A Glimpse of Alexa Buckley, Founder of Margaux

Interview

Apr 29

It’s no surprise that one of the founder’s of Margaux, the classic shoe brand for the woman “on the gaux", grew up on the Main Line of Philadelphia. If you know anything about the Main Line, you know its history is one of high society and old wealth, and Alexa Buckley’s line of shoes is the perfect modern embodiment of her storied upbringing. Many years ago when I owned a shop called Gramercy Boutique, also located on the Main Line, Alexa would come into my store with her elegant mother during her breaks from Harvard. Little did I know at the time, but Alexa would soon have not only the most classic, but also the most coveted shoe on the market, and today I am not surprised by this one bit. She and her mom have beautiful taste. Her mom was always adorned with a white crisp shirt, the perfect gold earrings, a large cashmere throw, and glowing skin framed by gorgeous thick brown hair. You can see from the captivating photos of Alexa that she has followed in her mothers footsteps, poetically in her own shoe line. When I saw the first Margaux flat it fondly reminded me of Alexa’s mother and her classic style, so I began my interview asking about her mom’s influence on the brand. We then take a glimpse at where Margaux is headed, all of Alexa’s favorite travel destinations, and why hers is the perfect shoe for the woman "on the gaux" from day to night, travel and everything in between.

Where did you grow up and do you think it helped shape the woman you are today?

I grew up just outside of Philadelphia, and think so much of how that environment shaped who I am today. The two most impactful pieces of my childhood were my family and growing up playing competitive sports through college. There are few things that can prepare you better for life as an entrepreneur than athletics, as it teaches you how to get right back up after getting knocked down, and I think this innate and relentless resilience is one of the most important attributes in an entrepreneur.

When I think of Margaux shoes, your mom's style and sophistication come to my mind. Did she have an impact on your direction towards the perfect flat?

She definitely did! To me, my mother is the picture of effortless style. She is so natural. She has gorgeous skin, never wears make-up, and keeps her style simple but fun. She never shies away from a punch of color, and, I think most importantly, has an eye for closet staples that can be worn again and again, season after season. (I've never met someone who edits her closet as many times a year as she does!) All of this inspired the beginnings of the brand that is now Margaux. We set out to create shoes that are as beautiful as they are comfortable, and could be worn all day, everywhere, with confidence and chic.

I remember your mom from the Main Line, she always looked so beautiful and classic. We love to see a mother/daughter bond like yours. Tell us a little bit more about your mom.. what you learned about from her, how she shaped you into the woman you are today?

My mother is the strongest woman I know. She's taught me what it means to be compassionate, what it means to be selfless, and what it means to be totally true to yourself. She takes on the roller coaster of life with complete grace and has taught me what it means to be resilient. She has a warmth and a magnetism that lights up any room, and she's set and example for both me and my brother of the importance of taking care of, and showing up for, the people around you.

What are some of your childhood memories that you cherish?

My favorite childhood memory with my mother happened in Kindergarten. I was a very shy child and absolutely terrified of making a mistake. So, one evening after school my mom took me into the kitchen and plopped me on top of the counter. She then walked over to the fridge, took out two cartons of eggs, and jumped up onto the counter next to me. She looked at me, handed me an egg, and said, "I want you to throw this on the floor". I looked back at her, wide-eyed, and told her I could not do that as it would get the floor messy. She told me that was ok, and that was the point. I sat paralyzed for what now feels like quite some time, until she went first. We ended up throwing two full cartons of eggs together at the kitchen floor, and my 6 year-old self was absolutely giddy with excitement over this sense of freedom. Only now, though, can I appreciate what she was trying to do in such a brilliant way. She was teaching me that it was ok to make a mistake, to let loose and "color outside of the line", and that even if it created a gigantic mess, as long as we handled it together afterwards, it would be ok.

Favorite vacations you did with your family?

Hiking the Engadin region of the Alps with my family last summer in Switzerland

Where did you go to college? What was your career path in college?

I went to Harvard, where I met my now cofounder, Sarah, our freshman year at a cab stand. I studied History, and spent most of my free time with the start-up community on campus. I was destined for a job in venture capital after college (having signed the job offer and cashed the bonus) when we dreamt up the idea for Margaux during our senior spring.

At its core, Margaux was inspired by the idea that a woman should have a pair of shoes that could carry her beautifully and comfortably throughout her day. After spending time working summers in consulting and finance, Sarah and I were all too familiar with the under-the-desk shoe shuffle from flip flop to heel, back to flip flop. We were convinced that there should be (and could be) a shoe that combined form and function, and ensured that a woman could feel dressed and beautiful - while remaining comfortable - all day long. So, we set out to create beautiful products that met the demands of modern life - and along the way, redefine the way that shoes are sized and sold.

Why the name Margaux?

We knew we didn't want to name the brand after ourselves, as we wanted it to be something that anyone could feel a part of. We looked for something that felt as strong as it was feminine, and fell in love with the name Margaux the moment we saw it. We love the strength of the M and the X - as well as the inference of motion from "gaux". It's been a fun play on words we've weaved into different parts of the brand, from our blog "On the Gaux", to our series on women that inspire the brand called the "Gaux Girls".

Tell us about the brand and mission of Margaux. Where do you see the brand going? You have already mastered the perfect flat, sandal, boot and now the wedding industry...what is next?

We’re pushing a more inclusive paradigm for luxury footwear. Slowly but surely, we are reengineering each staple of the women’s footwear wardrobe to create shoes that are as beautiful as they are comfortable. This begins with the construction of each style, but is ultimately accomplished by also offering an extended size offering that our customers can’t find anywhere else. Size inclusivity has finally received the much-needed attention it deserved in the ready-to-wear world, but Margaux is one of the only brands addressing it in footwear. Our commitment to size-inclusivity starts with our extended size range—available in all styles in our collection—US 2.5 to 14 and narrow, medium, and wide widths. We also have a bespoke model that allows customers with tricky size issues (for example, bunions or mismatched sizes) to have pairs tailored to their particular measurements and fit needs.

And finally, our direct-to-consumer model allows us to offer exceptional quality at a compelling price point: Our shoes are made in Spain with luxury materials alongside footwear from some of the most covetable brands in the world, but are offered at a fraction of the price.

In the next year we have several exciting things in the works, from the opening of more stores, to the debut of a big collaboration, and the launch of new silhouettes. I could not be more excited for the year ahead!

Tell us a bit more about moving into the wedding market space? What do you see for Margaux here?

Inspired by the Margaux women who came to us in search of the perfect wedding shoe, we launched a digital atelier featuring our best-selling silhouettes in exclusive bridal fabrications. Each pair is personalized and handmade to order at our factory in Spain, and it has been very special to be a part of this special moment in our customers' lives. We will continue to roll out new silhouettes for the Atelier, and have a special collaboration coming later this year!

Your childhood best friends are Neely and Chloe Burch of Neely and Chloe and your moms are best friends too...tell us more about being best friends and working in the industry together?

It has been so much fun to build a business at the same time as my two very best friends, Neely and Chloe Burch. We can share ideas and resources, and we can laugh about the wins and losses that define the crazy roller coaster ride of being an entrepreneur. I feel tremendously fortunate to have this lifelong friendship, and working in the same industry together has only made it more fun.

You were listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 right after college-- that must have felt awesome! What did it mean for you and the brand when that article came out so soon after you launched?

It was totally surreal. I think much of the roller coaster of the past four years has felt that way, and I'm not sure Sarah and I have yet picked our heads up to consider any of it. In many ways, it feels like we are just getting started and have so much exciting ground to cover ahead of us.

We love seeing all of the Margaux Girls you have chosen to feature the brand. Who are some of the Margaux Girls you have featured and how did you choose them?

This series is one of my absolute favorite things we do. We've featured an extraordinary group of women from Jane Keltner de Valle from Architectural Digest to Aishwarya Iyer from Brightland olive oil - and so many in between. The series spans age, geography, and industry, but the common thread between the women is that they are all self-starters in their own way, and are women who inspire the brand we're building today.

Advice for girls who have an idea and want to see it to fruition? Where do they begin?

I think it's important to begin by identifying the problem you're trying to solve, or the key differentiation point around the business idea. This will be your north star and will inform everything from the development of product, to packaging, to brand voice, to content and everything in between. Having a north star also makes the endless (and sometimes overwhelming) barrage of decisions to be made a much easier and more focused process.

Where did your entrepreneurial spirit come from?

I think some of it was innate, and the rest was inspired by my dad. He is, along with my mom, my greatest role model and go-to confidant. He's also an entrepreneur, and from my earliest memories pushed me to think big, take risks, and pursue my passions with relentless determination, whatever they may be.

Not only is Margaux amazing for the working girl but also for the traveling girl. Which shoe would you recommend for travel?

The Demi - it is the perfect wear-everywhere travel shoe. Last summer, I walked ten miles touring a city in a single day wearing them!

What are some of your favorite brands to pair Margaux with right now?

Kule and Khaite

What is one quote that the Margaux Girl should live by?

Confidence starts from the ground up

FAVORITE PLACES

Hotel? The Connaught

Resort? La Residencia in Mallorca

Destination with significant other? Mallorca

Restaurant with significant other? Il Buco

Solo destination? Paris

Do you prefer the city or country? Country

Boutique for yourself? Our flagship on Bleecker Street and our amazing group of neighbors. I think it's the most charming block in NYC!

Home decor store? ABC Home

Jewelry store? Cartier

Skincare store? Violet Grey

TRAVEL STYLE

Uniform? Jeans, Margaux Demi ballerinas, and a black cashmere sweater

Accessories? A pendant necklace from my family

Skincare on board? Moisture! Lots of moisture. I always pack a face cream to apply when we get up in the air

Travel carry-on? L/Uniform

Luggage? T. Anthony

EN ROUTE

Favorite airline? JetBlue!

Must-have for your carry-on? Hand sanitizer, face cream, eye mask, chapstick, and a book

Favorite travel gadget? My airpods

General travel tips? I've never been much of a "outfit planner" when I pack, but I do try to choose closet staples that can be worn (and reworn) with other pieces so I can at least try to avoid over packing.

LOOKING BACK

Best travel memory? Hiking the Engadin region of the Alps with my family last summer in Switzerland

Most memorable meal? Dinner with my family on the last night of our eight day excursion through Switzerland in a tiny village that sat right on the border of Italy. We sat with the owner and had a meal that I will never forget... filled with wine (lots of wine) and laughs over the adventure that was the past week.

EVERYDAY…

Date night uniform? In the summer, a casual dress and our City Sandals, and in the winter, black jeans, a fun top, and our black suede boots.

Favorite shopping website for yourself? MatchesFashion

Morning routine? In reality, everyday is different. Some mornings I'm on the road, some I'm in NYC, and some.. are just chaos. But, when I am home, I like to get up around 6:30 to work out, walk to grab coffee afterwards and sit in quiet to look at the day ahead, set goals, and answer emails. Then I return home to shower and get ready for the office, and spend the rest of the day at our Studio on 17th Street. From there I'll meet a friend for dinner before heading home to the West Village, and then answer some more emails and climb into bed around 11.

Favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes? For breakfast, usually a smoothie or toast with coffee (lots of coffee). For lunch, usually a soup or salad. And for dinner, I love to mix it up depending on my schedule and who I'm meeting after work.

Skincare routine? Barbara Sturm foam cleanser, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum + Marula oil in the AM, and at night, Tatcha Oil Cleanser before Barbara Sturm foam cleanser, followed by Drunk Elephant TLC Serum and Marula Oil or Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream

Beauty tip? Less is always more

Favorite perfume? Currently, Un Jardin sur le Toit by Hermes

Favorite room in your house? My bedroom

Favorite piece of furniture? My bed!

Favorite piece of art? A painting given to me by my grandmother

On your playlist? Maggie Rogers and Stevie Nicks

Stationery? Crane & Co. (when it calls for something classic) - and Kule's new "OY VEY" sets when I'm having a bit more fun

Bedding? Hill House Home

On your nightstand? A silk eye mask, a glass of water, and a book

On your reading list? The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger

Recommended books? Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino

Favorite magazine? The New Yorker

Favorite app? Instagram, followed by NYT Crossword app

Favorite Instagram account? Prior - such great travel inspiration!

Best piece of advice? Fail fast! And iterate faster. If you're not failing, you're not pushing the boundaries of where you can go, or what you can do.

Favorite charity or cause? Peter's Place - a non-profit my mom was involved in founding in Philadelphia.

Analia Driscoll