PFMs Closet Raid: Summer Lovin

(1-Dress, 2-Shoes, 3-Sunglasses, 4-Dress, 5-Dress {sold!}, 6-Dress)

Maven ReFreshed is back! We are sharing some of our vintage finds with you this summer; handpicked from our very own closets. You'll find a few of the items shown above, as well as many more. Items are constantly being added so check back often.

If you have something of your own that you would like for us to sell, just send an email. We are more than happy to work with you. 

If you are interested in any item, there are three ways to let us know:

1. Place a bid on Ebay
2. Comment on this post
3. Email us

Happy Shopping! xoxo Becca

PFM Obsession: C. Wonder (ful)

The craziest thing happened the other day. I was at the Roosevelt Field mall, strolling around during lunchtime with my two favorite co-workers when something stopped us in our tracks. With our faces pressed up against the store window we swore we passed this spot a million times and never noticed the shop before. But with all the bright colors and swanky candy-colored decor...is that even possible? We felt compelled to go inside, and not just because by this point the store employees had clearly seen us gawking. Christopher Burch's new line, C. Wonder, will have you enthralled, from the super-colorful array of products to the beautiful window and floor displays. (Being an ex-display coordinator, I'm a sucker for smart merchandising tactics!) The best part is that it's a one-stop-shop. I love a store that covers everything from clothing to accessories to home design... to sporting goods? Seriously! I chatted a bit with a salesgirl who told me that this shop is still relatively new (that's why we never noticed it) and they currently have only four locations; three of them are in New York. Within a few minutes of browsing, several bright, cheery, and affordable items were calling my name. Plus, the whimsical website's sale section will have you smiling and filling up your cart for sure! I noticed there's one particular item not available online...the floral Vespa scooter that we drooled over for a couple of minutes. So take a peek at my top picks and then see if you aren't obsessed too!

1.You know I love me some neon...this skinny belt in neon yellow is a must.

2. Stripey boatneck tee- purely because you can never ever have too many striped tops. And if you don't have any, this is a perfect piece to start with. 

3. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these loafers a lookalike to the more pricey J.Crew version? I believe they will be mine, in Cobalt Blue please.

4-6. I live in Long Beach. Everyone has a bike, except for my hubby and I. But things will be different this year...I can see myself cruising down to the farmer's market on one of these electric green lovelies using my bike basket and sporting a pair of super-cute sunnies!!!!

7. A brightly colored throw to curl up in during those breezy evenings on the porch.

8. Functional, decorative, and the perfect shade of glossy yellow...yes please.

9. One look at these Ikat patterned nesting bowls and I was smitten. 

Ask the PFMs: A Dress Worthy of a Castle Wedding

White by Vera Wang

White by Vera Wang

when my good friend, Jeanmarie (aka Jean),  told me she was getting married, i immediately told her how excited i was to go dress shopping.  it didn't matter if she had me as one of the people accompanying her on this venture (which she was not ready to think about just yet).  either way, i was gonna be there lol.  well, luckily, she was totally cool with me going.  in fact, she seemed downright relieved!!  yayayyyy - a-dress-shopping we go!! :)  ...but first we needed to prep.  the only way i was going to be of much help was to get her thinking of what style dresses she liked and ideas she had.  of course, she had no idea lol.  

the first step Jean had to do was start collecting wedding magazines.  she started looking and searching and ripping out tear sheets for  inspiration.  she got a binder and then i helped her by organizing dresses by designer, then by style similarities.  surprisingly, her style was easily narrowed down.  then came the consultation.  after discussing my findings, we coined the phrase "hippie mermaid"  or "wood nymph" (we both are novices when it comes to wedding dress lingo so we made up our own,  ha ha :), and agreed that these were the concepts to keep in mind when trying on dresses.  now that we had some designer names and styles pinpointed, we needed to find out where to go for trying on dresses.  we also needed to discuss budget.  Jean's wedding is a destination event so she wasn't trying to break the bank on a dress.  we decided that it was best to start at a modest bridal salon and then work our way up to the more expensive places (if necessary).  i realized that it didn't make sense for her to try on dresses that would make her stretch her budget.  as a final step in preparation, Jean spent time searching through store websites and highlighted dresses that she would like to try on.  time to play dress up!!

today was day one and we had two places on the schedule - David's Bridal and Nordstrom's Bridal Salon.  we started at the David's Bridal - the highest priced dresses in the store were well within her range plus they had White by Vera Wang, which fit right into her style esthetic.  the funny thing is she found her dress on the fourth try.  she tried on dresses by Vera Wang White, Oleg Cassini,  and Galina and though she tried on at least 6 more beautiful dresses, she tried on her number one choice 4 times.  she was confident that she had found her dress.  it was so great that she was able to find her dress at the first place and on the first day.    i felt like our prep work really helped to make it go smoothly and, as her advocate, it was easy to help her express what she wanted. as a result, Jean found her dress - a dress worthy of a castle wedding - and something could be checked off the list.

i had a lot of fun helping Jean find her dress.  i hope to see her wear it in her wedding.  thank goodness working with her was really easy (what if she had been a bridezilla?? lol).  my goal was to make this an easy process so that it would be one less area that she would have to worry about getting through and i'm so glad to say that that mission can be considered accomplished!! hooray!! :) 

Fresh Out of the Workshop: the Bow Skull Cloche

 I undeniably have a love for things that are a blend of vintage and modern...and you already know all about my ongoing hat love...these two loves inspired me to create this new crocheted accessory. I'm obsessed with 1920s fashion and all you have to do is turn on an episode of Boardwalk Empire to see why. The glitz and the glam!!! Gorgeous glittery drop-waist dresses and detailed beaded headbands...and a classic cloche was often the best bet. Sesheta and I are always rocking a bit of glitz 'n glam, yes- even for daytime. Embrace your girly side with this vintage-inspired twist on the traditional skull cap. The Bow Skull Cloche is lightweight enough that you can wear it indoors, and the oversized bow can be worn in the back or on the side...it's your call.


PS the rich color combo of bright red & royal purple is a favorite of mine!

MavenFreshers: Got Gifts?



The Twigs and Berries earrings - our best seller

 This is that time of year that everything reminds us that the holiday season is approaching and that, though  pockets may not have it, it is the time to shop for those you love.  Well, this is a quick plug to subtly suggest that you remember MavenFresh when looking for unique items for gifts.  There are a few ways you can obtain MF items:

1. Purchase from our etsy shop - www.mavenfresh.com
2. Identify an item from our photo look books on Facebook and send us an email.
3. Email us for ideas for a custom order.

Remember, though we do have many goodies in stock, to be sure you get what you'd like and in a timely fashion, be sure to give us time to re-create (typically 1-3 weeks depending on the item).

There are some new items being listed this week, including the popular Open Weave Crochet Mobius in Brown/Grey Feather!!! Take a peek at it right over here.

Happy Shopping!!