Bold colors and stylish shoes, such as these from Sophique, are some of the season’s top picks.
Sacrificing style for comfort—or vice versa—can sometimes feel like an unavoidable side effect of the perfect outfit. Jennifer Rego founded Market, based in Oakland, nearly four years ago with the goal of offering women clothing options that uplift their wardrobes while still being accessible for day-to-day activities. Post-pandemic, her vision has come more fully to fruition. “Now it’s this idea of, okay, I have to go into the office four days a week. I’m traveling again,” she says. “It’s almost like rethinking clothes. These do represent who I am. When I put something nice on, I do stand a little bit taller.”
In San Ramon, M by Maggie’s Maggie Rizer also sees interest in pairing wearability with self-expression. “I think the typical woman, especially around here, who shops at our store, is looking for comfort and fashion blended together,” she says. “Sometimes you can look at things as a piece of art and find it beautiful, but maybe it’s not something you would necessarily wear.”
Rizer recommends bridging the gap by adding one statement piece to an outfit, among other more casual touches, and incorporating versatile items such as a Lingua Franca cashmere set that can be dressed up or down with varied footwear. Both Rego and Rizer note that denim remains a perpetual crowd-pleaser—and that they have seen tastes in apparel trend lately toward fun, bold colors. For accessories, M by Maggie customers are choosing larger purses and statement jewelry, and high-style kicks are top items across the East Bay. “We have a lot of great loafers in the store from Sophique that are very popular,” adds Rizer. “They come in quilted leather or suede. You can wear them with jeans and a black T-shirt, and it still feels like you’ve taken the opportunity to dive into fashion without trying too hard.”
Overall, Rego emphasizes the importance of purchasing sustainably—avoiding fast fashion in favor of quality pieces for one’s wardrobe, when possible—and looking for items that express one’s individual style. “If you see a beautiful dress and you’re like, ‘I don’t have a place to wear it,’ I think you just buy it; the place and [opportunity] will come,” she says. “Think about how else you can wear it—can you put a blazer over it? Can you put some boots with it? Can you dress it down with some tennis shoes? Can you wear it with a denim jacket? These pieces are workhorses to you because you feel good in them, and you’re going to want to reach for them.”