Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Classics Turn Modern in Designer Handbags

In my last article I shared about my mad hunt for deals on vintage jewelry. Now I’m obsessed with all things classic and vintage in fashion, not just jewelry.  This fall the classic handbag is back updated with modern touches, by an array of notable design houses.

Gucci brings back the ever-so-popular classic over-the-shoulder logo handbag. Their new collection, aptly named “Gucci 1973”, features the classic bag with a modern touch and is available in crocodile, ostrich, leather and suede. It is a perfect balance between innovative styling and timeless allure. The original model that Frida Giannini found in the company archives dates to 1973. It’s an elegant shoulder bag with front flap sporting the GG monogram in polished brass with antique finish – now exceptional symbol and signature detail of the Gucci 1973 collection.

Hermés has also put a spin on their iconic Birkin bag with all black matte hardware instead of the usual gold or silver. Hermès named and designed the Birkin bag for French female singer Jane Birkin in 1984. On an Airfrance flight from Paris to London, Jane pulled her Hermés datebook out of her bag and all her papers fell on the floor. She complained to the passenger sitting next to her that the book should have pockets. That passenger was the chairman of Hermes; Jean-Louis Dumas, and after hearing her complain he created the Birkin bag.

Fendi also reinvented one of their classics, originally inspired by La Dolce Vita and the house’s strong ties to 1960’s Italian cinema. “Classico” features brass corners and gold chains and is made of leather.

Christian Dior put a military spin on its Lady Dior purse created originally for Princess Diana. This is a limited-edition bag with a removable canvas and crocodile strap. In 1995, the Cezanne Art Exhibition sponsored by Dior Corporation was held in Paris Grand Palais, at the opening ceremony Mrs. Chirac sent Princess Diana a new model of a Dior handbag as a gift. Dior then gave this model the graceful name Lady Dior, becoming one of Dior’s basic mainline handbags.

I’m a bit nostalgic when it comes to fashion and love that designers have brought back classics to fit our modern day lifestyles. Like I’ve mentioned before, what’s old is new again and for us spirited women…we love this!

Maria von Losch Rohloff, eatcakehaveshoes.com
Click here for more of Maria's posts.

What's Old is New Again - Vintage Jewelry on Ebay

Recently I’ve been on the hunt for vintage costume jewelry. It started while selling a few designer handbags for a girlfriend on ebay.com. While there with time on my hands, I decided to search for rare, vintage costume jewelry at a great price. Over the weekend I was out-of-town and when I arrived home, I checked my mailbox and there it was…my score from an auction I had just won on ebay.

On my quest for vintage, estate jewelry, I stumbled across a necklace that only stated it was "vintage" in the headline. I liked the way it looked, so I clicked on the link to read more about this piece. In the main description, the woman stated it’s a signed Christian Dior vintage necklace from the 60’s-70’s and that she only wore it a couple of times and had it stored ever since. I was floored because the starting bid was $16. And this particular necklace was in really good shape – no flaws, tarnishing, missing gems, etc. I wanted this necklace and was willing to outbid bidders but that never transpired. Nobody knew of this special find and didn’t bid on this piece so I won.

If the headline would have read “Vintage & Signed Christian Dior Necklace” then the seller would’ve gotten more interest and made more money. Her lack of knowledge turned into my good fortune. There’s a store on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica called Aura, they sometimes sell vintage costume jewelry. One day they had a few Christian Dior vintage pieces, a bracelet and necklace at a retail price of between $300 to $800. Now you can probably see why I’m so excited about the necklace I just scored on ebay.

Once upon a time in the early 1990’s, I used to own a vintage clothing store in Hermosa Beach. That’s where I received my education on vintage fashion. After being in business for 2 years, I closed down my store to move onto bigger and better things (I was in my early 20’s). I actually couldn’t even step into a resale shop for many years after closing my store. I was just done with the old and wanted only the new. 

Now my appreciation for the old, the vintage, the rare has popped back into my life again. I guess it’s always been there but lay dormant. After searching ebay for the past week and noticing the great deals to be had, I’m collecting certain styles of costume jewelry pieces by a few brands because I have a suspicious feeling they will be a trend soon. I’ll give you a few tips. You need to do your homework. Coro, Trifari, Givenchy and Lisner are vintage jewelry brands that hold resale value but only if you collect the right pieces, signed and in excellent condition.

If you have any questions about a vintage fashion item you’re thinking of purchasing, feel free to ask me about it. Happy hunting! 

Maria von Losch Rohloff, eatcakehaveshoes.com
Click here for more of Maria's posts.

Sex and the City 2 - From Manolos to Louboutins

The day has finally arrived…Sex and the City 2 is on the big screen. My girlfriend and I were discussing our feelings about the sequel because we both have some reservations about the actual story. Neither of us have seen it yet - but we both decided we will approach it as an adventure, a very stylish one. I remember when SATC first aired on HBO and although the "girls" were fashionable from the start, their ensembles weren’t so over-the-top. As the show progressed and evolved into two movies, we are given lots of fashion eye candy.

Patricia Field, SATC’s wardrobe stylist, pieces together bold and daring outfits that maybe 2% percent of women in the world would actually wear on a daily basis. I do love how Ms. Field celebrates spirited womanhood with her styling and gives us ideas on how to incorporate something exquisite or outrageous into our daily dressing.

One accessory that she put on the map and into women’s vocabulary is Manolo Blahnik strappy sandals. We watched Carrie Bradshaw charge up her credit cards or spend her last dollars on a new pair of Manolos. What Field brought for young women today is the message that you can dress up a plain outfit with fabulous accessories, especially if they’re Manolos. The two pairs I remember from SATC series are the turquoise blue suede strappies that Aiden’s dog Pete chewed on when he moved in with Carrie and the jeweled silver, open-toe d’Orsay’s that were stolen from Carrie because her friend asked her to take off her shoes before entering her home during her baby shower.

I remember those jeweled silver heels vividly because during that time of my life I could afford a $150 shoe but not a $495 heel. Luckily for me, Steve Madden happened to make a knock off of that particular Manolo Blahnik and I was happy to plunk down my money to emulate Carrie’s happiness. I wore those babies out.

Other designer names were introduced season after season on SATC like Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin. Louboutin mania seemed to spring up out of nowhere and every actress on the red carpet was donning Loubotin’s red sole high heel. Red carpet, red sole…coincidence or cleverness? I must admit, as soon as I could start affording Mr. Louboutin heels I went crazy. The very first pair I bought was in Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City while on business. Saks had just renovated their shoe salon and I couldn’t wait to breathe it in. Riding the elevator up to the fourth floor was heart pounding. As the doors slid open I heard music that one might hear when the gates to heaven open. I literally felt like I was having an out-of-body experience seeing all those gorgeous shoes.

Cannes Film Festival Features My Favorite Designer Emilio Pucci

This May, as always, the 2010 Cannes Film Festival held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres was a star-studded event. The goal of the festival, held in Cannes in the South of France, began as a unique way to discover and promote new talent to the overall film making industry and the world.

An interesting fact: In 1963, Olivia de Havilland was named the first female president of the festival. Decades before, she costarred in the epic film Gone with the Wind along with movie legends Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

Over the years Cannes has become a red carpet landscape for designers to showcase their exquisite gowns much like the Academy Awards held in Los Angeles. Some of our favorite spirited actresses pulled out all the stops with their dress choices for this year’s festival.

Showstoppers included the elegant Kate Beckinsale, a svelte Salma Hayek, glowing Jennifer Lopez, fresh Rachelle Bilson, edgy Michelle Williams and sophisticated Ellen Barkin. The crème de la crème were Camille Belle in a sleek one shoulder navy dress by Gucci, Cate Blanchett poising in a piece of art designed by the late Alexander McQueen, and Eva Longario Parker in Emilio Pucci gown that had a train a mile long (or so it seemed).

How fitting to wear Emilio Pucci, especially during the start of beautiful summer weather. Did you know his first designer line was swimwear?

I’m a huge fan of this designer and love that he never strays from his true aesthetic in his designs. You can spot Pucci inspiration in today’s designers from BCBG to Trina Turk amongst many others. Pucci’s patterns exude playfulness and spirit for every woman at any age to enjoy.

Pucci formally known as Marchese di Barsento (November 1914 – November 1992) was a Florentine Italian fashion designer and politician. He and his eponymous company are synonymous with geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colors. Initially he used his knowledge of stretch fabrics to produce a swimwear line in 1949, but soon moved onto other items such as brightly colored, boldly patterned silk scarves.

Spirited Summer Scents

Our sense of smell is a magnificent tool we own. From the scent of flower blossoms on a tree to changes in the season to fresh tangerines on a veranda – all of these scents strike a feeling or remind of us of a moment in time when we breathed in a certain aroma.

It’s no wonder that we resonate with perfume! I always see women on a hunt for that spirited signature scent. Or maybe you’re the one who finds a scent and sticks to it year-after-year. As we all know and read, there are a slew of newbies to try so why not take a whiff next time you’re strolling through a store? You never know, you might discover a new scent to describe who you are for this season or next.

For the floral lovers, Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum is a lovely paradox between a demure violet with airy blossom and delicate peppery notes. A fragrance that is mysterious and fragile yet leaves a lasting trail – a truly delicate, romantic with a hint of whimsy scent.

Another crisp refreshing scent for summer to try is Burberry’s Classic Summer Edition. This is a limited-edition summer version of Classic, its signature scent for women. The pale pink bottle features a subtle take on the iconic Burberry plaid pattern. Inside the bottle is a fragrance comprised of citrus, green apple, water lily, freesia, rose, woods, and white musk– making it perfect for a hot summer's day.

For a hint of the tropics, spray on Very Irrésistible Givenchy Summer Vibrations. The frangipani flower defines the heart of this limited-edition fragrance, creating an irresistible wave of happiness and sensuality. This scent diffuses sunny waves, reminiscent of exotic paradises and golden beaches. With the top notes comes a thrill of pleasure—a fresh and salty vibration. The sea spray accord, slightly fruity and tart, instills a wide, joyful, spontaneous whirl of freshness. Give this scent about 10 minutes and the absolute femininity of the rose passion (signature of Very Irresistible) blooms with generosity and voluptuous appeal.

Give it a go and wear a new signature scent this summer. To your irresistibility!

Maria von Losch Rohloff, eatcakehaveshoes.com
Click here for more of Maria's posts.

Summer Fashion & Beauty Do’s and Don’ts

We hear it all the time when it comes to exposing our skin to the damaging rays of the sun. Most of us spirited women have the knowledge of the “do’s” and “don’ts” for summertime but we often shift into denial mode and don’t practice these principles. Let’s run down a checklist and don’t forget to implement these items.

The Do's

1. Do use sunscreen with UVA/UVB or Helioplex and an SPF of at least 30 (55 is preferred). My favorite is Neutrogena’s Dry Touch.
2. Do sport a fun panama or floppy straw hat to block harmful rays from your face. Certain designers are now making hats with actual sunblock protection.
3. Do treat yourself to a mani-pedi every couple of weeks as it is now sandal season and you don’t want to be show jagged, half-polished nails.
4. Do use a sun protection spray for your hair to keep your color lasting longer so that you don’t have to schedule unnecessary salon visits with your stylist.
5. Do keep your skin moisturized with creamy body butter. My two favorites are from The Body Shop (coconut scented) and Bliss’ Naked Body Butter.
6. Do sport a fun sandal or anything open-toe during the warm weather months. No boots or uggs please!
7. Do indulge in a cold frosty treat like gelato or non-fat frozen yogurt.
8. Don’t forget to get your sleep! Statistics show that women need at least one more hour of sleep then men. So sleep those 8 hours.

Escape to Paradise with Summer Styles

I think I might have been in a fashion lull for the past month because it was in-between fashion seasons. In my email box today, I received inspiring summer fashion trends with stores announcing the release of all these new goodies. The two trends visually stimulating my spirit are summer safari and beachy casual.

Envision endless sandy white shores, teal blue waters, cozy open-air cabanas, a gentle breeze and blazing sunsets. Fashion can capture this very image with just the right collaboration of key summer pieces. Boho tops, patio dresses (the maxi 2.0), loose fitting military jackets, cargo pants and palazzo pants in soft silks, cottons and linens are sure to zap you into the beachy casual summer spirit. The color palette for this look is all about a tint of color from baby yellow and rosy pink to airy olive green and creamy beige. Don’t forget to accessorize with gold jewelry to add some shine. Hint: gold makes you look tanner than you are.

Already on a tropical vacation? How about going on a luxe safari tour? This hot summer fashion trend is all about crisp lines, zebra prints, linens, ultra-white, coffee bean brown, urban gray and sand dune khaki. Shapes to look for in this style are fitted cropped pant, tie-waist pocket short, just above-the-knee pocket skirt, shift dress, boyfriend shirt, white jeans and a braided belt. Accessorize this look with a wedge heel, Panama hat and wide bangle bracelets.

Where can I find it? Banana Republic is offering both these looks online now or in stores on May 13th. Old Navy, J.Crew and The Gap also have these looks for the budget conscious while Tory Burch, Chris Benz and Philip Lim feature safari luxe collections on my “lust” list. Either way you go this summer, you won’t go wrong donning these two on-trend looks.

Maria von Losch Rohloff, eatcakehaveshoes.com
Click here for more of Maria's posts.

Celebrate Your Mother's Beauty

With Mother’s Day rapidly approaching, many of us who are blessed to have our spirited mother close by to celebrate her beauty, are striving to arrange the perfect day for her.

I look at the challenges and triumphs my own mother endured throughout her life while raising my sister and I. I’m amazed how resilient she is, that she can bounce back from anything. What’s even more impressive is that she still continues to mother me. She’ll still offer her advice, listen to me vent, make me see situations from another perspective, tell me she loves me, pamper me when I visit her, make me laugh and hug me when I’m sad. She’s beautiful inside and out.

I learned a lot of my beauty and fashion basics from my mother. Now that I’ve grown into the woman I am today and have my own flare for fashion and beauty, I’m able to share new insights, trends, products, style, etc. with my mom.

If I could convince her to drive to LA, where I live, from San Diego, where she lives – I would treat her to the perfect LA Mother’s Day. Fashion designer Trina Turk and on-air personality Jillian Reynolds of Fox's Good Day L.A. are hosting an event on Sunday, May 8, with a luxurious day of shopping and pampering at Trina’s Los Angeles flagship boutique. A percentage of the day’s proceeds will benefit The Breast Cancer Charities of America. Trina is an LA native and her pieces reflect the modern woman who is spirited and has a bit of whimsy about her - and the day will reflect that.

My suggestion to you, is to read your local newspaper, go online to various local calendars, and find out what is fashion fun with a good cause emphasis for you to share with your mom on Mother's Day in your area. Being together with your mom in this way can be a real treat - and a way to bond over a new dress or two!

Happy fashionable Mother’s Day to all!

Maria von Losch Rohloff, eatcakehaveshoes.com
Click here for more of Maria's posts.

Fashion Going Mobile

Besides having a passion for fashion and beauty, I am secretly a tech geek. I’m finally coming out of the closet and letting people know that I get excited about new gadgets, widgets, apps – all things tech. What’s even more mind blowing than me coming out of the tech closet, is that my two loves – fashion and technology have now merged. Yes, fashion and beauty have gone mobile!

I use a Blackberry but adore the iPhone as well. So for the beauty queens who own iPhones, make sure to download a few of these new and free applications.

Created by digital shopping Website, Like.com, Ask A Stylist, gets you real answers from a Glamour Magazine trained stylist in real time from your mobile device. Once you open the application, just take a picture of the outfit you’re thinking about wearing, choose a place where you’ll be wearing said outfit and ask your fashion question. Within minutes a real-life stylist will send you an answer and, if applicable, a recommendation on other items to complement your look. An alert will notify you of when your question gets answered.

This app also offers retail stylists from brands we like. And if that isn’t enough to get you hooked, this app is literally mobile, meaning you can take it shopping with you at a store for help with decisions on what shoes to buy or what purse goes with your outfit, etc. Stylists are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week and responses generally arrive within 2 minutes of the question.

For The Love of Weekend Shopping

I love it when I can share insider scoops with all my spirited women friends! There are two places I’ll be this weekend – downtown LA on Saturday and my local Target store on Sunday.

This weekend is the highly talked about Unique LA 
 where you'll find more than 300 local designers all in one place. Buy directly from L.A. based designers like Eva Franco and Salt Swimwear who'll be selling everything from silky summer dresses to shiny springtime jewelry.

For most of us, it would be impossible to hit every cool boutique from Echo Park to Santa Monica that’s why you'll want to hit up Unique LA this weekend. And it’s not just clothing and accessories – you’ll also be able to pick up home furnishings and art. All vendors are screened with an eye for what's cool by Unique LA’s crack team of stylish scouts. It’s all about “the find,” and you’ll likely find it here.

Details: Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. $10 gets you a ticket good for both days. Held at California Market Center, downtown Los Angeles.

Okay, now for the crème de la crème…you might need to sit down and take a deep breath for this one. This Sunday is the launch of Zac Posen’s collection made exclusively for Target. I’ve long coveted a Zac Posen dress, typically priced around $3,000 but this Sunday I can finally purchase one for a lot less.

This collection marks a series of firsts for Target, including a women’s tuxedo jacket and pants and a full-length gown. The fabrics are surprisingly luxe and the pieces are heavy on accoutrements — a heavy floral brocade skirt with an exposed back zipper, while the floral gown is made from a chiffon blend. A strapless party dress in black or red comes with a removable tutu skirt, and a fitted navy dress with snap and open lattice detail.