POP-UP ELEVATES FLATS FOR S.F. WOMEN
For women on the perpetual hunt for that fashion unicorn — chic yet comfortable shoes with a glove-like fit — the Margaux pop-up store on Fillmore Street may finally be the answer.
Looking to solve a sartorial problem they experienced as working professionals, New Yorkers and former Harvard College roommates Alexa Buckley and Sarah Pierson launched Margaux in 2015 as a Shop 2053 Fillmore St., S.F. (917) 877-1201; https://margauxny.com.
direct-to-consumer brand of elegant, practical ballerina flats offered in bespoke and standard sizing.
“We had to do this terrible shoe shuffle all the time, which is what you do living in a city,” said 26-year-old Buckley on a recent visit to San Francisco. “You have your comfortable shoes that you wear to work before changing into your ‘pretty shoes’ under your desk. But really there should be one shoe that you can put on and feel beautiful, dressed and confident in that are also comfortable and practical for every day.”
Handcrafted from fine Italian leathers in the artisan shoe manufacturing town of Elda, Spain, Margaux shoes have expanded to include four additional silhouettes: an off-duty demi ballet flat; a pointed-toe flat; a sensible 2-inch heel; and a pointed-toe woven sling-back with detachable bow newly launched for spring.
Every style, priced between $125 and $295, is also offered in a range of sizes and colors and features plush foam innersole padding, a rubbertipped leather sole and a stacked 3/8-inch heel for added support and comfort.
Buckley said the brand, headquartered in New York’s Chelsea district, already had a strong Bay
Area customer base online, making the opening of the 600-square-foot San Francisco pop-up in midNovember a no-brainer.
“The San Francisco woman, like our New York customer, has an appreciation for timeless design and high-quality craftsmanship, but also needs products that accommodate and enable her busy lifestyle,” said Pierson in an email. “Spindly heels just can’t stand up to San Francisco’s hills or our customers’ commutes by foot, bus or bike.”
The upper Fillmore shop, which was initially to close in January but will stay open at least through April, has a similar format to the inventory-free retail showrooms pioneered by Apple and adopted by digitally native fashion brands such as Bonobos and Warby Parker.
With its clean lines and all-white decor accented by a midnight-blue velvet loveseat, the intimate space feels like a living room where you can get a personalized fitting before placing an online order to be shipped to your doorstep.
The brand prides itself on its fit, and Buckley said it was important to provide physical stores so customers can try on pairs from the expansive range of sizes. The shoes are offered in European sizes 33 to 45 (3 to 13.5 U.S. sizing) and in narrow, medium and wide widths, whereas most department stores carry U.S. sizes 6 to 10 and are limited to medium widths, Buckley said.
The signature suede classic and limited shades of the pointe flat can also be made to measure starting at $275. Online customers can order an at-home fitting kit for $15, which is credited toward any order placed within 30 days. Custom shoes arrive within six weeks.
Surprisingly, most women don’t even realize they’re wearing the wrong size shoe, said Buckley. As a result, women with narrower-than-average feet size down to keep their shoes from sliding off, resulting in crunched toes, and women with wider feet compensate by sizing up, creating an annoying gap in the heel.
“A great pair of shoes and giving something to the modern woman that can take her anywhere she wants to go is empowering,” said Buckley. “You can feel comfortable, but also beautiful. That shouldn’t have to be a choice.”