An Interview with... ME!

I participated in an interview with Mode Talent a while ago, and I thought I would post in our blog to maybe give you a little bit of insight into my world and the Dat Girl world.

Hope you like it xx

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DAT GIRL – INTERVIEW WITH SARAH TARRANT

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

Today we caught up with young female entrepreneur Sarah Tarrant from Dat Girl online fashion boutique. Sarah is a wonderful example of dedication, hard work and following your passions. We were also lucky enough to have had our gorgeous fashion Model Kaitlin take part in a shoot with Dat girl earlier in the year.

Name: Sarah Tarrant

Occupation/ business: Owner – Director of Dat Girl

Country of Residence: Australia

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook: www.datgirl.com.au/ @datgirlclothing/ www.facebook.com/datgirlau

Tell us a little bit about your business. What do you do? Dat Girl is an online clothing boutique based in Sydney, Australia. Dat Girl aims to provide young women with clothes that leave them feeling confident and like they can take on the world! We want our customers to feel like the girl who leaves others wondering, because we believe everyone has been Dat Girl.  We are proud of our high level of customer service, our user friendly website and our huge range of fast fashion. At Dat Girl you will never see an item selling for more than $200, because we believe fabulous isn’t created by a price tag.

As the owner of Dat Girl, I fill many roles from buyer to marketer, accountant, receptionist and retail assistant. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for Dat Girl.

Why did you start your business? I always had a drive to start my own business and create something my way, but I guess I was always too scared. In the past few years I became a huge online shopper and I found great deals by searching through many online stores, I bragged about the bargains I got and I often got complimented on the pieces I found. One day a light bulb went off and I realised I needed to combine these two insticts to create an online store for all young women to get the latest fashion at a good price. I wanted to share my experience of feeling great in an outfit, without spending all of my paycheck.

What are your favourite things about running your business? Hmmm.. well I have to say the HUGE wardrobe is pretty awesome! Apart from the wardrobe I absolutely love getting positive feedback from customer’s who have loved wearing our clothes and I am actually really enjoying the huge learning curve that is running your own business. I feel like every day with Dat Girl I am growing as a person and a business owner, and improving Dat Girl. Watching Dat Girl grow gives me an amazing feeling of accomplishment and pride.

What are your future goals for your business? My main goal at the moment is to just keep growing the brand. I would love Dat Girl to be an online boutique people know and remember for on trend, affordable fashion and GREAT customer service.

Your favourite inspiration/ motivation/ business quote?  “Life is too short” – I think without this quote, I would have never taken the plunge to start Dat Girl.

Tell us, what is your Vice? I am always on my iPhone, checking emails, writing Facebook statuses, posting funny photos or playing on Instagram. I never really stop.

The 4 words that best describe your business?  Young, Fun, Fabulous and Affordable.





Where we are this month...

 

Letting you know where you can come and see our pieces and shop the Dat Girl range in person...

 

 

June 18-30 - We will be at Miranda Westfield, outside General Pants

 

July 6th - We are attending Fash n Treasure Market in Canberra

 

July 7th - We will be in our usual spot at Sydney Boutique Markets, Rouse Hill

 

July 14th - Come down and see us at Kirribilli Fashion Markets

 



Vivid

I am ashamed to admit that before this year, I had never attended/seen the Vivid Lights Festival in Sydney.

 

I am so glad I finally made time to go and see the amazing light installations around Sydney this year, they are just breathtaking and really something special. I love how it transforms these buildings that as a Sydneysider, I see week in and week out.

 

Did you get to go and see Vivid?

 

Here are a few pictures I took on the night for those who missed out...

 

 

(sorry for the poor iPhone quality)

 

 

 

 

 



Foxy Fridays

If you are in Sydney and need an excuse to head out on Friday night... well we have one for you!!!

 

For the first time ever, Dat Girl pieces will be seen on the runway at Whaat Club this Friday, 7th June.

 

Hope to see you there....

 

 



Driven Series: Interview with Tanja from Golden Pixie

I met Tanja along time before Dat Girl was born, through some mutual friends. Recently, Tanja embarked upon a new journey with her very own online jewellery boutique; Golden Pixie.

I am a huge fan of Golden Pixie's unique and beautiful range and I can't really pick a favourite, but the Sienna necklace has been a love of mine for a while now. 

I will always be a supporter of any business, like Dat Girl, that aims to instill confidence in women!

Shop the Golden Pixie range here.

The Interview

How old are you?

26

What is your current position?
 

Owner of Golden Pixie
 

 

Tell me about Golden Pixie..
 

Golden Pixie is an online boutique jewellery store based in Sydney that works on the concept that beauty is subjective, i.e. 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. It's really about instilling confidence into women to wear and do as they please. Clothes and accessories are the items that allow women to bring out their personality and differentiate them from the girl next door. Golden Pixie is aimed at providing great pieces at affordable prices and encouraging women to be no one else but themselves.

 

Have you always worked around jewellery? 

 

No, have always loved it, but only just started! Very exciting.

Why did you start Golden Pixie?

I noticed along the way that so many people are worried about being judged by others in relation to their style and what they choose to wear. I strongly disagree with anyone that looks at another women and says 'Oh God, what is she wearing and who made her choose those shoes with that skirt?!' I think beauty is a very subjective thing and people should dress to feel beautiful. I would love to encourage women to feel confident in outfits they love.

I'm also a lawyer by day and am currently finishing off my Masters in Law, I really needed something to change up my day. I started to feel like law was starting to be a burden and I don't want that to happen. I love the challenges that come with being a lawyer, it's a lot of hard work but also something I really enjoy. Fashion is something completely opposite to this and so Golden Pixie seemed like a logical step to provide me with that variety.

 

 

Would you ever open a retail store?

 

Sure! If that's where Golden Pixie took me. There are so many different avenues projects can take you, I'm excited to see where I end up with Golden Pixie.

 

What do you want Golden Pixie to achieve before you would consider it "successful"?

If people gain confidence wearing Golden Pixie because they like the pieces and are not really phased whether or not someone else likes it, or is blogging about it, or advertising it. Sometimes people forget what matters is what they think is beautiful and not anyone else. Golden Pixie's tag line really encompasses what we are about - beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, if we can get people to realise this and do so through wearing our pieces, then I think it would be a success.

 

What have you found to be the biggest challenge in starting your own business?
 

The initial start up phase and how much work it actually is. Stuff like getting an ABN/registering a business name, creating a website, liaising with suppliers, stock checks, photos, social media and marketing plans! Working full time and running Golden Pixie is a lot of work and I really couldn’t have started it without my boyfriend Damiaan. He is such a great support and is always full of fabulous ideas!

What is the best thing about your job?

The best thing about owning my own business in the fashion industry is that it gives me access to a number of fashion shows and trade shows, it allows me to see the new trends before they even hit the retail stores. It's like being in on a big, exciting secret that is about to explode any minute!

What is the hardest thing about your job?

It's a business where you have to keep on top of things all the time. Fashion is constantly changing and keeping up with different styles in a challenge. I find that you can never stop in this industry, because if you do, you run the risk of undoing all of your hard work. I am lucky to have such a great support team especially my gorgeous mum, my sister Vanja and my boyfriend Damiaan, they're all for the work I do, are a great help and behind me 110 percent.

What is a typical day in the life of Tanja?

 

This is a hard one because I have so many different things going on depending on the time of year. At the moment I would say my average day would be a wake up call at 5.30am to be at the gym by 6.30am, after a hard session I head to my lawyer job where it’s all systems go, all the time (seeing clients, court hearings, meetings, running around like a mad woman really), I get home to do some study for my Masters and then use my relax time to do Golden Pixie work. (I always wish for more hours in the day!)

 

 

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

I love shoes, bags, jewellery and clothes! I have a bad day and go shopping... it definitely makes me feel better - but I can't say the same for my credit card!

What are your 3 staple clothing items?

Going into the colder months I would go with a leather jacket, a funky winter hat/beanie and a pair of ankle boots.

What is your most current worn item in your closet right now?

Hmm..one item...? I would go with a scarf my grandma knitted for me. It's absolutely fabulous! It brings a little character to my corporate suits and keeps me warm during the cooler weekends.

What is your MUST HAVE for the colder months?

Given that I am always cold I would go with scarves, some nice leather gloves and a leather jacket! Use them as statement pieces to bring life into your outfits!

What is the perfect relaxation day for Tanja?

Relaxation? I don't know if I remember what that feels like.. ha ha, kidding! I love the beach. There is something extremely relaxing about listening to the waves break and being in the ocean, it's almost like all your stress gets washed away. My boyfriend bought me a surfboard for Christmas and is determined to teach me how to surf. He swears that surfing takes relaxation on the beach to a whole new level.

What advice would you give other young ladies wanting to start their own business?

It is harder than what you could ever imagine it to be. The countless hours may frustrate you, the brick walls you hit will irritate you, but when you see results, every sleepless night becomes well worth it. Don't stop because it gets hard, it's overcoming the challenges that make it all so rewarding.

 

Our Picks: 2013 Logies

It seems the red and dark tones, along with the sparkles and lace were out in force at this years TV week Logie Awards.

 

Here are some of our favourite looks from the night.

 

What was your favourite??

 

 

 

Meet the Model: Lucy

For a while, it had come to my attention that there was no blonde models on our website. I was told that because I am blonde myself, I should make sure the blondes are represented.

 

I agreed.

 

The first blonde to feature on the Dat Girl website was little Lucy and what a blonde she is!!

 

Lucy is loads of fun to work with and soo easy to shoot.. I don't think I ever saw her take a bad shot.

 

 

 

The Interview

 

 

How old are you?

 

27

 

How long have you been modelling for?

 

2 years

 

Did you always want to be a model?

 

No! I went to university and became a qualified lawyer. I then had a “gap” year and lived in Hawaii. The day I came home to Sydney, I met a top photographer (who has photographed amazing models such as Miranda Kerr). He helped me set up my portfolio and my modelling took off from there.

Other than Dat Girl, what other brands or designers have you modelled for? 

 

 I have been in fashion shows and/or photo shoots for Nicola Finetti, Sheike, Lisa Blue swimwear, Belanci, PETA Oceania, Mandy Heng, Christopher Hanna Salon, Wild Pony, Harlette, KuKu, Ilse Couture, Sistar Shoes, Nomiki Glynatsis Couture, Elle Zeitoune, Achea-mpong and numerous other amazing designers.

Do you prefer photo shoots or runways?

 

I love doing runway shows, as I always meet so many creative and passionate individuals at the events.

 

 

 

 

What is the hardest thing about being a model?

 

For me, modelling is not hard, as I am passionate about every shoot or show that I do. It’s a pleasure to be doing something I love.

 

 

What is the best thing about being a model?

 

When other models are encouraging and supportive. It’s really nice to see the girls backstage getting along and helping one another, rather than putting each other down or judging others. That, is true beauty.

 

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

 

Dessert! I enjoy going to restaurants with friends at least twice a week.

What are your 3 staple clothing items?

 

A neutral coloured blazer.

Good quality skinny leg jeans.

A semi-formal classy black, grey or cream dress. Something that you could wear to work (and after-work drinks.)

What is your most current worn item in your closet right now?

 

A light grey fitted blazer. I wear it absolutely everywhere, especially when I want to “dress up” a casual “jeans and tee” outfit.

 

 

What is your MUST HAVE for the colder months?

 

A comfortable“boyfriend” style jumper. Buy one that is slightly over sized and then it will be perfect for snuggling up in during the Autumn/Winter months.

What is a the perfect relaxation day for Lucy?

 

It would consist of a walk and then a long bath with candles and relaxation music. I also find going on a drive to the mountains or the beach very relaxing.

Do you have any advice for other girls wanting to break in to the modelling industry?

 

My biggest tip would be to build up a strong network of people in the fashion industry. I have been offered many jobs from people I have met at fashion shows and shoots.

What has been the highlight of your modelling career?

 

The biggest highlight of my career was meeting Nicola Finetti and being cast by him for one of his fashion shows. His garments are extraordinary and it was an honor meeting such a creative and talented designer.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday!

It is Dat Girl's 6 month birthday today!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAT GIRL!!

 

As a small boutique, reaching the 6 month mark was our initial goal and a huge achievement in our eyes.... we have officially beat the statistics.

 

Here's to celebrating...

 



Our Latest Shoot

Please forgive me for leaving it so long between posts, I will try to be better in the future I promise.

 

Over the weekend we had a small shoot for our transeasonal range, which should be released next week.

 

I thought I would share with you some of my favourite shots from the shoot...

 

These are all RAW photos, no editing, no filters

 

 

Which one is your favourite?



Celebrity Like

We all get our fashion inspiration from different places -our friends, models, celebrities, fashion magazines etc. 

 

When a new trend comes out, it sometimes helps to see someone else work it and to see what can be done with it, so I thought I would put together a few looks to show how celebrities have done it.

 

Tell us if you like this and we can do more in the future.

 

xx

Ok, the white blazer isn't in yet, but you will see it online either today or tomorrow and isn't Kate Moss working it?!

 

Markets!

On Saturday we were down at the Glebe markets in Sydney.

 

I find that markets are a great way to introduce people to Dat Girl clothing. Some of the items just have to be seen in person, and touched. Ohh some of them feel so beautiful and soft, but you can't tell through the computer screen!

 

 

It was an early morning start, and I was a lot perkier after a Chai latte and a V, let me tell you! :)

 

The markets were really busy on Saturday and I loved being able to talk to people and show them various items or tips on how to wear things.

 

We will be back again this Saturday and I will post our location on Facebook for anyone who is interested.

 

My question to you though is, what is your favourite market to shop at?

Sydney Fashion Blogger

A couple of months ago now, we were very excited to see Sydney Fashion Blogger rocking a Dat Girl dress - paint a picture.

 

 

 

She looks amazing in this dress and you can follow her daily outfit posts here.

 

This dress has been sold out, but if you like the style, we do still have a few left in the orange

- clicky here.

Our new look

Have you noticed a little different about our site lately?

 

Dat Girl is still a baby, but the site will continue to evolve and we hope you'll enjoy every step, as much as we do!

 

We are shifting to a darker background for our pictures and playing around with some of the other photos..

 

What do you think??

 

Next time we will take it outside! :)