It was a perfect spring day in SoHo when cult-fashion favorites Margaux and Ciao Lucia decided to host an intimate luncheon at Little Prince to celebrate their latest limited-edition collaboration: the Palermo Sandal. The three founders, Lucy Akin, Alexa Buckley Roussel, and Sarah Pierson (all of whom are good friends), dreamed up the idea a year prior while catching up over their own lunch date—on that dreary winter day, they dreamed of high-temperature weather to bring back the early aughts gladiator sandal à la Kate Moss and Sienna Miller (think boho chic).
“We had a lot of early two thousand street style shots that had a very Siena Miller boho-chic vibe. Plus, Lucy has also styled many of her shoots in the past with vintage references and strappy sands like [the Palermo]. We came up with something that was a combination of cool and comfortable,” Margaux co-founder Sarah Pierson told Footwear News.
Party-goers arrived at the darling New York hotspot, open patio doors, beckoning guests inside while creating the indoor-outdoor European-esque ambiance. Inside, four long tables draped in bright cream linens with bright red and yellow details and blossoming florals by Putnam & Putnam created an airy tablescape evoking the whimsical essence of both brands. After happy greetings and several spritzes, guests took their seats to begin their 3-course meal.
Attendees included Sally Singer, Leandra Medine, Claire Stern, Chrissy Rutherford, Liana Satenstein, Lucie Franc de Ferriere, Anna Speckhart, Brianna Lance, and many more, with many of whom sporting the Palermo Sandal in each colorway.
“It’s hard to believe this all came to be over a lunch we had with Lucy now almost a year and a half ago. We were dreaming of what we could create together, as long-time fans of Ciao Lucia,” Margaux co-founder Alexa Buckley Roussel, wearing a favorite Ciao Lucia dress, told Footwear News. “For both of our brands, we just love things that flatter. Shoes can sometimes be unflattering when comfortable. The Palermo Sandal is comfortable, and it felt like a fresh take on those early two thousand Gladiator sandals,” Lucy Akin, founder of Ciao Lucia, added.
Among the attendees were Liana Satenstein, Sally Singer, Jasmine Fox-Suliaman, Leandra Medine Cohen, Savannah Engel, Chrissy Rutherford, and Jordy Murray.
