Alara Taneri first captured the public’s attention as a Netflix reality TV star originally on Dated and Related with her brother Ceylan Taneri and then appeared on The Perfect Match, a strategic dating show featuring some of the most renowned reality stars from the Netflix world. Ever since the show’s release, she gained a massive public platform, propelling her into the spotlight very quickly. However, with a background in fashion design, Alara is determined to use her platform differently and carve her space as a designer and fashion inspiration. In preparation for a busy London Fashion Week, she opens up about her creative process, her inspirations, and how her reality TV experiences as well as her background have shaped her sense of style.

As a family person, Alara doesn’t like to spend too much time away from home. “I was in LA, and I came back to the UK because it was too much for me. I miss my family. I’m such a family person, so I’m in London right now. I’m about to move to London, which is really fun. London Fashion Week is coming up, so I’m so excited because I’m going to be sewing away. I’ve already started”, she says, and you can feel her genuine excitement radiating through the screen. Alara likes to lean into her creative side and express herself and her looks at London and Paris Fashion Weeks are going to be no different. “I’m trying to build up my concept right now, and I remember I did four pairs of jeans on one belt, and I created a skirt. I’m trying to do spray paint on it right now. That’s what I’m passionate about, and that’s what I love. So yeah, I’ve got those ideas, but I’m so excited.”

Alara’s love for fashion started early. While living in Dubai, she discovered her creative side through a school project centered on cultural dresses. “I designed cultural outfits for different countries, where all the colors and patterns symbolized something,” she recalls. “There was Peru, Ghana, China, I think Jamaica as well. I did it for seven countries I believe.” This project became the foundation of her desire to combine art and fashion, and eventually led her to pursue fashion design at university. “I did my first year at university as a fine art student. And I thought to myself, ‘How am I going to make money from just drawing?’ Unless you die, you don’t make crazy money, because you can’t make any more pieces with it. I thought, why don’t I combine two of my favorite things—art and fashion? And yeah, this is where I am.” Touching upon her Turkish Cypriot roots, she believes her unique style could be a testament to her culture. “The cultural outfit, I think, is belly dancing,” she says with a laugh. “That’s the only thing you’ve got. So no, I don’t have, I don’t put anything into it, but I do think maybe the cultural side does come in because I love to be unique. When I’m shopping, and I see something a piece that’s not normal, I want it. I don’t know if that has to do with my ethnicity.”

Alara has also emphasized the importance of bags and accessories in making or breaking an outfit. “I think my staple piece has to be a bag that goes with the outfit. I also think accessories make the outfit. If you don’t have that, the outfit is not complete.” She also mentions that even on vacation, accessories, bags, and cover-ups over bikinis are her favorite ways to make an outfit more tasteful. Her favorite places to shop from, you might ask? “I’ve been loving Maniére De Voir, Mars The Label, and Outcast. Right now, Outcast is one of my favorites.” In regards to some fashion she’s loved seeing on-screen, Alara cites Chrishell Stause from Selling Sunset as one of her favorites. “And Zendaya’s red carpet outfits.”

Regarding her personal on-screen wardrobe, Alara admits that her style has significantly evolved since her Netflix debut on Dated and Related. “I think it’s a lot bigger. I’ve got a lot more confidence now, so I feel like I can wear whatever I want. And yeah, I think the experimental side has come into play a lot more. In Dated and Related, I used to care a lot about what people thought about me. In The Perfect Match, I felt like I could express myself a little bit more, you know? But it was hard in that heat. I did make this necklace piece, but the garments that I make normally are very heavyweight and I couldn’t wear it on the show.” Alara also mentions that her style has become more “unique, out there, and colorful”, but still admits that she still wears a lot of black pieces in her daily outfits. 

A peek at Alara’s Instagram will instantly reveal her love for sporting unique looks, one of the most out-there ones being her Pokémon-themed outfit. Touching upon her inspiration for these looks, Alara says, “I get really influenced by what I see in my day-to-day life. I was walking by a kid with a Pokémon shirt and I thought ‘Why don’t I do a Pokémon-themed look?’ I did a little backpack stitch with an all-blue outfit and then I added the Pokémon. I have loads of fabrics here too,” she says, looking behind her. “In university, when I was doing my fashion design degree, I was inspired constantly. Whether it’s museums, art galleries, festivals, you know, everywhere, it’s so important. I’m also on Pinterest a lot, it’s my best friend.” And inspired she has become, even hoping to launch her own collection. “That is my goal. I’ll be working towards my collection at the end of this year. So I’m definitely going to get my brand out there. I think I want to do high-street fashion. The tracksuits that I’m going to be making are going to be a lot more day-to-day wearable as well. So not so comfort-oriented. It’s going to be very stylish. But yeah, I’m really excited.”

Beyond fashion, Alara’s journey as a reality star has also given her a massive online presence to connect with supporters. She values the opportunities that come with being in the public eye, especially the chance to meet her supporters as well as attend events, mentioning that as two of her favorite aspects of being a public figure. “I’ve met some amazing people at events.” However, she’s also candid about the challenges of dealing with criticism that comes with appearing on a reality TV show as well as being in the public eye. “So every time I get a negative comment, I honestly block it out. I don’t know what it is. I think it’s got to do with my mom. If I do have a comment that upsets me, I run to my mom and she just sorts me out because realistically, anyone that’s commenting is not a nice person. So I would say look further than that comment and see that they’re just not nice people. I care a lot about the opinions of people who are around me rather than people I don’t know.” Speaking about how authentic she is, Alara says, “I didn’t have an easy childhood and I feel like that’s why I am the person I am. I was majorly bullied when I was in high school and I think it’s made me have a thicker skin and be confident.”

Alara also drops some advice for anyone who’s thinking about pursuing content creation. “Have the best people around you that can uplift you when you’re feeling low because you will have low days. And just be yourself. Do what you’re passionate about.” Her advice translates into the content she puts out as well. “So I love fashion. If it’s traveling, go travel. And yeah, document it. Because as well as doing this whole, I don’t like the word but influencing; the whole content creation thing, it’s the memories that you’re collecting as well. All the videos, photos I’m taking, I’m going to show my kids. ‘Kids! That’s how I used to look when I’m like 70 and wrinkly.’ So I mean that’s a great aspect of that,” she adds, laughing. From a Netflix reality star who cared a lot about what people thought of her to now being unafraid to be herself, Alara has come a long way and we can’t wait to see the trajectory of her fashion career.