Talk Shop: Alexa Buckley + Sarah Pierson // Margaux
About Sarah + Alexa
After graduating from Harvard together, best friends and roommates Sarah Pierson and Alexa Buckley decided to take a chance and start their own company at the age of 22. In 2015, Margaux launched out of the duo’s search for beautiful, wear-everywhere shoes that were comfortable through and through—no matter where or what women were doing while wearing them. Not only is comfort of the utmost importance to Pierson and Buckley, but range of sizes and widths is what really makes Margaux stand apart. Known for their ballet flats, Margaux now offers 18 shoe styles in various colors and patterns—each more beautiful than the next. We were thrilled to chat with Sarah and Alexa about their start, inspirations, and, of course, fashion!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Alexa: Timeless, fresh, and colorful.
Sarah: Understated, classic, and personal.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
A: Travel, living in New York, and my mom.
S: Great interiors and architecture (I would live in any world dreamed up by Gil Schafer or Rita Konig!), travel and the inspiration I've gathered along the way—particularly on our trips to our factories in Spain and Portugal—and my parents, who taught me to buy what I love and wear it often.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
A: We started Margaux because we believe that women deserve to feel as beautiful as they do comfortable—and have shoes that take them everywhere they want to go with confidence.
There are so many things I love about what I do. I love the energy of building. I love our team. I love solving problems. But perhaps the thing I love the most is storytelling: about our product, our collections and collaborations, about women who inspire the brand, and the greater perspective and personality behind the world we’re trying to create. These stories come to life in so many different ways, and the task of weaving them all together—and articulating the heart and soul of this business—is one of my very favorite things.
S: The amazing women (and men) we get to work with every day, both in our immediate family at Margaux HQ, and in our extended family that includes our factories, our warehouse, and all of our partners and collaborators who have helped make this dream a reality.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
A: Margaux is what it is today because of the many, many advisors, team members, friends and customers that have shared their talent, perspective and advice as we’ve grown the brand together. There are nearly too many to count in just a few sentences, but the one that is perhaps closest to home is my dad. He’s spent his career working with entrepreneurs and he has been an unbelievable source of wisdom and strength as we’ve navigated the twists and turns of building a business. We’ve learned so much from him about the power of resilience and optimism, and I feel very lucky to have him on this journey with us.
S: There are too many people to name. Paul Blum, the longtime CEO of brands like Kenneth Cole and David Yurman, is one of our board members and closest confidantes—and also happens to be one of the kindest, most genuine and thoughtful people we know.
What does your home say about you:
A: I think it might say that I’m eclectic, intentional, and not afraid to have fun.
S: That I love mixing old and new, and that home is my haven, where I can leave the busyness of the city behind.
What does your closet say about you:
A: Exactly the same as my home!
S: That I adore unexpected details, monochrome looks, and the shapes that make me feel my best. And that I invest in the classics—they'll last you a lifetime.
Where do you find inspiration:
A: I find most of my inspiration from two places: books and walks. Reading is my favorite way to relax, and an endless source of inspiration for me. Whether it’s flipping through a magazine (AD and The New Yorker are my two favorites), reading a novel, sitting with poetry, or perusing one of my many (I have a real addiction) coffee table books, I always find perspective and fresh ideas when I sit down to read.
And when I want to solve a problem - or find a new way to think about something - I go on a walk. It is my trusted source for clarity and calm.
S: Outdoors, and in art and architecture (I might have been an architect, indoors or out, in another life!).
Who are your style icons:
A: So many. Katharine Hepburn, Phoebe Philo, Lauren Santo Domingo… and my mom.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
S: Candles, a great playlist, and any dish that can be served room temperature.
Do you collect anything:
S: Family photographs and heirlooms
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
A: @1stdibs, @veere_grenney, @lucywilliamshome, @houseandgardenuk, and @willowcrossleycreates for florals!
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
A: I’m not sure I’m enough of an expert to be well versed in all the “rules”, but I’ve come to learn the importance of understanding proportions, and how the most important foundational quality of a room is balance. There have been so many pieces I’ve fallen in love with during the renovation of my apartment, and I’ve tried to stay disciplined in picking things that work with one another - and the space - not just on their own.
S: Less is more, and don't bother worrying about whether something "goes"—if you love it, find a place for it. Style isn't formulaic: it's about allowing your wardrobe, your home, and your world reflecting who you are.
What are you working on right now:
A: Our fall collection, a new store, and our next big collaboration!
Wardrobe staples:
A: Great denim, tailored shirts, colorful dresses and lots (and lots) of shoes.
S: A simple cardigan, a vintage jean, a signature piece of jewelry, and a statement coat.
Favorite Shoes:
A: For me it really changes with the season. In the summer, my favorite shoe is our Wrap Sandal. In the Fall, it’s The Penny. In the winter, it’s The Downtown Boot - and in the spring, it’s our Demi.
S: Margaux's Flat Sandal in Python
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
A: Right now I’m loving everything Guy Goodfellow, especially this Persian Vine print (https://www.guygoodfellowcollection.com/colourways/leaf/) paired with this Olive Sacking weave in Celery (https://www.guygoodfellowcollection.com/colourways/celery-2/).
S: Anything by de Gournay
Best interior advice you ever received:
A: Live in it first, buy what you love, and give it time. Lots of time.
S: Follow the architectural details and the natural symmetry of a space—the flow will never feel forced.
Best career advice you ever received:
A: You don’t need to be an expert in what you want to do to go after it, you just need to be willing to work hard enough to figure it out.
S: Never stop learning.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
A: I love to invest in great fabrics, art, and special furniture pieces that anchor a room. For me, the most important thing is to create spaces that bring great energy. I'm learning that this can be done through color, through creatively mixing furniture, and by finding ways to inject character via personal belongings that really make a space feel like a home.
S: The pieces that will have longevity, and can live with me for a long time, wherever that may be.
Your greatest extravagance:
A: Silk eye masks. They are key to a great night’s sleep!
S: A dinner with friends at King in SoHo.
Favorite places to shop for home:
A: 1st Dibs, Live Auctioneers, and Land of Belle
S: Land of Belle, Etsy, Over the Moon, Cutter Brooks, and a Campo de'Fiori.
Favorite places to shop for your closet:
A: Matches Fashion and The RealReal
S: The RealReal, Agolde for denim, Alex Mill for basics, and Matches Fashion for inspiration.
Most prized possession and why:
A: My puppy, Olive.
S: My Fujifilm mirrorless camera, and all of the memories I've captured with it over the years.
Your fashion motto:
A: Wear what makes you feel fabulous. When you feel comfortable, you feel confident—and confidence is the most beautiful thing.
S: Not to sound like a broken record, but buy what you love, and wear it often!
Your life motto:
A: Never stop learning, and never give up.
S: You'll never know unless you try.
Advice for someone looking to define their own style:
A: I think the most interesting kind of style is really personal. It’s an immediate expression of self. For that reason I love to think of it as a place where there are no rules, no boxes to fit inside of - just an opportunity to express however you are feeling in a particular moment, and recognize that it could change dramatically from day to day. That is the most fun part.
S: Know what shapes, colors, and pieces make you feel your best, regardless of trend.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food:
A: Pasta
S: A waffle cone from Van Leewen's
Drink:
A: Tequila on the rocks with lime
S: A mezcal Negroni from Bar Pisellino
Film:
A: Father of the Bride
S: Little Women by Greta Gerwig
Hotel:
A: La Residencia in Deia
S: The Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island
City:
A: New York will always be home… but Paris is a close second.
S: Rome
Bedding:
A: Matouk
S: Pottery Barn's classic sheets are my tried-and-true
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it):
A: Coffee! It’s my favorite ritual. I keep it simple with steamed almond milk and a dash of cinnamon.
S: Espresso and milk, with a dash of honey
Playlist:
A: Disco Fever on Spotify
S: Ever changing! I make one for every season.
Weekend Activity:
A: Reading, hiking, and long dinners with friends
S: Spent in the mountains (or by the water)
Design Book:
A: AD at 100, A Century of Style
S: Hirst's Cherry Blossoms by Fondation Cartier