The TEll// By Thrift & Tell
Welcome to THE TELL//BY THRIFT & TELL: a celebration of fashionable women who dress as smart as they shop.
This week’s guest on THE TELL// is Sarah Pierson, co-founder of Margaux: a modern, luxury footwear line dedicated to creating shoes that are at once beautiful and comfortable. In a few short years, Sarah and her co-founder have built a company with a strong brand identity and a cult following that only continues to grow. The Margaux line mimics Sarah’s own classic aesthetic: tailored, understated, and chic. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Sarah at dinner recently and so enjoyed learning more about her career and the brand. We bonded, like most women, over our love of consignment and thrift store hunting. Sarah, you’ll be happy to know, is a loyal shopper on The Real Real. Rather than paying retail, her consignment finds leave extra funds for both her celebratory champagne rituals and beautiful art in her home. I am so excited to welcome such a talented, smart, and gracious entrepreneur to the series, and please stay tuned for more interviews to come!
//Your style in 3 words: Tailored, not-too-fussy-but-occasionally-impractical, neutral
//Staple Outfit: Currently, a sweater and midi skirt paired with our black boots and a tailored coat.
//Your First Big Purchase: I bought my first bag—a sky-blue Celine tote that I still carry to this day—just after graduating college. It felt celebratory, and momentous: I was moving to the city to pursue Margaux and wanted a bag that was both statement and staple. It's one of my favorite things I've ever owned.
//Do You Still Have It? Yes! It's sitting next to me as I type these answers, in fact.
//Best Fashion Advice You Ever Received: Invest in shoes—You can't put a price on being comfortable. Plus, a well-made pair of shoes will last for years.
//Types of clothing you invest in: I (obviously!) have a thing for shoes, but otherwise invest in the items are both hearty and ageless: Coats, bags, and a few key pieces of jewelry.
//Types of clothing you save on: I always like to feel like I'm paying a fair price for an item, so I wouldn't say there's any one category I "save" on. I have started to experiment with hand-washing silks and cashmere, though, thanks to The Laundress's brilliant speciality detergents. I've saved a fortune on dry cleaning as a result.
//Your greatest extravagance: Alexa and I are known to post up at Cafe Cluny, our favorite haunt near our Bleecker Street store, with champagne and french fries to celebrate moments both little and big.
//Brands That Will Stand the Test of Time: Max Mara, Moreau, and Khaite
//Favorite High Street Brands: I could live in Splendid's cashmere tees; Nike, for anything activewear; Reformation, for breezy summer dresses; and Everlane and Naadam for affordable knits and basics.
//Favorite Designer Brands: Khaite and Goldsign are my go-tos for denim: Their pieces are investments, but well worth it. I also love Zimmerman for statement prints and resort wear; Johanna Ortiz and Markarian for event looks; and Hunting Season for their bags and clutches.
//Favorite Places to Shop Consignment: The RealReal (I'm hooked!): I also appreciate their emphasis on sustainability through consignment: It's bringing attention and awareness to the fact that shopping consignment is the most sustainable way to shop.
//Favorite Places to Consign Your Own Closet: I consign pieces that no longer speak to me: If I go a season or two without wearing it, I'll consider consigning it.
//Currently Collecting Dust in the Back of your Closet: A pair of spindly heels that seemed like a good idea at the time...
//Your Closet Tried and Trues: My Margaux City Sandals in the summer, the Pointe in the fall and spring, and our Boot in the winter—I quite literally live in these shoes.
//Best investment you ever made in your style: After a few orders gone wrong, I never shop final sale—I've found that for me personally, I usually never love the pieces I've bought because they seemed like a good deal.
//Style Choice From Your Past That Haunts You: Where to begin? I grew up in Florida, so I saw "seasons" as summer, almost-summer, and still-feels-like-summer. Going to college in Boston was an education in both climate and fashion, to say the least.
//Closet From Which You Would Like to Borrow: Lauren Santo Domingo: she has this incredible, worldly sense of style and as the founder of Moda Operandi, she has her finger on the pulse of the season's very best.
//Last Time You Splurged? I'm writing these answers on Cyber Monday, so I have to admit I splurged a bit this morning.
//Currently Saving Your Pennies For: Art for my bedroom: My closet has reached maximum capacity, so I'm shifting my attention to the walls instead!
//Advice to someone looking to define their own style: Pay attention to what makes you feel beautiful and confident, whether it's a special piece, a certain cut, or a staple silhouette. Style is confidence; and confidence is style.
//Trend you wish would go away? Designer logo tees—It's a look, but not my look!
//Most prized possession: My camera, and the photos I've taken with it. I've captured so many memories and formative moments over the years with it: They're so much more meaningful to me than any single thing I own.
//Home Decor Style: Eclectic, I suppose? I've always loved how British style blends vibrant patterns, colors, antiques, and modern lines in this effortless way. My philosophy has always been buy what you love, and find a place for it—The magic is in how everything works together.
//Favorite place to hunt for home decor: Dixie Highway in Palm Beach has a treasure trove of vintage finds; Chairish and St. Frank are my go-tos online.
//Your fashion motto: Buy what you love, and don't be afraid to wear it over and over again.
//Your life motto: What would you do if you weren't afraid?
Fill in the blank:
//A woman should invest in- the things that make her feel beautiful and bold. //You’re never too old to—go blonde! //A woman can never have too much- sleep (currently reading Why We Sleep, and am on a mission to change my sleeping habits). // Bury Me In: Margaux. //True or False: More is More- False. Less is more; you just have to have the right kind of less. //Fashion is- momentary; style endures. //Style is: confidence.
Currently Loving:
//Music: Kacey Musgraves
//Print: Alison Roman's Nothing Fancy
//Food: A Van Leeuwen's ice cream come
//Drink: Campari soda
//Film: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
//TV: The Crown
//Podcast: The Daily by NYT
//Instagram Handle: @stpierson
ABOUT SARAH
Margaux co-founder Sarah Pierson has focused on creating modern luxury footwear since launching the brand in 2015, redesigning shoe staples that are as beautiful as they are comfortable and available in a size-inclusive offering. The Florida native met her co-founder Alexa Buckley as Harvard undergrads; together, they and the brand have been featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and in publications like Vogue, ELLE, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal.
FIND MARGAUX
Photos used courtesy of Sarah Pierson
