We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Navarre. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Sarah , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
We had the opportunity to participate in an incredible fundraiser held in New York at the SpyScape Museum in Manahattan recently. The event benefitted the Jessie Rees Foundation. This story begins a few years ago when my niece was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She fought hard for four years but passed away May 2021. She left behind two young boys and a husband (Dan Hoffman, and sons Jerron and Nathan. Inspired by the work this foundation does, which is providing Joy Jars to kids battling cancer. They are large jars filled with toys and games and sent around the world to kids in the hospital.
Jerron, along with his brother and Dad, raised over $200k for Joy Jars in March. Daniel Hoffman is a Fox correspondent and former CIA Station Manager. After that effort ended they turned their attention to planning a huge fundraiser in New York that took place less than two weeks ago. We, VanderRose, donated a gown to be part of the auction items at the event. The event brought in over $400k and we were very proud and honored to support this cause in memory of my late niece, Kim Hoffman.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am Sarah Navarre; a gown designer, photographer, art director for events we plan, and now a publisher of VanderRose Magazine. As founder of the VanderRose brand, it all began when I wanted to create something magical in photography but could not find gowns to create the scene I imagined. These types of gowns are not available in stores and so I decided to start designing my own. Now 2 or 3 years in to the whole adventure, VanderRose grows step by step.
We have now had gowns on the runway at New York Fashion Week, our photos have been published in over 200 different publications from US magazines to Milan-based magazines. I have a very diverse and global background in business and have envisioned VanderRose as a global brand from the humble beginnings. We celebrate and prefer to show as much diversity and inclusiveness as possible. Our goal is to create beautiful art through photography and gowns, and share this beauty with a global audience.
Our foundation is on empowerment and empowering those we work with, inspiring others through the art and gowns we create. This began with empowering women but we want to make sure we are including others as many need a voice and to feel. powerful, beautiful and alive. This is a thread we carry throughout everything we do.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is seeing the confidence boost that comes from clients feeling more confident and powerful after a shoot with us, or when wearing a VanderRose Gown.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The lesson I found critical to unlearn is to let go of societal pressures and the idea that life has to be one certain way to be considered successful. Success can be a variety of things and money and success are not equal to fulfillment. Living a life filled with passion, and doing what one finds rewarding, is far more freeing than a life with outside pressures we try to live up to. Follow your dreams and passions and life a life filled with gratitude and joy. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vanderrose.com
- Instagram: @vanderrose_gowns
- Facebook: @vanderrose_gowns
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnavarre/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCntz2qAsp7HdKc4fCKZ6vJQ
- Other: We had gowns on the runway at Gotham Hall in New York in February 2023. I can provide photos from the runway, or from other photo shoots. The photo I included was myself and my partner, Mike Wolf, on the runway in New York. One article about the Jessie Rees event at Spyscape can be found here: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/22/retired-cia-officers-work-jessie-rees-foundation-r/
Image Credits
Photo 1: Graciele D’Amato, RSquared Media, gown: VanderRose Photo 2: Heather Leah, RSquared Media, gown: VanderRose Photo 3: Chrisette Simon, RSquared Media, gown: VanderRose Photo 4: Juliana Wilson, RSquared Media, gown: VanderRose Photo 5: VanderRose Magazine Cover, May 2023 Photo 6: Model Lizzy Mickelsen, Photographer & Gown: Sarah Navarre, VanderRose Photo 7: Model Joy Sulez, Photographer & Gown: Sarah Navarre, VanderRose Photo 8&9: Model: Genevieve Kidd Reynolds, Photographer and Gown: Sarah Navarre, VanderRose