BABES IN HART: MEGAN WILKINSON PAPAY

MEGAN WILKINSON PAPAY

She describes her personal style as "surf and turf" — where beachy meets western. It tracks. Megan Wilkinson Papay co-founded FRĒDA SALVADOR 15 years ago on the belief that a shoe could be artisan-made, genuinely comfortable, and cool enough to live in your closet forever. She hasn't compromised on that since day one.

Megan Wilkinson Papay came up in the celebrity department at Calvin Klein in late-90s New York, untethered and wide-eyed, before heading west and eventually building something of her own.

Today she gets up before dawn to walk, meditate, and journal. She dresses for mood. She built a necklace around an angel number her family has been chasing for years.

We're big fans.

Welcome to Babes in HART — let’s say we just met at a dinner party. How would you introduce yourself?

Hi, I am Megan, co-founder of FREDA SALVADOR. I am terrible at small talk, but I love stories…and your outfit.

At its core, our jewelry is about authenticity—wearing what reflects who you really are and tells your story. That said, what lights you up?

The power of personal style and dressing with intention to feel a certain way. I truly believe that fashion is wellness and the relationship we have with our style can change everything. You can dress to feel a certain way, which affects the way you show up each day, which affects your mood and energy, which affects how people interact with you. There’s a magical ripple effect.

Your Instagram bio reads, “Find your inner weird and just get dressed.” When did you first realize getting dressed could serve as a mood enhancer?

I studied costume design at the Drama department of University of Virginia, intending to go into the fashion industry, and I love the perspective I learned around character storytelling with clothes; the silent story a costume tells. This gave me a deep rooted foundation in storytelling through style, but then in my late 40’s through the power of meditation and journaling, I connected the dots that if I spent a minute writing down my daily intentions, along with how I want to FEEL that day and choose my outfit accordingly it 1000% affects my mood and day (for the better) For example, I dress more off beat when I need to feel my most confident. I am an extreme introvert, but I know if I wear mixed prints or something unexpected, I feel most like myself. I can be a little awkward and funny, because my outfit sets the tone in advance that I am, just that… :)

You co-founded FRĒDA SALVADOR and helped build it into a brand women genuinely live in. When you think about the early days, what felt non-negotiable? What did you refuse to compromise on?

The blend of craftsmanship, comfort and style. This year is our 15th birthday, so Cristina and I have been reflecting and looking back at various press releases, bios etc. It feels sooo good to be here 15 years later knowing that our founding non-negotiables are still present and in fact we live by them. They are 1) Our products must be made by artisans with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. 2) Our products must carry our women through their busy days without compromising comfort and function. 3) Our products have a unique and luxury design perspective that are classic enough to live in your closet forever, but have a slightly offbeat point of view that makes them stand out in a sea of sameness.

You started in New York in the celebrity department at Calvin Klein before moving west and into footwear design. What did New York teach you?

I feel so lucky to have lived in New York in the late 90’s and worked in the Celebrity Services department of Calvin Klein in that iconic era. The energy of the city, the parties, the fashion industry; there will never be anything like it again. I was 21 and completely untethered. I didn’t know how much, or how quickly things would change. I wish I had lingered in that untamed feeling a bit longer because there was a sense of freedom that I will never know again, no matter how hard I try to unplug. So in terms of what it taught me, I would say it taught me about the thrill of spontaneity and surprise, it taught me to let loose, to work hard, earnestly hard, and it taught me that there’s nothing better than living in the moment with people I love with eyes wide open. There’s adventure and opportunity everywhere. Be open to it and let it wow you. Live in a sense of awe.

What are the pieces in your closet you return to over and over — the ones that feel most like you?

My closet is full of pieces I’ve had for years and it’s mainly vintage and consigned designer. When I shop, I am very in tune with the “why”; why do I like it, what emotion or memory does it spark, and what purpose will it serve. This gives me such a deeper relationship with my clothes. So all this to say, I don’t have pieces I return to over and over…I dress for mood and intention so it changes all the time, every day! The closest I have ever gotten to defining my personal style is “surf and turf”...I will always have something western and beachy…together, at the same time, no matter what, and rarely on purpose. It makes me laugh because I will look down in a meeting and I’m like “yup, there it is.” It makes sense that I am drawn to dress this way though because I feel most grounded in the mountains and most free on the water.

Tell us about your HART pieces – what are your favorite charms, and what do the charms signify to you? Where / how are you most excited to wear your jewelry.

First of all, I had the BEST time designing my pieces with your stylist! It was so fun to talk through all of the charms that were meaningful to me and then play around with how they could be designed. She was very patient lol…I had a lot of ideas I wanted to play with! I also want to say that jewelry in particular carries so much meaning to me. Mostly everything I wear is a hand-me-down from my mom, so the memories of her in the pieces makes me so happy to put them on every morning. It’s like a ritual. So to make space for and bring in a new layer is meaningful. I absolutley love HART for this reason.

The number 44 is my family’s angel number, so I started there as the main charm(s); this number is truly magical for us and has shown up in thousands of uncanny ways. It’s the ever reminder to stay present and open to messages, signs, and intuitive feelings. Then birds! I ended up surrounding the 44 with 4 little birds, two on each side. I call my husband Bird and they, like 44, show up in magical ways. They’ve become an important symbol in my life, representing light, love, soaring/freedom…like mental freedom…letting the right brain lead. Finally, because the charms were feeling a little too symmetrical, I added one lucky charm horseshoe haphazzardly placed higher up so it sits near my collarbone. The necklace is perfectly “off” now.

What are the “tools” you use in your everyday life that help you speak to your authenticity? I.e. artist’s tools (paintbrushes, etc.), computer, notebook, podcasts, meditation, etc.

Movement (walks in nature), meditation and journaling. I get up really early every morning to make time for these three things. Then getting dressed :)

What exciting things are on the horizon for Freda Salvador that you can share with our community?

As I mentioned, it’s our 15th birthday this year, so to celebrate we decided to do a Road Trip so we can see our community IRL. There is nothing we love more than connecting with them and also with brand friends. To experience the magic that happens simply when women gather. We will be in Charleston at HART this May(yay!), Nantucket this summer, and then planning Fall right now. There may be some semi-permananent pop ups happening :) Also, we have two AMAZING collaborations coming this summer; one with Lorna Murray and the other with a new western brand, which I think will get people talking!

From coffee to golden hour, what does a perfect Northern California day look like for you?

Driving to the coast to spend the day at the beach with my family and friends. Windows down, music up, salty hair, then a hot shower, sweats, a French Blonde(my favorite cocktail), eating take out while watching the sunset on our patio, a show, then early to bed. Dream day!

THE GOOD STUFF

Favorite quote or mantra?

Abundance is gratitude.

Favorite book?

The Intuitive Way by Penney Pearce. Everytime I pick it up it inspires a new perspective. I also have three friends that I am so excited for that JUST launched incredible books; Christine Morrison’s Clothes Minded, The Big Unlock by Laura Rubin, and Daily Creative by Blythe Harris and Mallary May. You will get so much from each one!

One accessory you never travel without?

A Mur by Ayca bandana. It can change my whole vibe instantly.

Favorite vacation destination?

Being off the grid, on a boat, in the Abacos.

Favorite museum or gallery?

Victoria and Albert Museum; I love period costume and fashion.

Go-to beauty or skincare product?

Baeo Bare Butter (I use it on my face every night.)

Favorite album (or current repeat listen)?

Tyler Childers. I saw him in Montana last summer and I fell hard.

What’s on your nightstand right now?

I don’t have one! If I DID have one, I would put a dream journal and a shrine of trinkets that are meaningful to me…aka clutter to my family.