The Power of Restraint: OTTÉ on Precision, Quiet Confidence, and Redefining Wardrobes

For more than 15 years, Tara, the founder of OTTÉ, built her career as a stylist — curating wardrobes, sourcing unique pieces, and translating personality into clothing. But styling revealed a truth: women often reached for the same timeless silhouettes season after season. What they wanted wasn’t endless novelty, but pieces that could move with them through different moments of their lives. OTTÉ was born from this realization — to create clothing not only for the present, but for the long arc of a woman’s story.

At its heart, OTTÉ is not about minimalism as a trend. It is about clarity, precision, and intention. Every seam, proportion, and finish is designed to endure, to live with the wearer, and to carry meaning beyond a single season.

Author: What made you move from curating wardrobes to creating pieces with OTTÉ?

OTTÉ: Styling taught me that women often wanted fewer, better pieces — clothes that didn’t just fit their lifestyle, but elevated it. I wanted to design garments that endure, travel with them, and still feel modern years later. That’s when OTTÉ was born.

Author: Minimalism is often marketed as a trend. How does OTTÉ approach intentional design differently?

OTTÉ: For us, intentional design means creating pieces that transcend cycles. Our silhouettes are designed to be as relevant five years from now as they are today. We think about how a blazer carries you from a meeting to dinner, or how a dress holds its shape after repeated wear. It’s not about less decoration — it’s about more meaning.

Author: Construction is often invisible to the eye. How do you approach it?

OTTÉ: A garment only lasts as long as its construction allows. We use French seams in silks, reinforced hems, and hand-finished details so the inside of the garment is as considered as the outside. These invisible choices are what turn a seasonal piece into a wardrobe staple.

Author: As a stylist, you saw women searching for “fixes.” How does OTTÉ address that differently?

OTTÉ: Women don’t actually need endless newness. They need fewer, better options. With OTTÉ, I design clothing that works seamlessly into a life already in motion — pieces that remove the question of what to wear, because they simply work again and again.

Author: You often use the phrase “quiet confidence.” What does that look like?

OTTÉ: It looks like ease — shoulders relaxed, movement fluid, a natural steadiness. It’s the opposite of overcompensation. You see it in a woman who never adjusts her clothes because they already serve her. Our silks, for example, are cut to move with the body so she never has to think about them.

Author: Why is the blazer essential in your collections?
OTTÉ: A precisely cut blazer is transformative. It frames the shoulders, straightens posture, and signals authority without a word. At OTTÉ, our blazers sharpen a silhouette but remain fluid enough to move with a woman’s life. They can elevate denim or ground a silk dress — one piece that speaks volumes without shouting.

Author: Who do you design for?

OTTÉ: I think of a friend who’s a creative director. Her wardrobe is pared back — silks, tailoring, tonal layers — but every choice is intentional. She doesn’t chase trends, yet she leads conversations. That duality is who we design for: women who let their intelligence and presence do the speaking, while their clothing quietly supports the message.

Author: What compromise will you never make?

OTTÉ: Precision. Fashion often rewards speed, but speed erodes integrity. It once took 14 samples to perfect a single item. That process wasn’t excessive, it was essential. Restraint only has power when it’s executed with clarity.

Author: What do you hope OTTÉ encourages women to think about when they dress?

OTTÉ: That dressing is a long-term relationship, not a revolving door of trends. A wardrobe should be an edited collection of pieces that serve you season after season. If OTTÉ can redefine dressing as an act of curation — choosing fewer, better, more intentional garments — then we’ve done more than design clothes. We’ve reshaped a mindset.

Interview by Oona Chanel