THE INSIDE SCOOP: SARAH DUBBLEDAM, FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AT DARLING

Aug 9, 2023

Sarah and I met through a mutual friend and immediately connected over all things design.

I am beyond impressed by the truly remarkable brand she has built at Darling. We were thrilled when they invited +COOP to introduce their capsule collection and we especially love the way it communicates our shared ethos of natural beauty and authenticity. Come shop the drop this week, August 10 -12!

xx Jenna

What is your job and what do you love most about your work?

As the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Darling, it’s my primary job to oversee the branding, messaging, and visuals of the brand. I oversee all communications that go out on all our platforms, plan creative for all photo shoots, and help with the vision around the clothing collections. I plan the theme for each annual print magazine of Darling and work with our editors and other creatives to create each issue from start to finish. What I love most is thinking of a creative concept and seeing it through execution—it’s so fun to bring ideas to life!

How has your business changed over the last 3 years? Have the last 3 years changed you or your business?

We had A LOT of changes over the last 3 years. We were just a print magazine, and now we have an entire clothing line! That was an intentional decision to expand our brand and message from solely content to a lifestyle brand. I believe that brands have such power to change culture, so I’m committed to having our message that every woman is a “work of art” flow through our clothing as well.

Also, BOTH. Our business has expanded and with that comes many challenges and joys. It has changed me in that post COVID-19, I’ve realized that the most important thing is relationships, so I am committed to deepening my personal community, and connecting the Darling community face-to-face more often.

How do you express yourself creatively?

I was a Studio Art major in college, so I love doing art. Since I have two kids and am a Founder, I don’t have a lot of time for painting (HA!). So I would say that most my expression comes through Darling—writing articles and our email letters, and working on photo shoots.

Where do you find inspiration?

Through travel! My husband and I travel monthly with our kids—either on a small road trip or across states, or internationally. We use Home Exchange, an app that allows us to swap houses with other families. We’ve done Portugal, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and the south of France this way and I’m always so inspired by the fashion, food and art museums. I’m such a visual person, so my brain is like a sponge that soaks up beautiful details around each city and stores it for later when I’m in creation mode.

What was the biggest risk and biggest reward in a recent project?

We shot our Fall Collection in Paris with models we’d never seen in person. We were just hoping they looked like their photos and were the right sizes for our photo shoot samples. Turns out they were, with just a few small issues like feet size (haha) but nothing a quick run to a Parisian mall couldn’t fix!

What is your favorite meal of the day?

I love dinner. My favorite thing is to go out to eat and discover new restaurants; also, because I really don’t like the clean-up involved after cooking…but when I do cook, I enjoy the process!

The key to a great house is:

A warm hostess who’s not stressed about perfection and the small details.

What design trends do you personally find most compelling?

I’m not a person who researches trends, but my favorite style is Scandinavian décor. I love the pop colors mixed with minimal design, it makes a home feel light and fun!

What is your favorite room in your house, and why?

My living room. I spent the most time curating it—I love the colors, textures and layout. It feels minimal yet has a few statement pieces that make me happy.