Meet Sara, an architecture graduate whose style reflects her love of comfort and vintage. A romantic, collector of old Proculan and records, but always on the go. Always pushing her own boundaries, she still finds time to create her own oasis of peace. She believes that good earrings can liven up even the most boring outfit.
What would you highlight as your favorite achievement?
I am proud of being self-starter – that I don't need to be pushed, because I carry that inner driving force within me. I love being active, creating and pushing my own boundaries without fear of what I will find on the other side. I am always grateful for where I am, but at the same time open to growth. I am not afraid to dream, or to move towards those dreams. For me, success is precisely that courage to try to be more.
What is Sara's style like?
Old!
My friends often call me "grandma" because of my vintage combinations, which are often full of mismatched colors and patterns. When it comes to clothing, comfort is the most important thing to me, so there will never be plastic or artificial materials in my wardrobe, which is why I adore my grandmother's old clothes.
Another interesting thing about my wardrobe for the spring-summer season: pants are not in my repertoire - I love dresses and skirts.
Besides clothes, I have a slight obsession with earrings and vintage handbags. I never leave my apartment without earrings, even if I'm just going to the store.
I believe that good earrings can "pull out" even the most boring combination.
What do you do?
I'm a graduate student in architecture in Brussels. I'm currently writing my thesis on a church in Dalmatia, so I've been traveling between Croatia and Belgium for the past few weeks. I also work in addition to college, so I'm constantly on the go. But I wouldn't be me if I were static.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I prefer to spend my free time outside, often walking around flea markets where I buy old porcelain. If the weather is nice outside, a coffee in the sun is a must. At home, I enjoy baking cakes the most – it's a great passion of mine, especially when I can make my family and friends happy. I like to organize small gatherings at my home, with good food, crackling records and retro dishes.
What does your mind & body self-care look like?
I like to treat myself to little things, turning even the most ordinary breakfast and morning coffee into a little ritual. It's important to me that my table is always set, that the tablecloth and flowers match the rest of the decoration. I like my space to be clean and tidy, that music is playing in the background, and that I take time for myself – whether it's doing face yoga or simply slowing down and enjoying the moment. The world is busy enough as it is, so it's important to me that at least at home I cultivate peace, order, and comfort.
Little things you do out of love for the Planet?
I am guided by: 'One man's trash is another man's treasure.' I see beauty in things that others consider useless. Maybe it's a professional deformity, but often at flea markets I fantasize about where a piece of furniture came from, how it was once used and how it could be revived.
Also, I really love fashion, but clothes are the last thing I spend money on. People I know often bring me their old clothes, because they know I can always get something out of them, refashion them, breathe new life into them.
As I like to say: Nothing is wasted!
Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?
I hope to have my own pastry shop one day. I can already see the whole place - antique chandeliers, cakes served on porcelain plates that you can buy at the end of the meal... You could say I'm a romantic in that regard.
What drives you?
I am driven by small everyday 'successes' – the moment when someone sincerely says 'well done', when I feel like I've made someone's day, or when I recognize within myself that I've taken a step forward, whether in college, at work, or in my relationships with people. Every day carries a small mission – to learn something new, to move something within myself or around me. I believe that behind every interaction lies a lesson.
Sara inspires us with her initiative and courage to follow her dreams. Her ability to find beauty in everyday moments reminds us of the importance of enjoying the little things. We are rooting for Sara to make her dreams of owning her own pastry shop come true!