My MUSE | Sarah Jane Clarke

Hi everyone, Olivia here to introduce this week’s My MUSE: designer Sarah-Jane Clarke, founder of the eponymous label we know and love.

What we love about Sarah-Jane is her perspective on both fashion and life. She speaks about getting older with a real sense of freedom, knowing what matters, trusting your instincts and making space for the things that bring you joy. That philosophy carries through to her designs, which are made to help women feel good in what they wear and get on with living. We’re delighted to have her latest collection at MUSE, including her beautiful fringe sets, which she says make her feel like she’s on holiday.

After stepping away from the fashion industry, Sarah-Jane returned with a clear vision: to create beautiful, considered clothing for women who know themselves, have a life they love and want their wardrobes to reflect that. Her approach feels refreshingly thoughtful, from the natural fibres and flattering cuts to the slower pace of releasing collections. Each piece has a sense of ease and personality, shaped by her travels, the places she’s visited and the things she’s collected along the way.

I caught up with Sarah-Jane to talk about returning to fashion, finding a more considered pace, the inspiration behind her label, personal style, travel and the little things she’s loving right now.

 

What inspired you to return to the industry and create Sarah-Jane Clarke?

I came back because I kept noticing a gap. The women I knew, my friends, women in their forties, fifties and beyond, had more confidence, more freedom and more interesting lives than ever, and yet the fashion world kept speaking to someone half their age. I want to make clothes for her: considered pieces in natural fibres, made properly, that travel well and have a bit of personality. 

 

What did stepping away from fashion give you, and did it change your approach?

Perspective, mostly. When you've been inside the machine for a long time, the pace starts to feel normal, the seasons, the deadlines, the constant newness. Stepping away let me see how much of that was unnecessary. I travelled, I spent time with my family, and I rediscovered what I actually love about making things. So when I came back, I built the business around a more graceful pace. We make less, we release capsules when they're ready, and sometimes we close the store to go away for inspiration. That slowness isn't a constraint, it's part of what we offer.

 

Has the idea that life gets better as we get older been true for you?

Absolutely. I wont pretend every part of aging is easy, but I'm far clearer now about what I enjoy and what I don't, and I've stopped spending energy on the things that don't matter. I dress for myself, and I say yes to the things that genuinely interest me. There's a freedom in no longer needing to prove anything.

 

What does a woman's "best life yet" look like to you, and what role do clothes play?

Looking good, feeling good, having purpose, and doing the things that bring joy to your life. We all have challenges to deal with, but we can choose to approach them with a positive mindset, and that starts with how we talk to ourselves. Clothes play a supporting role, but an important one. When something fits beautifully and feels good against your skin, you feel empowered, and you can get on with living. That's what I want SJC to do: give women a wardrobe that makes them feel ready to tackle any situation.

 

How does travelling influence what you create, collect and bring into your life?

Almost everything starts with a journey. Our pieces are named from places I have visited, and our colours come from what I've seen along the way, the terracotta of Siena or the blue of the Adriatic. Practically, travel is also my best testing ground. If a piece doesn't earn its place in my suitcase, it doesn't make it into the collection. And then there are the finds, the vintage jewellery from a Florence or a beautiful object from a market. I've always collected as I go, and now I get to share those discoveries.

 

What are your favourite pieces from the new collection, and what makes them feel particularly SJC?

I am loving our fringe sets, because when I put them on I feel like I’m on holidays. 

What makes them feel like SJC is that they’re practical and joyful at once: natural fibres, flattering cuts, and with just enough personality.

 

What are you currently loving?

sunrise over the ocean, family barbqs in our boat shed, freshly laundered sheets, playing golf with my sons, fringing and tassels.

What do you wish you could tell your 30-year-old self?

That you don’t have to do it all at once. At 30 I was having babies, building a business and saying yes to everything, and I thought success meant more. I would tell her that the best things are made slowly and with care, that rest and wellbeing is crucial, and to follow her instincts, they always guide us to the right place.