Mother Essentials: Margaret Coblentz
Written by Erin Feher
Who do we have spilling their Mother Essentials today? None other than Margaret Coblentz, the founder of the covetable cashmere company, Frances Austen. As any Frances Austen fan can attest (count us on that list!), Margaret knows a thing or two about essentials. She started her company after buying one too many expensive sweaters with a quality that didn’t stand up to the price tag. Her own line of luxury staples are timeless and made from 100% silk and cashmere. And if the thought of cashmere still seems too precious for a busy mama, just consider that one of the nursing essentials of this mother-of-two (Liam, 2 1/2, and Petra, 1 month) is a Frances Austen button-down cardigan. Originally from Chicago, Margaret and her fam are now proud San Franciscans, so it’s no surprise she’s called out a handful of her favorite small, women-owned businesses in her Mother Essentials list. See all her picks below!
Sleek Water Bottle. “I’m always fighting the good fight against dehydration armed with my S’well .” S’well Stainless Steel Water Bottle, $33.95, Amazon.
Frances Austen Cardigan. “This style is actually sneaky good for breastfeeding as well as cozy and feels good against the baby’s skin.” The Classic Cardigan, $425, Frances Austen.
Ethical Manis. “I love treating myself to a mani at the new High Five spot at Hayes and Ashbury. They give great manis, have awesome snacks, and pay their techs a living wage.” High Five, 1893 Hayes Street, San Francisco.
Belgian Cookies. “I always pair a good cup of coffee with these tasty Speculoos cookies.” Little Belgians Vanilla Speculoos, $8.49, Good Eggs.
Barely-There Sunscreen. “I am sunscreen obsessed, and the product I use every day and have for years is Tatcha Pore Perfecting SPF 35. It doesn’t feel like sunscreen and works perfectly under makeup or on its own.” Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35, $65, Sephora.
APL Kids Sneakers. “I got a pair of these for my preschooler and they are so great! Washable, easy to put on, and he loves them—which makes them worth the splurge.” Kid’s TechLoom Bliss, $99, APL.
Salt Water Candle. “When I need a zen moment I light my Salt Water candle from Parachute home.” Salt Water Scented Candle, $49, Parachute.
World’s Best Bra. “I am crazy about the Cuup balconette bra (when not breastfeeding). It’s comfortable, supportive, gives a really nice natural shape, and most importantly, stays in place.” Balconette Bra, $68, The Cuup.
The Wilderness Podcast. “I love listening to this and learning a lot about how different Americans see our current political climate and how they think about voting.” The Wilderness.
Recode Decode Podcast. “I also love Kara Swisher’s Recode Decode podcast for the smartest mix of business, culture, and politics out there from a master interviewer.” Recode, Decode.
Super Sunscreen For Kiddos. “For the kids, I really love the Super Goop mineral sunscreen.” Sunnyscreen 100% Mineral Lotion, $26, Supergoop.
Lady Falcon Coffee. “I run on LFCC. It’s always in my recurring order on Good Eggs and keeps me going.” AttaGirl Beans, $36 (2-pack), Lady Falcon Coffee Club.
The Witches Are Coming. “It’s the book I am reading right now, and I just finished another goodie: Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror.” The Witches Are Coming, by Lindy West, $13.59, Amazon; Trick Mirror, by Jia Tolentino, $24.30, Amazon.
Fresh Flowers. “After the arrival of my baby girl I had two friends send me the most beautiful blooms from Marigold, and it’s always a bonus to support a local woman-owned and run business.” 2681 21st Street, San Francisco, Marigold.
Steel Lunch Boxes. “The most used items in our kitchen are our stainless-steel eco-lunch boxes. They are perfectly sized, easy to clean, and airtight.” Solo Rectangle, $26, ECOlunchbox.
Solly Baby Wrap. “I am a Solly Baby convert and can attest that the wrap is very cleanable—it survived a major blowout and after a wash, looks pristine.” Baby Wrap, $65, Solly Baby.
The Outdoor Shower At The Assembly. “Looking for a little slice of heaven? Take a workout class at The Assembly, and then use the outdoor shower afterward.” 449 14th Street, San Francisco, The Assembly.
Gathre Changing Mat. “In an effort to minimize my diaper bag I got the Gathre changing mat. It is super small and easy to clean.” Gathre Micro+ Mat, $30, The Tot.
Acupuncture. “At-home acupuncture with Mia Weinberg of Moss Acupuncture is the best postpartum gift you could give to yourself or a friend.” 415 Spruce Street, San Francisco, Moss Acupuncture.
For more Mother Essentials, peep our past columns with designers Anna Wallack, Cynthia Rowley, Rebecca Atwood, Dana Haim, Rachel Zoe, and Taylor Jay, Olympian Alysia Montano, Wiley Body founder Vanessa Wade, Partake founder Denise Woodard, model and muse Slick Woods, children’s author Serena Minott, clean living expert Kristian Henderson, June & January founder Amy Richardson-Golia, Bubbsi founder Sweta Doshi, Oakland retail queen Sherri McMullen, Shahidah Zareef of Bossmom Nation, Joanne Encarnacion, LaTonya Yvette, Morgan Walker of Make.do, Iguehi James, and more!
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