SARTH MEETS: LEA ROHE

SARTH MEETS: LEA ROHE

SARTH MEETS is a series of conversations with voices we admire — diving into how they shop, what guides their choices, and how they define their personal style. We ask about ethics and responsibility, yes — but also about impulse vs. intention, wardrobe rituals, and where they go when they’re actually looking to buy something.
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Lea Rohe is a holistic personal (life)stylist and tastemaker bespoken in harpers bazaar germany, us vogue and wsj off duty with over 5000 clients over the past decade. As a content creator and mentor she dedicates her knowledge, skills and creativity to educate and entertain her community and clients in finding an authentic personal style, how to embody your greatest self and live an abundant life from a place of love instead of lack. We met her in the SARTH office.

Fashion is my language — but it’s really about mental health

I am self-employed as a holistic stylist and a content creator. So I do content about mental health and well-being while using fashion as a tool to do that and yeah, I'm 32 and I love living in Copenhagen. It's my home now. 

I have been self-employed for four years. But not fully self-employed. Fully self- employed for a year now - since moving here. Actually, I took out everything in Germany. I was like, no, I'm not employed anymore, I don't want to live in Germany anymore and then I came here. 

What are you wearing today? 

Interesting question! I'm wearing new shoes actually. It's the first time that I'm wearing them out. It’s a camel toe situation. They're so comfortable and they came with matching socks. And I'm obsessed with capris at the moment, so I'm wearing a capri. It's actually like a workout legging. But you know, I'm doing it anyways - I'm biking here. And then I'm wearing a white tank top, which is basically my staple. I think there's not one day where I'm not wearing one - probably at least five times a week I'd say. And the long sleeve is ‘butter yellow’ as people would call it this season, but other than that, it's just like a pastel yellow.

It's so funny with trends like these. It's not that I have several pieces in that color in my wardrobe, but now they're just trending and it's so funny because people even on social media comment that it’s 'butter yellow'. It's like, it's just a skirt that I bought five years ago and it happens to be that color. 

I'm wearing a lot of staples today. Also these earrings I wear five out of seven days probably. They're so chunky but still they don't scream at you. I love those.

And part of my wardrobe or my styling is always my hair as well.

The earrings are quite statement pieces, yeah, they're loud. Because this outfit today is so comfortable, it looks almost like I could work out in it, so I need to have something that looks like ‘okay, she's not going to work out. She has work to do’.
So the earrings and the hair are polished.

"I see personal style as something living, something organic — not fixed. It grows with you. Trends, to me, are more like invitations. You can take them or leave them. If they fit your identity, great — but you don’t have to follow them."

How would you describe your personal style

I love pairing or like playing with paradoxes just as I do it today. I love a very comfortable and cozy fit. But then my hair is done and my earrings are very elegant. Make something that doesn't make sense in the first place make sense.
That's what I do with everything.
I wear sequins with denim.
I do high heels with a hoodie.
I love to play with the contrasts.

I'd say color-wise I wear blues and whites a lot and more like simple colors and I'm also not a huge pattern girl. I love stripes and animal print — that’s basically all. And I feel like, especially with age, my style has become much more simple, but with a lot more attention to detail. I love an unsuspected button or something like that — a little twist. 

People often say, “I’m this kind of girl; I have this kind of style.” If you look at my personal style, it might seem kind of basic at first glance, but if you take a second look, you’ll notice the details.

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Do you have one item that describes you or that you’d call your favorite?

Oh — probably a pair of sunglasses. Since I got them [referring to the pair she’s wearing, Tom Ford’s Bronson], they’ve kind of become part of my personality. 

I wear them five out of seven days a week. They have this peachy tint, and I just love seeing the world through them — everything looks nicer. And they go with every outfit, no matter what I’m wearing. They always look cool. Even if I’m just leaving the house to get groceries — if I’m wearing those sunglasses, I feel like I’m in an outfit. And I love that. 

It doesn’t matter what the trends are — those are just my sunglasses now. Probably for life.

Lea On How Life Transfers Into Style

Oh, I’ve had so many phases. I don’t know about you, but especially in my teenage years... I had a crush on someone who played in a band and played guitar, so I went full-on punk. I wore loads of eyeliner — like, all the way up here [pointing at the end of the eyebrow] — and I’m blonde, so it didn’t even really suit me, but I thought it was cool.

I had buttons all over my t-shirts, a studded belt, the whole thing. Then I went through a phase of just wearing really bold colors — green pants, purple sweater, yellow jacket. I was totally into color-blocking. The wilder, the better.

But the funny thing is, shape-wise, my silhouettes have always kind of stayed the same. Even if the colors or vibe changed completely, it always felt like me.

It’s like my style has different phases that match where I’m at mentally, but the silhouettes remain. So much transfers into my wardrobe — it always has. The way I dress reflects where I am in life. Like the punk rock phase — dating someone who influenced how I dressed — or just the era I was in at the time.

When it comes to trends, I don’t feel like I follow them blindly. I see personal style as something living, something organic — not fixed. It grows with you. Trends, to me, are more like invitations. You can take them or leave them. If they fit your identity, great — but you don’t have to follow them.

On Trends as Cultural Moments

What really fascinates me is how trends even happen. Culturally. Like — someone just decides to call this color “butter yellow,” and suddenly everyone’s wearing it, every brand’s using it, and every city you go to, it’s there. I love watching that happen.

But I don’t feel pressured anymore. I feel invited. If a trend makes sense for me, I’ll adapt it. But especially in content creation, I’ve moved away from this idea that I have to wear specific pieces to reach certain goals. I just don’t feel that anymore.

On the Overload of Trends

Yeah, it is true that there are so many micro and macro trends happening at once, and we’re not in the 1950s anymore, where Christian Dior said, “You’re all wearing pencil skirts now,” and that’s just what everyone did.

Now, everything is allowed. Which is so freeing for people like me — it makes me feel even more like myself. But I totally get that for many others, it’s overwhelming. There’s no clear direction. You really have to trust yourself. And honestly, not everyone knows how to do that. Especially when it comes to aesthetics, it can feel easier to just follow the one loudest trend of the moment.

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On Becoming Your Own Muse

That’s something I think about often in my work — that a big part of fashion and beauty today is becoming your own muse. Being your own inspiration.

Social media doesn’t have to feel like a punishment or a rulebook. It’s more like a series of invitations. You don’t have to accept them all. You don’t have to adapt things if they don’t feel right for you.

The hard part is: a lot of people don’t know what does feel right for them. That’s the difference — and the challenge — when it comes to navigating personal style in today’s landscape.

Style Icons & Eras

Do you have style icons or eras your especially drawn to?
Visually, I really love the OG influencers — like Leandra Medine Cohen. Her style is such a great example of what we’re talking about: she plays with trends, but it’s always through her own lens. You know it’s her.

Era-wise? This might sound cliché, but probably the 1920s. That moment of transition — from empire silhouettes and gowns to women wearing pants — it must’ve been such an exciting time to be alive. I would’ve loved to hang out with Coco Chanel. She just seems like such a revolutionary.

On Growing Up with Style

Growing up, I have to say Gossip Girl really shaped my view of fashion. It was like, “Oh, this is how you can do it.” Even though it was far from my reality — I lived in a small village and had never been to a big city other than Düsseldorf.

But back then, my best friend kind of looked like Blair Waldorf, and I looked like Serena van der Woodsen — blonde hair and all — so we styled ourselves as that duo. I think I was 18 or 19. It was also that time when you really start going out...

Oh my god, I used to wear heels that high [15 cm-ish].
Now I’m like, 5–7 cm heels max. But back then? I’d dance all night in them. We were just talking about the Steve Madden ones the other day - with the studs and almost 20 cm high heels, with the platform.

I didn’t have the originals, but I had the knock-off version when I was in university. I had a blog back then, and one of my classmates used to shoot outfit photos with me. I still remember the wooden platform shoes from one of those shoots.

 

On Owning Your Style Phases

I don’t feel any shame about my past style choices. What I wore was just specific to that era. I love that I lived through those different phases — even if I wouldn’t wear them now, the studded Steve Madden heels for example are still iconic.

Will those styles come back? Probably. I mean, there are still people wearing them. And honestly? Why not. If it feels good to you, go for it. I might say no now — but talk to me in three years.

It’s the same with the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers. Everyone loved them in 2010. They’re back now, and 21-year-olds are wearing them again. I would never... but they look great on others. So go for it. You do you.

That’s what I love — like we talked about before — everything is allowed now.

Lea Rohe's Edit

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On Buying Something New

Sustainability is a big part of my decision-making. Not just because it’s better for the planet — though of course it is — but also because I care more and more about quality.

A lot of brands offer better craftsmanship, but you do need to do your research — sustainability labels can still be tricky to navigate.

When I buy something new, I want it to be sustainably produced, yes, but also sustainable in my wardrobe. It has to be a piece I see myself wearing not just for a season, but ideally for the next 20 years.

Because of my job, my approach is also different. Actually, I don’t buy a lot. I mostly style what I already own. I borrow clothes from brands sometimes, and then I mix and match them with what I have.

Outside of that, I’m really into Vestiaire and secondhand shopping. When I do buy something — whether it’s secondhand or new — I try to be really intentional.

What’s the process when you buy something? 

I usually know exactly what I want. Like, on Vinted for example, I’ll type in super specific search terms — otherwise it’s too overwhelming. Vestiaire is more like a big wish list for me. I’ll save a lot, forget about it, and then revisit it later. But again, I usually have something really specific in mind and I just search for the best version of it.

Take the sunglasses I mentioned earlier — I circled around them for at least three months. They were a bit of an investment, so I didn’t want to rush. I waited two months before deciding I really wanted them. Even after they arrived, I didn’t wear them straight away — I left them on the table for a few days just to make sure. But eventually I was like, “No, I can’t live without you.” And now I wear them almost every day.

That’s part of my sustainability compass. I don’t want to shop impulsively anymore. I want to sit with a purchase and really feel it out.

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Would your style be the same if you weren’t posting on social media?

That’s such a good question. I’ve actually thought about this — am I dressing for the camera or for myself?

Right now, I’m proud to say I’m dressing for myself. But that hasn’t always been the case. There were definitely times when I dressed for the camera — especially when it was part of a collaboration or job. I always try to choose brands that really feel like me, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out because of sizing or deadlines. So yes, I still dress for the camera occasionally. But when I can avoid it — I do. Because I want to feel comfortable and like myself.

It’s been a journey, especially on social media. But I’ve reached a place where I feel like I’ve really found my style. And honestly, I’d rather grow slowly and stay authentic, than grow fast by putting on a costume or hiding who I am. I want to be myself through the whole process. And if that means growth takes longer, so be it. The right people will stay, or they’ll find me eventually.

It’s what feels natural, and I think that’s why I feel so connected to my community. That’s what I want most.

Do you have any advice on how to shop consciously?

Yes! It all starts with awareness. In German, the words for consciousness and awareness are basically the same — but I think there’s a real difference. Conscious shopping, for me, is about bringing awareness into the act of shopping.

Ask yourself: Why am I shopping right now?
Do I really need something? Or do I just want it?
And either answer is valid! Wanting something is totally fine — you just have to be aware of the reason behind it.

Because shopping is emotional — at least for me. Sometimes I shop because I’m sad, or bored, or excited, or inspired. It’s fine to shop when you’re feeling something — but I want to be aware of what’s driving it.

Like, I recently caught myself doom-scrolling on Vestiaire. I added a bunch of things to my wish list, then realized: “Wait… I don’t even want any of this.” I was just in the mood to scroll — not on social media this time, but on a shopping platform. It was just a way to self-soothe, I guess.

Even going out to shops can be like that — sometimes it’s not about buying anything, it’s just about touching fabric, trying things on, being in that space. And if something really speaks to me in that moment, I’ll get it. But I try to check in with myself before I buy.

Take a breath in the fitting room and ask:
Why am I here? Do I want this? Do I need this? How do I feel right now?
And if it all feels aligned, then it’s okay to buy it.

Do you have a specific outfit or item that holds a special memory for you?

Yes — it’s not one item exactly, but a fabric: knitwear. Knitwear is a big thing in my family. My grandmother used to knit for us when we were kids and she even sold the knits to a shop at one point.

Some of my best memories are tied to those sweaters. I was the firstborn in my family, so I’d wear it first, then my sister, then my cousins — we have all these photos of us growing up in the same knitwear pieces.

Even now, my mom knits too. I still have a few of her sweaters that are 10 years old, and I love them. That’s the thing about hand-knit pieces — they last forever. They’re full of love and care.

Wearing one of those sweaters — especially in winter — honestly feels like a textile hug. Like I’m being hugged by my mom.

That’s so sweet.

It really is.

Thanks so much for joining us!

Thank you! This was so much fun. I could talk for hours.

Follow along on Lea's Instagram

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