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In our Indo Western fashion community, we celebrate bold and inspiring individuals. That is why, in our Let’s Talk Indo Western interviews, we speak with them about Indo Western fashion, personal growth, and their fashion journeys. Our goal is to meet and connect with exciting new people, find inspiration, and grow together as a community.
We spoke with Tara Katchur — a fashion and lifestyle content creator who inspires over 27,000 people on Instagram (@tarakatchur) with her take on fashion, lifestyle, and the courage to go after your dreams. In our interview, Tara reveals why she loves Indo Western fashion for the way it makes you feel bold, how her unshakable courage made her the first person in her family to pursue her dreams beyond geographical borders, and why craftsmanship and fabric have become pivotal in fashion for her.
STYLØR: Since our community is all about Indo Western fashion, we are so curious to know, have you ever heard of Indo Western fashion prior to this interview?
Tara Katchur: That’s a good question. I honestly haven’t.
STYLØR: After exploring Indo Western fashion on our website and visiting our community brands’ online shops, what are your thoughts on it?
Tara Katchur: I really love it. The most ironic part is that I’ve always been drawn to aspects of Indo Western fashion — like embellished pieces, bold colors, unique designs, and rich materials that make something feel special or one-of-a-kind — without even realizing they were part of the Indo Western fashion fam!
STYLØR: Were there any brands that really stood out to you and that you have not been able to stop thinking about since?
Tara Katchur: I love the bold details from Papa Don’t Preach because they’re making brave choices to create unique standout pieces that make YOU feel bold, and I’m always looking for elements like this to add to my personal wardrobe.
STYLØR: We would love to learn more about you as a person. Imagine someone meets you for the first time. How would you introduce yourself?
Tara Katchur: Friendly with a smile, confidence, and well-dressed of course. My superpower is being relatable but memorable, and someone you can count on and trust.
STYLØR: Can you tell us more about your childhood and how you grew up?
Tara Katchur: I was raised by a strong single mother in a small town and was surrounded mostly by women. As the oldest, I especially looked up to the matriarch of our family, my gram, who was always well kept, dressed to the nines, and proud of her appearance. When growing up, I was involved in a lot of individual competitions like gymnastics, dance, cheerleading, baton, and track while also getting heavily involved in the arts like acting, singing, and performing. I took a huge liking to fashion, art, and anything girly where I could express myself.
STYLØR: What people and experiences influenced you most growing up?
Tara Katchur: My mom raised me as a single mom with the support of my gram, her sisters, and our family. I was surrounded by a lot of women and earned best dressed as a high school senior, haha.
STYLØR: What were the next major milestones in your life?
Tara Katchur: I dreamed of living in and moving to a big city. Hence, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy in college, which completely changed my life. After graduating, I had the courage to move to Los Angeles, where I moved in 2013 alone and paved my way solo. Coming full circle, I eventually met and married a man from Europe, which brought my journey back to where it all began.
STYLØR: When you look back, what do you consider to be your greatest success in life so far?
Tara Katchur: My greatest success so far was moving to Los Angeles. It seems so simple, right?! Yet generations of my family all lived and raised kids in the same town. In fact, nobody ever left, so they weren’t exposed to as many opportunities as they could’ve been. That truly shaped my foundation.
One day, I packed up my Honda Civic and drove 3,000 miles across the country with my mom. My destination was Los Angeles, the city that became my new home in October 2013. In the beginning, it was scary and unknown because I had nobody to call for help. Yet since arriving, I’ve never left.
Even if I were to move elsewhere, the bravery, opportunities, and skills I had to sharpen and learn to survive in Los Angeles are things I’ll take with me. I’ll pour them into generations to come.
This experience of moving to Los Angeles really opened my lens to a whole new way of life, a new way of thinking, and a way of living I didn’t even know existed.
STYLØR: Fashion has clearly played a pivotal role throughout your life. What is your earliest memory of fashion?
Tara Katchur: I think my first memory of fashion was in the 3rd grade. Before each new school year started, I went school clothes shopping, but I always had to stay within a budget. I remember I wanted certain clothes that year that surpassed my allowed school clothes money. So I asked to do things around the house to earn additional money. And you better believe, styling my first week of school was truly my Super Bowl.
STYLØR: When you were growing up, who or what influenced your personal fashion style?
Tara Katchur: Multiple people and circumstances to be honest. First of all, in my family, Sunday church was another place you dressed to impress. So it was instilled in me from a young age while looking up to my Gram. Moreover, I also went to a public school. Correspondingly, having personal style was very important to me since we didn’t wear uniforms (sorry mom).
As for the media, the Olsen twins, hands down! Anything they wore, I tried to find, buy, or recreate. This later became Jessica Simpson with her ‘Newlyweds’ show and then ‘Laguna Beach.’
If not from the shows, I’d beg for US Weekly and Vogue magazines in the checkout line at the grocery store on Saturdays. I loved collecting the magazines and recreating outfits.
STYLØR: What does fashion mean to you?
Tara Katchur: For me, fashion means self-expression, art, and personality.
STYLØR: How would you describe your personal fashion style, and has it changed throughout the years?
Tara Katchur: My personal style is different depending on the occasion or mood. This means incorporating all sides of me. Correspondingly, I’d say my personal style is really about comfort, simple, bold, girly, sexy, and elevated basics that flatter my body type. I like to be comfortable most of the time in jeans and a white tee, a fun shoe or sneaker, a cool bag, a trucker hat, or sunnies, while still showing my feminine side with ruffles, low backs, or plunging necklines. I also like spicing things up with accessories or a unique piece that nobody else has.
As I’ve gotten older, however, I care more about the craftsmanship or fabric and how it feels against my skin, and I’ll splurge on that type of quality. Being petite, I love pieces that show my shape or tailored clothing that makes me feel sexy. It’s crazy how many times people assume I’m taller in person because of how clothes look on me online. But really, it’s just that I’ve mastered what to wear for my body type and how to elongate and give myself shape. I’m convinced that every body type is capable of this! Moreover, I also love fun patterns, elevated looks, and unique silhouettes on a night out.
Overall, I tend to mix my highs and lows, investing in timeless or one-of-a-kind pieces, and not splurging on trendy items. And boy, do I love a good thrifted blazer or vintage piece!
STYLØR: Where do you find fashion inspiration?
Tara Katchur: I’d say social media and Pinterest are the biggest sources of my fashion inspiration.
STYLØR: You show your love for fashion on social media with great success. As of today, you have more than 27,000 followers. So we are curious to learn, what inspired you to start posting content on social media?
Tara Katchur: For me, it was a way I could continue to inspire those around me. People who may have been scared to go after a dream, wear the weird shirt they love, or move to a different city. I wanted to relate to those with a dream that was silenced and create a safe space to be creative. Since then, I’ve loved the art of creating short stories, photography, and finding opportunities to share different aspects of my life in creative, fun, and engaging ways!
STYLØR: Are there any other fashion content creators you personally know who really inspire you?
Tara Katchur: Yes, definitely Danielle Bernstein (@weworewhat). She created her own clothing line at a young age, and I love following her journey and her bold fashion choices.
I also follow Leonie Hanne (@leoniehanne) who is stunning, and her fashion style is so elevated. Her content on Euro travels and her inspiring lifestyle are incredible. In my opinion, everything she shares is truly art.
Furthermore, Emma Leger (@emmaleger). I closely relate to her style, interests, body type, and Euro-American life. She’s not afraid to wear something that makes her feel beautiful in the moment or throw something together that isn’t always following a trend.
I also love Negin Mirsalehi (@negin_mirsalehi), who started Gisou and has inspired me to believe that you can have many passions. She’s such a fashion queen but also has a successful and personalized beauty brand that’s tied to her family, which I love.
Lastly, Sivan Ayla (@sivanayla). I’ve followed her since her very beginning, and her personal style is very close to mine: simple, high/low, pops of color, comfortable, cutesy but easy, and tomboy. She truly has so many sides to her, including her own bikini line and beauty brand, and I’ve loved following her whole journey as a mom and entrepreneur.
STYLØR: What are your next goals on social media?
Tara Katchur: To be honest, I want to stay more consistent, continue to share and inspire, and grow my community. Furthermore, I’d love to start a brand of my own. I have so many ideas, but I’m hoping in time it all really speaks to me in terms of what my audience loves, in addition to what perfectly reflects my personal brand.
