Birdies's Bianca Gates and Marisa Sharkey's Must Haves

Published on 10/13/2023 at 6:25 PM

Bianca Gates and Marisa Sharkey started Birdies because of their love of hosting and entertaining in their homes, realizing they never had the ideal footwear for this situation. "There was this big white space in the entertaining space, of the home living room, bedroom, kitchen, where there was nothing that we could put on our feet to really feel like we're dressed up around people but also comfortable enough in our home," Gates says. This idea sparked in her mind after watching Mr. Rogers take off his outdoor loafers and put on his indoor loafers, noting that women need something like that, too.

"We took the best components of a sneaker that you can bounce around to take care of people around your house, the best components of a slipper, that soft and satiny feeling on your feet, and the best components of a classic loafer that women love that would go with everything. And we combined the three things, and voila, we created the first-ever social slipper," Gates says, noting that trends are leaning toward an era of maximalist comfort. As the brand grew in popularity, so did the demand for a more durable and outdoor-friendly shoe. Gates and Sharkey updated their indoor social shoe with a thicker sole that can handle the streets, cementing the brand as the stylish, cushioned everyday shoe made for the person doing it all. "A great pair of shoes definitely helps you fly through your day with ease. You can get so much done when you have this great pair of shoes that's doing everything for you," Sharkey says.

Beyond creating a celeb-loved shoe brand, we had to ask them about their top entertaining and dinner-party tips. "We love making people feel welcome and loved through food, ambience, music, and home decor," Gates says. The founders are all about outsourcing when needed; in fact, both Gates and Sharkey prefer not to cook themselves. "The food is important, but it doesn't need to be perfectly hot at the exact second, and you don't need to be stressing about all the food details . . . I've just kind of taken the pressure off the food a little bit through outsourcing and realizing that's not really what people remember when they leave. It's all about the conversation and how people spend their time together," Sharkey says.

Gates recommends setting the table with beautiful platters, adding a few vases of florals, and using candles as table decor with dimmed lighting so the table glows. She also recommends having a great playlist to really set the vibe. "I love my Frank Sinatra playlist. It just feels like regal and fun and jazzy and beautiful," she says. Gates also points out that the host always leads the vibe of the night, so presenting yourself appropriately is a must. "If I'm wearing beautiful, comfortable flats and a great little outfit, people are like, oh, we're going to be relaxing. It is going to be a chill vibe tonight and a good one; if I'm clacking around in heels, it feels more stiff and uncomfortable, so what you wear matters."

Besides giving us an inside look at Birdies and hosting tips, Gates and Sharkey share their current favorite products ahead.

"The most affordable must have is just hydrating drinking water; your makeup goes on better, your skin looks better, you feel better, you rest better, you perform better, you have more energy," Gates says, noting it doesn't cost much to refill a trusted water bottle like the Birdies Water Bottle ($22). She loves this one because it fits into the cup holder in her car. Gates drinks around 30 cups of warm water daily, and she raves about how this insulated water bottle can keep liquids hot, or cold, for a long time.

Pro Tip: Gates prefers to drink hot water because "it's so soothing. It calms your nerves, too, if you're ever nervous about something. And just holding it and just the hot steaminess of it when you're cold," she says, adding that it can help cool you down on a hot day as well.

Gates loves the Celine Butterfly S005 Sunglasses ($460) for their versatility and chic silhouette. "I go from basic Bianca to glamorous Bianca in a second," she says. These slightly oversize sunglasses have green lenses and a flattering angled frame. Noting that she's had them for a long time, she loves that you can wear them with anything and everything. "You can be wearing workout clothes, you can have no makeup, you can be full makeup, you can be going to a resort, you can be going to watch your kids' soccer game on the weekend, no matter what you're wearing and what you're doing, if you want to add a touch of glam to go with your Birdies, of course, throw on these sunglasses, and boom, you are good to go," she says.

Pro Tip: Her go-to outfit with these sunnies is a great pair of jeans, a crisp button-down shirt, some jewelry, a sweater for chillier days, and a pair of Birdies.

Gates starts her mornings with a cup of Don Francisco's Hawaiian Hazelnut Flavored Ground Coffee ($23 for three cans) that her husband makes for her. "He brings it to my bedside to wake me up! It's the best morning routine," she says. Gates claims she's not a coffee connoisseur, but she loves how the hazelnut fills her home with a cozy scent. "It's just delicious, yummy. It feels like you're on vacation, and it's just the best start to my day," she says. Gates drinks her coffee black, saying that since there's already so much flavor in it, she doesn't need to add anything to it. In fact, she even packs it with her so she can have her favorite brew, no matter where she travels. "Don Francisco comes with me everywhere I go," she says.

After experiencing severe acne growing up, Gates takes her skin-care routine seriously and invests in products that make her skin feel good. Her nighttime skin-care routine consists of an eye cream, a neck cream, and the Biologique Recherche Crème Biofixine ($338). As someone with a drier skin type, she likes that this moisturizer deeply hydrates the skin rather than sitting on top of the skin. "It really penetrates into the pores, and you feel it moisturizing from the in out. You just get that dewiness, and you feel like it's going to work. The little worker bees in the moisturizer just go to work and just plump up and moisturize the skin. When you wake up in the morning, you feel clean and fresh," she says.

Sharkey's go-to snack is the 365 by Whole Foods Market Mango Slices Organic ($8). In fact, she loves it so much, her team got her a near-lifetime supply of it. "They have a really good, unique taste that's tangy and not very sweet, which is what I like," she says. This specific brand of dried mangos is organic, vegan, and kosher, with no added sugar, and Sharkey says these have the best consistency and stay the freshest.

Sharkey adores her Chanel Wallet on Chain ($4,125) since it goes with everything and is versatile. "You can literally wear it every single night for the rest of your life, no matter what you're doing. It's something I think you can use forever and actually very frequently," she says, crediting girl math. The bag perfectly fits her going-out essentials like her phone, a mini Aquaphor, a Charlotte Tilbury lip gloss, and her credit cards. "You can wear it to a black-tie night with a fancy black cocktail dress, or you could wear it with jeans and an amazing fun pair of Birdies flats and a little sweater," she says.

As a morning runner, Sharkey can't go without a pair of Lululemon Speed Up High-Rise Lined Shorts ($68). "I just find them to be super comfortable and really easy. They're also very lightweight, so they're easy to pack," she says, adding that she loves to wear them sightseeing around while traveling. She likes to pair them with a sweatshirt and loves that they come in a ton of different colors. The Speed Up shorts have a back zippered pocket for your essentials and an internal drawcord for a secure fit, and they're made from a sweat-wicking fabric. These shorts come in a four-inch length and a 2.5-inch length, which Sharkey prefers.

Although Sharkey considers eight hours of sleep a true must have, her Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($59) is the cherry on top. "It does feel a little bit luxurious. For that split second, you just feel like you're spoiled, you're going to have a good night's sleep, and you're being well taken care of," she says. Sharkey raves about the benefits of a silk pillowcase, including how it protects the hair from getting knotty and preserves a blow-dry, saying, "The silk just doesn't ruffle up your hair as much as a typical cotton pillowcase." This pillowcase is made from 100 percent mulberry silk, is naturally cooling and breathable, and comes in several colors. "It just feels special; you're kind of indulging yourself in something really minor, but you just feel more special than you would otherwise, especially after a long day," she says.

Both Gates and Sharkey adore the brand's Birdies The Crane in Antique Gold Leather ($150), saying they are sophisticated, are versatile, and have the perfect mix of comfort with a luxe flair. Gates describes this shoe as "a modern twist to the classic ballet flat," with Sharky adding, "It's a little bit of a square toe, but it's not very severe, and it still looks really feminine and pretty." Both love that the gold tone adds a pop yet goes with a wide range of looks. "You can wear them with a skirt, you can wear them with a dress, you can wear them with a great pair of leather or pleather pants. You can wear them with jeans, you can wear them with slacks," Gates says.

Pro Tip: Gates recommends these as easy packable travel shoes, since "they are lightweight and literally go with everything. They're a great statement, but also a neutral."