New York - Monday May 3, 2004
Excerpted from Women's Wear Daily Article 'Vintage Fever'

By Emily Holt

Vintage has long been a source of inspiration for accessories makers. But sometimes slapping antique fabric on a basic clutch frame just looks…old. Here are four new lines resurrecting vintage in a modern manner.

HEIRESS COLLECTION
Designer Margaret Rowe believes there is one way women dress today: “It’s a great T-shirt and an elaborate necklace, and you’re there,” she said.

Leaving the T-shirts to somebody else, Rowe has created a collection of necklaces that combine pendants from the Twenties through the Sixties with modern materials like Swarovski crystal and semiprecious stones.

“I’ve always loved vintage jewelry, but a lot of it is not as wearable as we’d like it to be, so I’ve taken vintage elements that I love and modernized them [with new materials].”

She noted that necklaces from the Eisenhower era were much shorter, because sweaters and blouses were cut high around the neck. To adjust for today’s plunging necklines, she adds length to create a more modern 18-millimeter necklace, which falls in the middle of the chest.

Rowe travels from her home in Arizona to London and Paris and shops estates with her husband and son. She’s careful to choose items only in mint condition and ones that would likely appreciate in price.

“I never [break down] any pieces, because I would never want them to lose their value,” she said.

As soon as she spies a piece, Rowe has visions of how to adapt it for the modern consumer. “I will see it and think it would look great with fresh-water pearls or with some of the colors they’re showing this season, maybe the charcoals, sage greens and apricot.”

Included in her collection, which retails from $145 to $625, is a sterling silver and gold finish Coro floral spray with a citrine and Czech crystal necklace. An enamel, pearl and rhinestone pansy pendant is attached to a blue topaz, pearl and crystal necklace.

For now, Rowe sells her year-old collection on her Web site, heiressvault.com, but she is beginning to target specialty stores such as Fred Segal.

Women's Wear Daily Showcases Heiress Necklaces In Fashion Spread (March 2004)