Beginning this summer, Madagascar will become home for Tara Stohler for the next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer



Beginning this summer, Madagascar will become home for Tara Stohler for the next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer

Truth & dare ; Knoxvillian's travels, individual sense of style influence her fashion finds

Mar 31, 2005 - Knoxville News-Sentinel

Caption: Leaning on polka-dot style: Tara Stohler shows off a polkadot dress paired with a jacquard jacket, which belonged to a suit. She finishes the outfit with wedge sandals. CLAY OWEN
NEWS SENTINEL

She's a natural-born risk-taker. When she turned 26, Tara Stohler began riding motorcycles. Since the age of 20, her feet have touched down in more than a handful of countries, from China to West Africa. Beginning this summer, Madagascar will become her home for the next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer.

So it's no surprise that when it comes to fashion, Stohler, 32, carves out her own brave niche. One day, she's showing off a feminine look; the next, a leather ensemble.

The Knoxville native will tell you she doesn't have any one look. If you must define "my style, it is what it is, very eclectic," she says.

What Stohler calls eclectic -- knee-length shorts, a red peasant blouse with a black lace vest over it and black boots -- many wish they could pull off without being nominated for a makeover on "What Not to Wear."

Perhaps it's just her eye that makes the difference. Stohler studies photography at Pellissippi State in her spare time, and she knows when she finds a look that works for her, she can't go wrong.

Not influenced so much by the latest celebrity fads on the red carpet, Stohler looks back to the '50s for style cues.

"I like taking something old and blending it with something modern or ethnic from another country," she says.

Stohler's travels abroad have given her a fashion palette full of vibrant colors and unique patterns.

"I remembering being in West Africa and Tibet and just being drawn to the beautiful colors and fabrics," she says.

Stohler suspects the same will be true when she ventures out to teach English and women's health in Madagascar.

"I don't want to stand out; I will wear the ethnic garb," she says.

For now, though, she is savoring some of her favorite clothing finds before she stashes the majority of them away in storage.

Working part time at Reruns, a Market Square consignment boutique, comes with perks "because you see some of the greatest things at great prices," she says. (She also works full time in the department of radiology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.)

Another fashion connection: having a best friend in London who may ship her an item or two. "Over there, what's hot may take years to come to the States, let alone Knoxville," Stohler says.

Stohler is not bashful about finding consignment pieces to start her own trend. By the same token, she is not wedded to shopping in only one place, nor is she always a bargain shopper.

"I will go to the mall or shop online," she says. "And for a pair of comfy jeans that I am going to get a lot of wear out of, I will pay full price."

But shoes are her passion. "That's what happens when you start working in a shoe store at 18," she says.

"I love boots -- cowboy boots, kitten heel boots, black pointy boots ... ."

When it comes to seeking adventure in life and in fashion, Stohler does not discriminate.

Chandra Harris may be reached at 865-342-6425.

TARA STOHLER'S PERSONAL STYLE PROFILE

* Celebrity fashion inspiration: Actresses Jennifer Aniston and Annette Bening

* Favorite designer: Valentino

* Favorite colors: White and any other bold color

* Favorite item: Shoes

* Fashion motto: "Uniqueness and comfort blended together to stand out."

When this story was posted in April 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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