34 minute read
fashion
Shop and Stroll
Every day is a good day to #ShopSanAnselmo.
By Sydney Segal
Madge & Me black Milan wheat straw top hat
THE SAN ANSELMO AVENUE
merchant community is unique, exuding neighborly love through the good times and bad. And this fall is definitely going to be a good time for the area because all of the fashion boutiques will roll out their latest offerings and creations. Every Friday and Saturday evening until the end of the month the main corridor will host a concert series with “On the Avenue” pedestrian-only access. Go with friends and support your local businesses! Nothing’s better than a full heart and a full shopping bag, especially when you know you are keeping it local.
Belinda Wickwire Jewelry
Jewels and parties and discounts, oh my. We love Belinda Wickwire year-round — she gives new sparkle to antique heirlooms. However, we’re getting extra excited for September 18 when, from noon to 7 p.m., BWJ will be celebrating one year on the Avenue. Check out her super stackable band rings and other one-ofa-kind pieces before they sell out. www.belindawickwirejewelry.com, 526 San Anselmo Avenue
Blanc
Between the warm staff and cuttingedge women’s fashion items, sourced from California to Europe to Japan, Blanc makes it hard to leave without adding something (or 10 things) to your wish list. Whether you’re looking for a new bag, hat, dress, jacket, jeans, shoes or shapewear, Blanc has it all. www.blancboutique.com, 514 San Anselmo Avenue
Colláge
Calling all boss ladies! With unique and high-quality clothing from across the European continent, Colláge has what you need to update your sophisticated, casual wardrobe. You can never have too many neutral colors or pieces of statement jewelry, after all, especially
not when longtime personal stylist Ottilia Treadwell says so. www.collageboutique.weebly.com, 380 San Anselmo Avenue
Fig Garden
While it’s primarily a gift shop with curios and cards for every occasion, Fig Garden’s collection of women’s clothing is just as diverse and thoughtful — from handbags to shoes, and brands like Smateria and The Landmark Project. When you visit the Avenue this fall, be sure to stop into this centrally located and lively store. www. lesley-madison.squarespace.com, 421 San Anselmo Avenue
Kismet
Fall is here, and Kismet is ready to rumble — with exciting new lines from Nation and Ulla Johnson and fully shoppable web and Instagram pages. Or, better yet, visit the boutique in person for the team’s superior styling advice. Don’t be surprised if you come home with one of everything, dressy and casual; you can’t argue with fate. www.shopkismet.net, 601 San Anselmo Avenue
Lea Couture
Lea Ditson has been designing women’s clothing for more than 20 years — and the brand is stocked at upscale retailers, like Bergdorf Goodman, nationwide. Using colorful silks, laces and other fabrics from around the world, Ditson is unmatched in her ability to reveal each client’s unique feminine beauty in her wardrobe. www.leacouture.com, 237 San Anselmo Avenue
Longway
Shopping just got more addictive for all ages and genders. This flagship store is not only home to the Longway clothing brand and other makers who believe in slow, ethical and sustainable production; it’s a cozy coffee shop as well. Grab a bite, add a new basic to your closet
Kismet boutique
and keep an eye out for the brand’s first-ever men’s line coming soon. www.longwaycalifornia.com, 641 San Anselmo Avenue
Madge & Me Hats
Named after her beloved furry sidekick Madge, Laurie Berliner’s shop offers service that is as dependable and adventurous as human’s best friend. One of her hats, a wide-brim wheatstraw boater, will even be featured at Palma de Mallorca Hat Week this month. www.madgeandme.com, 506 San Anselmo Avenue
Mar-Chet Jewelers
What would a full-service jewelry shop be without a resident jewel dog? At Mar-Chet Jewelers, you’ll never have to find out. Beyond the resident furry friend, Mar-Chet has a beautiful selection of classic pieces and prides itself on its custom and bridal work. With 17 years on the Avenue, they certainly know what they’re doing. www. mar-chet-jewelers.gaaq.net, 326 San Anselmo Avenue
Reflections Fine Jewelry
No one knows gemstones or San Anselmo Avenue like the Randall family, who having entered the turquoise business in 1973 and then opened a colorful Marin shop in 1987. Each piece, from sterling silver to 22-karat gold, is designed in-store and created locally. No matter the piece, Reflections will undoubtedly have it, make it or repair it. www.reflections-fine-jewelry.com, 425 San Anselmo Avenue
Sage & Stone Wellness Collective & Shop
What at first may seem like an ordinary gift shop is actually full of magic and mindfulness. With tarot readings, meditation classes, events and pop-ups from local artisans, Sage & Stone offers everything wonderful you didn’t know you needed — not to mention the stylish, feel-good women’s clothing and handbags it also carries. www.sageandstonemarin.com, 570 San Anselmo Avenue
San Anselmo Optix
With service by appointment only, San Anselmo Optix personalizes every part of the eye care and eyewear processes so that you find the perfect lenses, contacts and frames. The familyowned-and-operated office even launched a luxury glasses line exclusive
to Marin recently, adding to their vast collection of global brands. www. saoptix.com, 611 San Anselmo Avenue
Sax Consignment
Owned by two sisters who grew up in town and revamped a 30-plus-year-old store they loved as teens, Sax Consignment radiates San Anselmo spirit through and through. Always rotating its inventory to stay in touch with the latest looks, Sax is ready for fall with everything from top-of-the-line bags to everyday essentials. www.sax.business.site, 629 San Anselmo Avenue
SeeSaw Children’s Consignment Shop
With Halloween around the corner, look no further than SeeSaw Children’s Consignment Shop for your kids’ costume inspiration. Fall and winter consignments start this month, ensuring that you will find everything you need for a back-to-school wardrobe and more — from play clothes to sleepwear to upcycled toys. www.seesaw4kids.com, 722 San Anselmo Avenue
Toss Designs
Now that fall is here, so is Toss Designs’ newest collection, complete with goods for women and the home that will add color to your life. With gorgeous sweaters and wraps, decorative trays to hang on the wall and distinctive handbags, Toss makes gift-giving easy and fun. www.tossdesigns.com, 343 San Anselmo Avenue
Wink Optics San Anselmo
With 30 years of optical experience between owner Frank and optician Jenny, the pride and care that goes into fitting each customer with the perfect pair of glasses is clear to see. Most products are handcrafted by artisans in Japan, Italy, France and the U.S. — like the designer brand Jacques Marie Mage, which specializes in micro-production. www.sunglasscity. com, 623 San Anselmo Avenue
PRETTY LITTLE THINGS
FROM TALISMAN STACKING RINGS TO TOTEM PENDANTS CRAFTED WITH SACRED SHAPES AND INLAID WITH PRECIOUS GEMS, EACH SCENE-STEALING PIECE BY FINE JEWELRY DESIGNER LAUREN HARWELL GODFREY IS RICH WITH MEANING.
Lauren Harwell Godfrey
“I’m kind of a stone hoarder,
so if I see something I like, even if I don’t have a plan for it, I will buy it and hold it until I find something to do with it. The stone often inspires the work,” says Lauren Harwell Godfrey, the art-director-turned-designer behind her self-titled fine jewelry line, Harwell Godfrey. After debuting at Paris Fashion Week in 2017, just four short years and several collections later, Harwell Godfrey’s exquisite creations have been touted as “heirlooms in the making” by the likes of Vogue.
Channeling an inherent eye for design into a successful ad agency career that spanned more than 15 years, she swapped creating campaigns for culinary school, followed by an externship at SPQR and stage at fabled Bar Tartine. After she did not quite find her voice in the food world, crafting sculptural fashion pieces for friends from leather and crystal later served as the creative outlet that charted Harwell Godfrey’s course as a jewelry designer. “The idea of making jewelry engaged me, but fine jewelry especially appealed because of the beautiful materials you get to use. So, I reached out to an old friend, Randi Molofsky (co-founder of brand development agency For Future Reference), who took me under her wing. And the rest is history,” she says.
Lauded for maximalist style and bold color language, sacred geometry and African textile patterns are Harwell Godfrey signatures. Anchored by totem pendants and eye-catching earrings inlaid with emeralds and black onyx and studded with diamonds, the Cleopatra’s Vault collection is an elegant nod to the queen of ancient Egypt. Perhaps the ultimate symbol of feminine empowerment, crescent moon medallions delicately finished with mother-of-pearl and turquoise, among other gems, from the Valley of the Moon collection were inspired by the birth of Harwell Godfrey’s son and subsequent November 2016 supermoon.
“For me, fine jewelry has a specific point of view that’s a little more effeminate and lovely. I think my work can reflect that, but it’s definitely got a bit more of an edge to it.” As a woman of color, Harwell Godfrey also notes that while her designs often draw influence from the African diaspora, she always puts her own interpretation on mystical motifs she finds empowering. “At the start, I looked around to see what was going on. What was being designed and what didn’t exist yet. I become my own muse sometimes, too, and design things I would want, and then I find that other people come to want them as well,” she says.
Working with small gem dealers who ethically source stones from around the world, lately Harwell Godfrey has been favoring tanzanite (only found in northern Tanzania) along with diamonds from ethical mines in Botswana and Muzo emeralds from a sustainable mine in Colombia. “I spend a lot of time at the Tucson gem fair and like looking for stones there and talking to people. It’s interesting and part of what I love about this world — the constant learning,” she shares.
Harwell Godfrey’s first diamond-only collection, Stardust, launched in April as an homage to the “night sky and roaring ’20s”, but when pressed on her current go-to, she says the Charity Heart pendants have been on heavy rotation.
“This collection is a favorite right now because it’s doing something good, and they are all just so pretty,” she says of the four heart-shaped talismans that come in rainbow gemstone, black onyx, malachite and chalcedony (and sales of which have raised more than $174,000 combined for the Human Rights Campaign, NAACP, World Central Kitchen and Futures Without Violence). Another fan? Vice President Kamala Harris, who wore the black onyx heart to the D.C. Pride parade in June.
With ideas and designs constantly in the works, Harwell Godfrey says her latest and greatest include two capsules that debuted at the COUTURE fine jewelry trade show in August. A “very HG” maximalist collection of rings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces and earrings featuring beadwork and faceted stones alongside a gender-neutral collection in 22-karat gold with no gemstones and a more minimalist aesthetic.
Also new is the Harwell Godfrey atelier, which opens this month in Corte Madera. Primarily serving as a workspace, it will also be open to clientele by appointment. She tapped Bay Area designer Noz Nazawa and artist Caroline Lizarraga, celebrated for creating eclectic interiors and custom wall treatments, to conceptualize and craft this dazzling new “Harwell Godfrey universe” where special events and trunk shows will be the hottest ticket in town.
The Harwell Godfrey Atelier is coming to 211 Corte Madera Avenue, Corte Madera.
FashionForward
“WE SOMETIMES JOKE it’s as if Lululemon and Theory had a baby,” says Nancy Taylor, co-founder, along with Hannah Franco, of the Larkspur-based womenswear brand époque évolution (www.epoqueevolution.com). As many people begin to return to office settings after many months at home, there is a desire to put the joggers away and wear something a little more sophisticated, while not entirely losing the comfort of couch days gone by. “You don’t need a separate wardrobe for everything,” muses Taylor. “You can have a wardrobe that transitions from working out to the office and then dinner. You should be able to go to work and get up from your desk to do a yoga stretch, or wear our pants on a red-eye flight and go straight to a meeting and still look great.”
The inspiration for époque évolution hit longtime friends Franco and Taylor, who met when they were co-workers at Athleta, when Franco showed up on a Moroccan vacation with nothing more than a backpack. “She managed to ride camels through the desert and go out for dinner while always looking chic,” marvels Taylor. They got to thinking, “Life is too crazy; we can at least simplify our wardrobes.” They also had a passion to make fashion more responsible — both for the environment and for the people making the clothes. To that end, when shopping the site, the consumer is rewarded with an education; each article of clothing includes a description about the material and where it’s produced. And for the curious among
but about the lives it can improve along the way.
By Laura Schooling to their work by making fashion not only about what you wear
Two Marin fashion brands are bringing strong feel-good vibes Future
us, the site goes on to give an even deeper level of knowledge about the fabrics — some of which are upcycled. Nothing requires dry cleaning and everything is designed to last. “There’s not a single factory we work with that we haven’t been in, seen the conditions, met the people,” Taylor says. Many of the high-quality items are produced in Portugal, but some are produced in San Francisco at the D.A.D. Sewing House, a nonprofit that transitions people with employment barriers like homelessness, incarceration and mental health issues into apparel manufacturing.
Don’t be fooled into thinking eco-fashion wardrobe essentials equals boring. The brand is true to its name; it is au courant (époque means “a moment in time”), but it’s also timeless. It offers an edited collection of staples that will last a decade in your closet — organic cotton button-down shirts, machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant pants, just-right leggings, a wrap dress — plus a few more trendy items that may creep in and out of rotation.
The clothes are shot on dancers to highlight their quality of movement, but even if you’re not crop-top ready, there is something for most people (sizes range from XS to XL).
Another Marin-based fashion brand looking to amp up the social — and style — quotient is the Tiburon-based YEMA (www.yemacalif.com), whose tagline is “good joyful human.” This is a gentle reminder to themselves and their community to follow humanity’s kinder instincts and to “spread love,” says co-founder Hawi Awash.
A vibrant, sporty, casual brand for women, men and children that riffs off traditional Ethiopian design motifs may not sound like an obvious fit for Tiburon’s Main Street. And that’s exactly the point.
“When we first opened the shop, a woman in her 90s came in and told me that when she walks around town, all she sees is white, black and gray. But when she came into our store it was full of color and life,” says Awash. Celebrating life is at the core of the brand, which she says is as much about fashion as it is about art. People have such big reactions to the clothing — coming up and touching the fabric, starting a conversation — that the brand proclaims on its website: “If you love style, comfort and compliments — then welcome home.” It’s easy to imagine standing out in the crowd while sporting a fishtail parka, graphics printed down the back, or a bright-orange split-leg track suit. YEMA previews its collections at an annual fashion show in Nairobi, with products rolling out in four seasonal refreshes. Online orders pour in from all over, but the YEMA team is most passionate about strengthening connections in the community and demonstrating diversity and equity close to home.
YEMA was co-founded by husband-and-wife team Yema Khalif and Hawi Awash, who met while studying at San Rafael’s Dominican University. Though both were interested in fashion from an early age (Awash started modeling in her teens and Khalif has long pursued acting), they were on very different paths. Khalif had a master’s degree in business and Khalif was premed.
“We are social entrepreneurs,” Awash says. “Education gave us so much and we wanted to give back.” Awash left Ethiopia as a young child and Khalif left Kenya to come to the U.S. for college. And it was the idea to create a scholarship to educate children in Ethiopia and Kenya that sparked their fashion endeavor. Families are able to apply online, and applicants are vetted by Khalif and Awash as well as by local partners in Africa. Students who are accepted have their tuition, clothing and meals paid for with funds sent directly to the schools. Twenty percent of all proceeds from YEMA go to fund the scholarships and the brand’s fans donate additional dollars on the website. What new fashion purchase could make you feel better than that?
BORN
toDRIVE
Marin’s car club community is a tight-knit group of enthusiasts, and when it comes to their autos, a deep-rooted sense of pride is a given. Meet four Marin residents whose love of vintage vehicles spans the decades.
By Casey Gillespie // Photographed by Jay Watson // Shot on location at CB Skyshare
CB Skyshare, 351 Airport Road, Novato, www.cbskyshare.com
Lewis Specker
1953 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe
City: Greenbrae
What did you do before
you retired? I was a dentist, researcher and international lecturer.
How long have you had the car?
My father purchased the car new in Philadelphia in 1953. Fun facts? However, he didn’t maintain the car, so I did the restoration in 1968 — body, paint, electrical, wood refinishing and mechanicals. The car has been in many 1,000-mile rallies since 1995, especially the California Mille.
Are there other cars in your
collection? Yes, a 1966 Jaguar E-Type open two-seater (I’ve had it since 1980, and it is one of nine cars built for the 1967 Geneva Auto Show) and a 1968 MGB-GT. I’m the original owner.
Any advice for someone who wants to buy a vintage car or
start collecting? Know the true value and potential appreciation, and then add the cost of a new engine to determine if this is what you really want.
What is it about your cars that brings you the most joy?
Knowing everything about how the car works. Any can’t-miss car events? The only get-together I look forward to is Biscotti and Cars, which takes place the first Saturday of every month at Poggio’s in Sausalito. It’s a great group of gearheads.
If you could have any car that
you want what would it be? I had my dream car — a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB — for many years and I sold it.
Susan Royce
1955 Ford Thunderbird
City: Novato
What do you do for a living?
After working for two major financial printing firms in San Francisco for more than 15 years, I decided to start my own business, Royce Printing, in 1997. Still going strong, we primarily serve the public finance industry by electronically posting and printing municipal bond issues.
Tell us something interesting
about yourself. In 1975, I got my pilot’s license. The next year, my mother — who started flying airplanes in the mid-1960s — and I competed in the last Powder Puff Derby, an all-women air race, from Sacramento to Wilmington, Delaware. In 1978, we competed in the Angel Derby, another all-women’s air race, from Dallas to Freeport, Bahamas. I currently own and fly a Cherokee 180.
Any curious facts about the
car? The car was stolen back in the late 1950s and recovered in Nevada. When located, the police department wrapped a chain around the back bumper and towed it back to the station. The scratches on the back bumper are still there.
Do you have any advice for someone who is considering
buying a vintage car? Be prepared to spend lots of money on repairs and have a backup vehicle if you really need to get somewhere.
What do you love most about
your car? Hearing the V-8 engine fire up, the dual exhaust and just driving her. Dream ride? 1955 MercedesBenz 300 SL Gullwing in silver.
Dan Macdonald
1957 Porsche 356 Speedster
City: Novato
What do you do? Architect
How long have you had the
car? I’ve owned this car for three years. Although I have a 1959 Porsche 356A coupe that I have had for 48 years, and a 1965 Porsche 356C coupe.
Any fun stories about the
car? This Speedster was turned into a race car around 1966 by Peter Buschbaum. He enlisted the help of a well-known Bay Area Porsche shop, Lukes and Shorman, to build the car. Peter raced all over California and in 1967 he won the SCCA Regional Championship in E production. He then sold the car to Robert Herman, who raced the car throughout 1968. With this Speedster, Herman and a fellow driver, Harry Shorman, won the very first event ever held at Sears Point Raceway in 1968.
Any advice for a budding
collector? Buy the car of your dreams, and get the best one you can afford.
What do you enjoy most
about your car? Driving it. I love the early Porsche engineering: air-cooled engine, unibody construction, torsion bar suspension, low center of gravity. It’s made for going around corners. Any can’t-miss car events? We always attend North Meets South. The old Porsches gather in San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Paso Robles or Morro Bay once a year. The cars from Southern California meet up with the cars from Northern California for a few days of camaraderie, a Concours d’Elegance, fun drives, and good food and drink.
Lisa
1973 BMW 2002
City: Novato
Day job? Car enthusiast
Fun piece of trivia about you?
I was on Jay Leno’s Garage with my 1967 BMW 1600 in 2017.
What drew you to this car
initially? I love the design of these cars. They are simplistic, yet intrinsically engineered. The design of the car is timeless and the driveability is a thrill!
Tell us more about your car.
The name of this car is “Tesoro,” which is a term of endearment meaning “treasure” in Italian. This particular build has a dozen or more treasures, such as the Hirschmann Red Tip Antenna; the original BMW Recaros, which have been refurbished in Ferrari leather and Porsche Alcantara suede; custom BBS wheels; original Euro dash. It was featured on Petrolicious, where I am driving through the backroads of Marin. It has won multiple first place awards at the Legends of the Autobahn during Monterey Car Week. Tesoro was also one of the exhibits at the BMW Museum in Spartanburg, South Carolina, as a BMW ICON vehicle.
Do you own any other vintage
automobiles? A 1965 BMW R60/2 motorcycle with sidecar and a 1967 BMW 1600. Annual auto events? There is the Bay Area 2002 car show every year in Brisbane where 2002s from all over the states gather. I also love the Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance. Others include Monterey Car Week, Carmel Concours on the Avenue, Legends of the Autobahn and the Pebble Beach Concours.
Luxury of Beauty
Marin Living magazine is honoring the Bay Area’s top purveyors of beauty. These people and businesses exemplify beauty through their treatments, products, home design solutions, fashion and jewelry. Meet the industry leaders.
the luxury of beauty
Chris Bacchi, M.D.
A welcoming, yet results-oriented mindset sets Marin Medical Aesthetics apart.
Why is it important to feel beautiful?
Now, more than ever, we have all really become aware of the importance of self-care. Communicating over a screen has brought a heightened sense of attention to our appearance. Marin Medical Aesthetics offers a wide range of cutting-edge solutions tailored to achieve your pre-juvenation, corrective and maintenance aesthetic goals. It is a place where you can relax and allow yourself to be cared for.
What separates your business from the pack?
Amazing customer service with us means that you will have the inimitable patient experience. Clinicians deliver “wow” results utilizing combinations and layering of treatments with the industries’ leading innovative technology for both body contouring and skin care. Today’s technology allows us to literally turn back the clock on aging, delivering not only a more youthful appearance, but also healthier skin.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of your business?
My family and I have been volunteers for Guide Dogs for the Blind of San Rafael more than 10 years. We have welcomed and loved two guide dog breeders. We have raised three litters of puppies, and one of our dogs has sired more than 120 pups.
Marin Medical Aesthetics | 807 D Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 415.785.460 marinmedicaloffice@gmail.com | www.marinmedicalaesthetics.com | @marinmedical.aesthetics
the luxury of beauty
Dr. Faye Jamali
As we open back up, Belle Marin Aesthetic Medicine wants you to feel confident and refreshed.
Why is it important to feel beautiful?
When your self-confidence is increased, your mood lifts and your energy levels improve. Feeling good about yourself has the power to boost your overall health and wellness, and create a generally positive outlook. Psychologists have found an intrinsic link between subjective well-being, health and beauty. Therefore, people should view their personal care less as a guilty pleasure and more as an aspect of a healthy lifestyle.
Now that people are starting to go out again, how are you helping them feel better?
As restrictions have lifted, we have seen a major influx in new and returning patients that want to feel refreshed and resume their self-care. Whether it be with Botox, fillers, BBL Hero, CoolSculpting Elite or facials, we have everything our patients need to give them that “10,000-mile tune-up” they are seeking.
What separates you or your business from the pack?
At Belle Marin we provide very personalized treatment to every one of our patients. We offer complimentary consultations and are not pushy when it comes to suggesting treatments. I perform all medical injections, lasers and microneedling myself.
Belle Marin Aesthetic Medicine 250 E. Blithedale Avenue, Suite B Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.481.3010 | hello@bellemarin.com www.bellemarin.com | @bellemarinca /bellemarinaestheticmedicine
the luxury of beauty
Karron Power, M.D., MPH, ABAARM
PowerMD can help you achieve the look that better aligns with how you perceive yourself.
Why is it important to feel beautiful or surround yourself with beauty?
Beauty is more than just superficial, on the contrary, it is a key part of our lives and transcends the way we interact with ourselves and even one another. That’s why we believe it’s important to both look and feel your best to better engage with the world around you.
How are you helping clients feel refreshed and energized about themselves?
We noticed our clients were spending more time in front of their cameras, mirrors or in Zoom meetings. Subsequently, people became more aware of their physical appearance during this time. Often, our patients found that the physical image they were presented with was not in alignment with their perceived mental image of themselves. We were able to help our client’s come closer to achieving their beauty goals and desired physical appearance through our services.
What separates you or your business from the pack?
Beauty without wellness is only half of the equation to looking and feeling your best. PowerMD stresses the importance of an inside-out approach. We believe that form needs to meet function in order to produce the best results.
PowerMD | frontdesk@powermd.com 415.785.7995 | www.powermd.com | @power__md
the luxury of beauty
Michael Rex
Michael Rex Architects wants to bring architectural beauty and joy into your life.
Why is it important to create beauty?
When people ask what we do, I tell them as architects, we design beauty and create joy. It really says it all. When you find yourself in a beautiful environment, particularly a space that is meaningful to you personally, you feel content and happy. Beauty is often underrated, considered by some to be frivolous or a luxury. But beauty is essential for the soul, and fundamental to our sense of well-being.
How do you bring beauty into clients’ lives?
We do it by designing architecture that has timeless integrity and good proportions; that honors the site and expresses its virtues; that combines spacious with cozy; that is kept simple, but warm; that is filled with light; and that opens out to beautiful gardens, vistas and captures all one’s senses. How can that not be beautiful?
What separates you or your business from the pack?
With more than 35 years of experience and a staff who has been working together for an average of 17 years, we have the experience and skill to plan a project well, so it goes smoothly. We are known to be a strong advocate for our clients, providing the necessary leadership to guide them through the complex planning process.
Michael Rex Architects, Ltd. | 1750 Bridgeway, Suite B211, Sausalito, CA 94965 415.331.1400 | rex@michaelrexarchitects.com | www.michaelrexarchitects.com
the luxury of beauty
Susan Van Liere
This Compass Realtor enhances the beauty of her listings and sales to maximize results.
How has the pandemic changed people’s attitudes toward beauty in the spaces they occupy?
In the last year and a half our homes became the centers of our universe. Quite often, however, homes became cluttered, cramped, and overrun with adults and children. As a result, people began rethinking their living situations and looking to find more beauty, tranquility and space indoors and out. This is one of the reasons our real estate market has been so robust in the last 15 months.
What makes you a leader in your field in beautifying a home to prepare it for the market?
A big part of my job is to make sure my sellers’ homes showcase the beauty and versatility of their indoor and outdoor spaces. I have years of experience helping clients add, literally, hundreds of thousands of dollars to their homes’ worth at a fraction of that cost. I can also help buyers make updates that will enhance the value (and beauty) of their new home purchases.
How do you help your clients see the results of your work to enhance the beauty and value of their homes?
When our prep work is completed, I implement a comprehensive and visually beautiful marketing program, at my expense, with professional photos, videos, plus online and printed materials to maximize buyer interest.
Susan Van Liere, Realtor Compass 490 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939 415.302.7173 susan@susanvl.com; www.susanvl.com @svanliere; /susanvanliererealtor DRE #01323865
the luxury of beauty
Stacey Templeton Kaplan
Bella in Marin will help you find the perfect clothing, accessories and gifts.
What makes you a leader in beautifying people?
At Bella we believe that every customer should have an inviting and personal experience when they shop at any of our three store locations. We love to make people feel special and help them find clothing, accessories and gifts that they can’t live without.
How are you staying ahead of the competition?
At Bella you will experience exceptional service, in a fun and beautiful environment with well-priced, quality items at your fingertips.
What separates you or your business from the pack?
Bella has grown to three store locations around Marin. Our goal is to expand even more in the next few years, bringing the Bella experience to many around the bay.
Bella in Marin | Three Locations: Pacheco Plaza in Novato, Red Hill Shopping Mall in San Anselmo, and Strawberry Village in Mill Valley www.bellamarin.com | @bellaboutiquemarin | #bellaboutiquemarin
Steven J. Magner
Marin County Photo will capture the beauty of your space in an unforgettable way.
Why is it important to create beauty in a home or project?
Creating beauty in a home or project is essential in this industry because you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Accurately capturing and, if need be, enhancing the beauty in a space is the difference between leaving someone in awe of your project for months or it slipping entirely out of their train of thought.
What makes you a leader in capturing beauty?
As a California-based photographer and filmmaker with an extensive background in real estate and design, I believe I have a unique perspective on the industry and this aides in the process of accurately capturing the beauty held in the places where we live and work.
Marin County Photo | steven@marincountyphoto.com www.marincountyphoto.com | @marincountyphoto
the luxury of beauty
Kim Manley
KM Herbals Skincare harvests its own plants to produce naturally nourishing beauty products.
How has the pandemic changed people’s attitudes towards personal beauty?
Our experience with customers, friends and family is that simplicity and nourishing products are at the forefront of their daily needs. A focus on clean ingredients that promote balance, while allowing the skin to breathe and letting hair grow naturally, have changed people’s personal care regimens.
What do you want people to know about your business?
At the heart of our company is a dedication to honoring the timeless wisdom of plants. We grow and harvest herbs from our 200-acre permaculture garden in Dillon Beach that forms the foundation of our botanical formulas. All of our products are handmade fresh to order, from farm to doorstep.
KM Herbals Skincare | 707.878.2980 | shop@kmherbals.com www.kmherbals.com | @kmherbals
Kiana Melendez
Papaia will help you feel confident in your body and ready to take on the world.
What are you doing in business that nobody else is?
Papaia is the first store of its kind. We focus on destigmatizing women’s health and providing an empowering and positive environment for purchasing quality eco-friendly, nontoxic products for all your down there care, skin care and self-care.
What new products do you offer?
We offer a variety of products but some of our offerings include leak-proof underwear, natural PMS relief, masks for your face, butt and vagina, self-care journals, empowering candles and so much more
Papaia | 111 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA 94925 415.466.3637 | shop@papaia.co | www.papaia.co | @papaia.co
the luxury of beauty
Bonnie Powers and Jeffrey Levin
Poet and/the Bench provides customers with a happy and comfortable experience.
Why is it important to feel beautiful or surround yourself with beauty?
Our approach to beauty starts with “atmosphere.” In our framework, atmosphere is all about sinking in. Sinking in to the moments inbetween. It’s about giving ourselves time to be idle and awake to what’s around us. It’s that delicious ability to recognize the space of just being.
What are you doing in business that nobody else is?
Our role at Poet and/the Bench is to ensure the atmosphere you create starts with “healthy” ingredients — selecting designers and artists founded in generous values and narratives that enhance our daily lives.
Poet and/the Bench | 11 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.569.4383 | hello@poetandthebench.com www.poetandthebench.com | @poetandthebench
Allison Tryk
Floramye welcomes all to come in and explore the store or attend an event.
Why is it important to surround yourself with beauty?
We need art and beauty in order to live a creative and stimulating life. We wanted to create a beautiful and inviting shop environment where everyone feels safe, welcome and cared for. People have been treating themselves to our vintage jewelry, which they should. One-of-a-kind conflictfree jewelry can deliver daily self-expression and joy.
What are you doing to stay connected with the community?
We have beloved customers who visit regularly We also host community events. Whether created for families or for a little adult time, we offer something for everyone. Collaboration is always the most fun, and we have a great group of favorite local companies we work with. Email or see Instagram for updates.
Floramye | 270 Magnolia Avenue, Larskpur, CA 94939 800.484.0124 | www.floramye.com | @floramyeCBD
the luxury of beauty
Belinda Wickwire
Belinda Wickwire Jewelry wants to help you celebrate the beauty in life.
Why is it important to feel beautiful or surround yourself with beauty?
There is something magical that happens when I watch a customer put on a piece of jewelry that makes them immediately smile. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that I brought a little beauty into their day.
How has the pandemic changed people’s attitudes towards personal beauty or beauty in the spaces they occupy?
Surrounding ourselves with beauty has helped ease the mental weight of the pandemic.
How are you disrupting your industry?
Staying active on Instagram has put my little storefront on the map and made it a travel destination for many of my followers.
Belinda Wickwire Jewelry | 526 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, CA 94960 | 415.785.7519 | info@belindawickwirejewelry.com www.instagram.com/belindawickwirejewelry
Bay Area Design
In the October issue Marin Living will honor the Bay Area’s top designers, architects, art galleries and home goods providers. This advertorial feature will provide readers with an inside look at design industry leaders, and it’s the perfect place for Bay Area designers of all types to showcase what sets them apart in the industry. We will spotlight their unique talents, projects and merchandise. Our readers are design consumers and this is the perfect place to reach them. Your exposure will be enhanced with a sponsored article on our website, a newsletter promotion and social media posts.
For more information contact Jessica Cline, 707.302.0850
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www.marinlivingmagazine.com
going places.
The Walls Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington
Autumn Awaits
One-of-a-kind Wine Country adventures, a Walla Walla getaway not to be missed, and a new takeout recycling program sweeping Mill Valley and beyond.
Creating and defining your identity is our passion.
What your business needs is an aggressive marketing plan to separate you from the competition. Now is the time to put your plan in place. We can help. Communicating and delivering your strategic message is the difference between winking in the dark and actively wooing customers to your business. Let us develop a full creative and marketing strategy for your business. About Us We are a group of talented creative and marketing professionals who have turned decades of experience into a new Marin County media company. five19 | publishing includes Marin Living magazine and five19 | brandstudio. Contact Jessica Cline at 707.302.0850 or jessica@marinlivingmagazine.comto get started.
