Candid: Marcie Pantzer of Dear Annabelle

Dear Annabelle was born from Marcie Pantzer’s personal love of letter writing, starting when she went away to sleepaway camp as a young girl. Her passion for sending and receiving mail was only rivaled by her affection for the tools of the trade—beautiful stationery and fine paper products. With Dear Annabelle—named for her daughter—she’s created her dream line of whimsical stationery, place cards and notepads that celebrate joy, humor and connection. Born and raised in St. Louis, Marcie now resides in New York City with her husband and four children.

My personal style… is classic, elegant and sophisticated—yet never fussy. I try to invest in beautiful, timeless pieces that I can hold on to and pass down to my daughter, Annabelle. I feel the best when I am put together, so I tend to dress up most days. That said, for the past several months during quarantine, I’ve been living in jeans and a Goldie tee shirt. (So soft.)

The best pieces of fashion armor in my closet … are my favorite SLVRLAKE jeans, black Manolo suede pumps and signature Chanel jacket.

I’m making my mark by … encouraging people to spread love and kindness through sending letters and gifts. Dear Annabelle’s tagline is “send some love today,” and I work hard to embrace this in my own life. Our world is crazy right now, and we really need to spread positivity and joy. I am also devoted to fundraising for two charities that are close to my heart: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the pediatrics department at New York Hospital.

A professional/personal challenge that keeps me up at night … I’m constantly questioning if I am balancing everything in my life well enough. Am I giving my four children, husband, new puppy and my business enough attention? I am constantly pulled in many directions but want to be sure I am present for everything and everyone I love.

In moments of self-doubt, I build myself back up … by remembering the words of the brilliant Dr. Sasha Heinz, “Tell your inner naysayer to shut up.”

My version of personal care … involves daily workouts at Tracy Anderson. I find that I am at my best when I start my morning with a challenging, sweaty workout. I also indulge in frequent facials, attempt to get eight hours of sleep a night and do yoga on Saturday mornings. Mentally, I take care of myself by practicing transcendental meditation and focusing on gratitude before I go to sleep.

I stay true to my passions by … staying focused on my hopes and dreams and always following my heart. It can be hard to keep a level head with all of the information coming at you from every direction, but I try not to get distracted by all of the chatter. I prioritize connecting with family and giving where I can.

I’m most proud of … my marriage to my beloved husband, Jordan — 18 years! — and the family we have created together. Professionally, I am very proud of myself for starting my own company in my early 40s after having been a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. I have so  much respect for all the working moms out there, especially right now!

The one message I would like to share with all … don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s personal or professional, we can’t have all the answers or do everything on our own. I firmly believe that we can only be our best selves with a strong support system to help us navigate through all of life’s ups and downs.

Marcie’s Power Pieces…

Laura Katherine Sawyier is a women’s personal and wardrobe stylist and founder of the SALON X LKS event series. She is based in St. Louis and New York City. To find out more, visit lauraksawyier.com.