Leave it to Bay Area footwear darling Freda Salvador to capture our mood and our needs for the season: The brand's new Modern Heritage Collection comes with tasseled and penny-style loafers that are perfect for post-sandal, pre-boot weather.
Plus, Pac Heights' main drag just got infinitely (French girl) cooler thanks to the new Clare V. boutique, and Harwell Godfrey's newest charity pendant supports gun safety in America.
Forget pumpkin-spice whatevers. Fall means a fresh pair of Freda Salvadors.
(Courtesy of Freda Salvador)
Yeah, yeah, we know September and October are the sweet spot of SF summer. No matter, we're still all about new fall clothes, accessories and, obviously, shoes. Perhaps, you, too, are tired of sandals (and long overdue for a pedi) but not quite ready to go full-blown combat boot. The perfect solution? Loafers. Freda Salvador has some spectacular pairs. We can't get enough of the styles that dropped as part of the new Modern Heritage collection.
Our top picks: The Priscilla loafer (those tassels!) in bone suede and the Elba penny loafer in espresso leather. The latter's notched welt and angled heel add a little edge to a preppy classic. Don't you just love when function, fashion, and fun come together? That's how these fall loafers roll…perfection when paired with denim cutoffs and slip dresses, wide-leg trousers and jeans...and pretty much everything else.
// Shop online at fredasalvador.com
Ooh la la! Clare V opens second SF boutique on Fillmore Street.
(Courtesy of Clare V)
Can't get enough of the Parisian charm that drips from Clare V's leather handbags, accessories and graphic tees? You now have another neighborhood (along with Hayes Valley) to shop: Pac Heights. The new, vibrant 700-square-foot space reflects the modern-classic-with-a-wink aesthetic of the L.A. brand with slate floors, bright red and royal blue tile counters, and gorgeous wood displays.
Although based in Southern California, founder Clare Vivier has a special love for the Bay Area, as she explains: "Having gone to college in San Francisco, I’ve always loved coming back and spending time at our store in Hayes Valley—meeting the customers, visiting some of my old haunts, and falling in love with the city all over again. It’s been exciting to see this new space come to life."
// 2050 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), clarev.com
Harwell Godfrey shines light on gun safety with newest charity pendant.
(Courtesy of Harwell Godfrey)
It's no secret we're big fans of Marin's Lauren Harwell Godfrey and her namesake jewelry brand. Sure, like the rest of the planet, we're dazzled by the pull-no-punches, colorful and creative designs starring precious gemstones, 18-karat gold, and ethically sourced diamonds. But what we love even more is her commitment to various social causes via special heart pendants to benefit choice charities. The latest beauty, launched last week, supports Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in America. Indeed, 100 percent of the proceeds of each sale of the diamond gold heart ($3,500) will go to Everytown.
Like previous pieces in the charity series—starting with the first one benefitting NAACP in 2020—the design reflects the cause itself. Here, the hand engraving around the center diamond is meant to suggest the reverberations of a gunshot.
"Gun safety is a critical issue in America and firearms are now the leading cause of death for children in this country. As a mother and an American citizen, I feel compelled to do what I can to help fight the gun lobby and be a part of this important fight, and that's why I created this special diamond pendant as the sixth initiative in my Charity Heart Series to support the work of Everytown for Gun Safety, ” says Harwell Godfrey.
// Each pendant is made to order in 10 to 12 weeks; shop online at harwellgodfrey.com.
