contribute positivity and individuality to the world.

Dara [32:16]: "Anything that emotion that I have can come out through the... find your channel to communicate whatever emotions you're going through."

Optimism in Fashion: Her optimistic outlook on fashion underscores its potential to change perceptions and inspire others, making it not just a form of personal adornment but a powerful medium for societal impact.

Leah Chernikov [32:07]: "It's a gift... put something out in the world that's joyful."

Conclusion

Dara’s episode on The Good Buy showcases her deep-seated passion for fashion, rooted in artistic expression and a relentless pursuit of glamour. Her approach blends minimalism with bold statements, vintage charm with contemporary flair, and personal authenticity with celebrity styling. Through insightful discussions and memorable quotes, Dara imparts valuable lessons on authentic self-expression, the importance of silhouette, and the joy of crafting unique fashion narratives.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Dara [05:42]: "Glamour is like my greatest coping mechanism... fashion is like a verb."
• Dara [12:00]: "I love anyone with, like, sort of a commitment to their own, like, eccentricity and their eccentric style."
• Dara [17:19]: "I'm a Manolo girl... I wear them every day. They're like, my sneakers."
• Dara [20:05]: "It's something I bought to prove to some other people... that it's not in line with how I approach and see clothes."
• Dara [32:16]: "Anything that emotion that I have can come out through the... find your channel to communicate whatever emotions you're going through."

Production Credits: This summary is based on the transcript provided from The Good Buy podcast episode featuring Dara. The episode was directed and produced by Alexandra Gurevich in collaboration with Edit Audio, with executive production by Samira Nasser and Jason Eichler. Recorded by Gabby Bulgarelli and edited by Maria Passing.