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Client Stories Stephanie in Australia

Moving to Australia in Ivey Abitz

Real Client Spotlight


From California to Australia, Ivey Abitz Makes a Huge Life Move with Stephanie


Stephanie asked us to create Ivey Abitz capsule wardrobes in different palettes for her as she made an exciting move to a different country. We were honoured and happy to assist.

We came up with several selections of layering pieces so she has the most options for mixing and matching.

Here she is, safely moving about in the world during the global pandemic, with the following garments (from her black and charcoal capsule) to keep her empowered and content on any continent:

Pictured above is Stephanie, looking lovely and ready for anything, en route to Australia. 

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Carolyn Hennesy from California Videos

Love at First Shirt

For Emmy Award winning actor Carolyn Hennesy and Ivey Abitz, it was “love at first shirt.” Here Carolyn is wearing some of her favourite bespoke pieces from Ivey Abitz Collection no. 64.

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Lauren from California Media and Press

Lauren Shields – Author of The Beauty Suit – Interviews Clothing Designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz

My artwork strives to dress that voice inside of us and let it exclaim, ‘Yes, THANK YOU. That’s the way to honour me.’

  – Cynthia Ivey Abitz

Designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz
Pictured: Cynthia Ivey Abitz amidst designs that inspire her–a favourite historic stone church and a rough-around-the-edges Grand Wagoneer.

Prologue by Lauren Shields

For the first nine months of 2011, I covered my hair, arms and legs and didn’t wear makeup or nail polish. Having been inspired by covered Muslim feminists, I called it “The Modesty Experiment,” and it was my way of distancing myself from the modern (white) feminist idea that looking hot and being strong are the same thing. (This phenomenon persists: see Olympic gymnast, and Larry Nassar accuser, Aly Raisman’s Sports Illustrated cover.)

Author Lauren Shields in some of her first Ivey Abitz clothing.
Author Lauren Shields in some of her first Ivey Abitz clothing.

After the experiment was over, I felt…bereft. I couldn’t say of what exactly, but it felt like the Beauty Suit women are socially obligated to wear—the mass-produced, tight clothing, the latest contouring palette, the revealing tops—no longer had the power it once did to bolster my sense of self.

Strangely enough, it was Facebook that helped me—or more accurately, it was their advertising algorithm. I was surfing my timeline when I scrolled past an outfit I ached to wear. That hadn’t happened in a very long time.

It was almost Victorian, but not restrictively so; classic, but not like anything I’d ever seen in real life. A dress with a kind of flowy overcoat, with rough hems, it looked like the kind of outfit one would wear in the garden, or on a quest of some sort. It was tough, well-made, but effortlessly, quirkily feminine. It was the dress I would make if I’d spent years learning how to sew. I was in love.
I clicked on the ad, possibly one of three times I have ever done so. The company was called Ivey Abitz, and the website showcased more of the same. Blouses with buttons all down the front and ties in the back, so you could accentuate your waist without having to suck in your tummy all the time. Skirts with multilayered hemlines (with pockets!). Pants, but with waistlines that were adjustable, thank God.

When I got my first check upon completion of the book I wrote about the Experiment, I fulfilled my promise to myself: I bought my first Ivey Abitz outfit. It was everything I’d wanted to wear, and I wanted to know more about what made this brand so exceptional, so different from everything else on the market.

Cynthia Ivey Abitz, whose last name is a combination of hers and her husband’s (she and her husband co-own the brand), was kind enough to talk to me about just that.

— Lauren Shields


Interview with Cynthia Ivey Abitz, Creator of Ivey Abitz Designs

by Lauren Shields

LS: How did you find your niche? How did you get started, in other words?

IA: I was wired to be an artist. Since I was a child, I’ve had ideas in my head that I had to express through creating with my hands. I was always drawing something.

Growing up, my parents used to take me to antique shops and antique shows, and through that I learned to appreciate the quality and craftsmanship of things made from other generations. I was allowed to get up close and look at antique clothing, inside and out. As I looked through garments made of incredible silks and wools, I was wearing the 70’s child “uniform” of a poly/cotton t-shirt and shorts or jeans. I always found them to be uncomfortable and uninteresting, but everyone around me was wearing something similar, and I was at an age when I thought I had to dress like everyone around me. I put the dresses I adored away to try and fit in, but it never felt right to me. Whenever I looked at antique clothing, there was always an overwhelming question of,  “Why don’t we dress like this anymore?”

During college is when I really started to answer this question for myself. As I studied fine art, I started to design clothing that I personally wanted to wear and see others wear. I started to combine glimpses of 18th century regalia with 19th century everyday garments with 1920’s relaxed silhouettes with modern day fabrics and sensibilities. I love creating a design that can’t quite be placed in one time period and making it relevant for everyday modern life.

LS: Can you give us a general overview of your clientele? Who finds you, and how?

IA: The women that wear Ivey Abitz garments really seem to know themselves. They aren’t just floating aimlessly through life — they all seem to embrace the finite amount of time they have on this earth, and they are working hard to fulfill their own personal callings. I think that is partly why they connect with the Ivey Abitz philosophy.

Many of our clients are very creative, and many make their living as visual artists, writers, actors, musicians. We create for teachers, physicians, activists, veterinarians, 911 dispatchers — there isn’t just one type of client. They are all unique, yet there is a common thread through all of them. The clients we’ve really gotten to know seem to have a wonderful mix of inner strength combined with sensitivity and kindness. They take life seriously, but they don’t take themselves too seriously, and have a sense of humour.

Ivey Abitz is found by people actively searching for clothing that speaks to them and those who are looking for an entire wardrobe change. We’re also found by people who wear Ivey Abitz and someone asks them, “Where on earth did you find this clothing?” As an artist, it’s a profound thing to see how the designs that have come from my head are now being used in practical ways in their everyday lives.

LS: What do you see as being “missing” in the market today that Ivey Abitz provides?

IA: The intricate details of my designs, their construction, their fit and drape, the choice of high quality fabrics — this combination is non-existent in mass-produced clothing.

Bespoke clothing, or garments that are made based on a person’s actual body measurements, suit our clients so they can truly be comfortable in them for everyday life. Many of our clients tell us that they feel so at home in what we create for them, and they don’t want to wear anything else now. It’s a meaningful process for our clients to have one-of-a-kind garments made just for them.

My designs come from ideals and aesthetic values that are not at all readily available in the mass market. The clothing is perhaps not for everyone because it doesn’t adhere to western culture’s ideas and trends. That is why it’s so thrilling for our clients when they discover us. My designs give women permission to be themselves and embrace who they are on the inside and out.

LS: Why are these clothes durable? Why not just make them pretty, but disposable?

IA: Ivey Abitz garments are made to be long lasting for years of wear. These are heirloom garments in that our clients value the aesthetic and quality of them enough to want to pass them down to the next generation. One client has expressed a desire to eventually give her Ivey Abitz bespoke wardrobe over to a costume institute in her city’s museum, which is a wonderful thought.
Fast-fashion companies that create disposable mass-produced clothing have a completely different purpose than we do. These massive fashion corporations are trying to make as much money as possible by making clothing as cheap as possible. They use synthetic, throwaway fabrics, made by slave labour in countries that don’t yet have strict labour laws.

I’m not a fashion designer making trends. I’m an artist that creates clothing. Our business model is one that most corporations would cringe at because it’s not really about making money. First and foremost, I am an artist, and my ideals guide everything I do. My company is creating things that last and that will be relevant for years to come.

I also want what I create as an artist to respect the earth. I want to counter the mass-produced stuff that’s being churned out with planned obsolesce and is destined for the trash. Disposable, mass-produced clothing is creating a crisis for our landfills. Much of the refuse in them consists of synthetic clothing that will not decompose. Future generations will have to deal with the mass-consumption of our culture today, and that is simply not fair to them.

LS: You and your husband run IA together, and it says on your website that you made the choice to combine your surnames when you were married in 1996. Why did you combine your names, instead of going the traditional route of taking his, or even just maintaining your own last name? Did you get any pushback from that?

IA: Yes, we did get pushback from a couple family members and friends, and we were quite surprised by it. We actually heard the argument, “The man is supposed to TAKE the wife.” When we asked what that meant, we never received a thoughtful answer. It was a knee-jerk reaction and rooted in the idea that it’s just what you’re supposed to do, and that’s that. For the most part, though, people were very supportive and loved the reasons why we did it. They were particularly impressed that Josh was willing to change his name, and I think that speaks volumes of how deep patriarchal assumptions run through our culture.

Josh and I are both called to question everything, so when it came to name changing, we both gave it a great deal of thought. We agreed early on that it didn’t feel right for me to just drop my name and take his name. Josh was empathetic and said that he’d feel sad if his name just vanished, and he wouldn’t want me to go through that either. We both didn’t agree with the patriarchal demands of the woman always being the one to change her name, and we came up with a solution that we thought was respectful to us both. We considered adding our mother’s maiden names to our last name, too. In the end, we decided on Ivey Abitz and having the same last name. We liked the sound and look of it. It suited us both, and it was meaningful to us both.

I understand that some women don’t have a family connection that they want to honour, and they look forward to a name change upon marriage. It’s a mark of a new phase in life. I only hope that people give it some serious thought before just doing what everyone else is doing and expects of them. Such contemplation and conversations help shape the relationship for the better moving forward.

LS: There is an undercurrent of self-value in the way you talk about your clothes. What do you think the difference is between your philosophy, and the idea that women’s worth comes from our ability to wear the “Beauty Suit?”

IA: When people discover the collection, we often hear, “This is the clothing I’ve been looking for my entire life, and I’ve finally found it.” Some women get very emotional about it. The aesthetics of the garments speak to them in such a visceral way. I think it’s because they sense the collection is celebrating their entire being, inside and out.

Our finite bodies, or our shells, need to be covered for practical reasons. I’m creating through these practical and needful daily items for the external to lift up the internal woman. I’m giving her tools to help celebrate everyday life and her entire self through the second skin of clothing.

This does not mean that I’m ignoring the external self. Far from it. I’m keenly sensitive to how a garment feels when it’s draped on the body. I’m a visual artist, and I communicate my ideas through texture, lines, symmetry, and hues. But I also know how important it is to acknowledge and celebrate the entire woman and not just focus on physical attributes. When I design from that place, grace and comfort coexist naturally to create the collection that is Ivey Abitz.

The definition of beauty then encompasses all of the person’s attributes, not just parts of the body that our culture currently defines as sexy. The “Beauty Suit,” or tight clothing designed to show as much as skin as possible, is one-dimensional. I believe it focuses on solely the sexuality and particular “sexual assets” of the person. The clothing essentially points arrows at what we were taught as children to be the “private parts.” This is why many believe it’s belittling to women — and men.

Having said that, some women claim to find transformation and power within such clothing trends. This is a very sensitive topic for some women, and any questioning or conversation is cast out with vehement calls of “I can wear whatever I want and you can’t tell me what to do.” I don’t want people to tell me how to dress either, and I respect that they are on a journey and are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit into our culture right now. When our culture becomes more thoughtful, it will inform and transform the clothing we choose to wear.

LS: Do you consider modesty as a concern in your design, or is it a natural extension of your vintage-inspired aesthetic?

IA: I need to deconstruct the word modesty before I can fully answer this question. The definition of modesty is “the quality or state of being unassuming.” Unassuming means “not pretentious or arrogant.” If that is the case, then yes. I’d say my designs are modest. They aren’t pretentious, and they aren’t arrogant.

I use the word modesty very carefully, though, and I usually don’t use it to describe my artwork. Our culture seems to have turned the word modesty into a shameful label and has twisted its meaning. Modesty seems to be synonymous now with covering the body out of prudishness or being afraid of one’s sexuality in some way. I’m not at all afraid of my sexuality. I also don’t feel the need to expose my cleavage and wear garments that barely cover my genital area in order to feel like a woman. Body parts do not define my value or my beauty.

I don’t describe my designs as vintage-inspired because that conjures up all sorts visual misunderstandings and more recent decades in people’s minds. I am, however, interested in historic clothing from hundreds of years ago. I like to understand design trends within their historic contexts. For example, what was really the underlying purpose of panniers, or wide gowns, in clothing back in the 1700’s? Why did men wear tights back in the 1500’s while our culture today would deem them too feminine? Clothing trends don’t just randomly come about, and there is usually a social reason for them.

LS: If “clothing has a transformative power,” what do you think is the transformative power of mass-produced clothing meant to make a woman look sexy, but perhaps not comfortable? Or is there any?

IA: We need to listen to our intuition about how to honour our entire selves. The answers are not in the TV and in magazines and the trends that are put before us. I suggest turning those off, even for just a little while, and start paying attention to our own internal compass. We’ll find that it’s quite interesting and informative.

If our shirt is so low cut and tight that we aren’t able to comfortably sit down or bend over without a breast spilling out of the neckline, if our shoes are so tall that they hurt our feet and constrict our natural movement, if our skirt is so short that we aren’t able to naturally sit down or bend over without showing our genitals, our bodies are sending signals to our brains and to our souls that this is NOT working. If something is not comfortable and literally hurts us, it is not worthy of our attention. It does not honour the external or internal self. There is something better out there for all of us.

My collection strives to be that something better for the niche that is seeking it. My artwork strives to dress that voice inside of us and let it exclaim, “Yes, THANK YOU. That’s the way to honour me.”

Since mass-produced garments have infiltrated many of our closets, our culture has been told to put up with ill-fitting garments for the sake of fitting in to trends. The message is that it’s our fault — not the clothing’s fault. Many just blame it on the so-called flaws of their own bodies and not the poor quality and cuts of the mass-produced garments. Mass-produced garments are oftentimes based upon fit models that are a size 0-2 and are 6 feet tall. Mass-produced garments are cut in stacks hundreds at a time, and sizing isn’t precise. That is why so many people have such a hard time find clothing off the rack that really fits them. Things are too long. Sleeves are too tight. There is always a pull across the chest. There never seems to be enough room across the shoulders.

Ivey Abitz clients experience something so very different. The garment designs speak to them and inspire many to exclaim they’ve found their sartorial home in our clothing collection. They love knowing that the garments are made just for them and fit them exclusively. They appreciate the comfort and ease mixed with thoughtful design. Our garments honour the uniqueness of their bodies and their entire beings, and that’s why they find Ivey Abitz bespoke so liberating.

About the author:

Shields - The Beauty Suit book cover

Lauren Shields is a writer, comedian and progressive pastor living and working in San Jose. After an article on Salon about her “year of modesty” led to calls from The Today Show and Good Morning America, Lauren wrote her first book, The Beauty Suit: How My Year of Religious Modesty Made Me a Better Feminist, published with Beacon Press. She can be found at www.laurenjshields.com.

The Beauty Suit can be purchased at independent bookstores, Amazon, and on IndieBound .

Further Reading: Cynthia Ivey Abitz shares thoughts on her reading of The Beauty Suit.

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Barbara Jean from California

Ivey Abitz Bespoke Took my Breath Away

Fennefleur Frock in Garnet Striped Silk from the Winter 2018 Bespoke Clothing Collection by Ivey Abitz.
Fennefleur Frock in Garnet Striped Silk from the Winter 2018 Bespoke Clothing Collection, photographed just before shipping to its new home in California.

I just opened my boxes from the Fall / Winter Collection, and oh my goodness, each box was increasingly wonderful, from the ethereal Garnet Striped Silk at the top to the Floravinea Scarf, so delicate, to the truly delicious Pewter Mohair and Floral Voile, and then, like buried treasure, the Heraldry Frock with those amazing textured stripes, it took my breath away! I love that these clothes are such rich and royal colors and yet so light and airy. I am going to enjoy wearing them always!

You are certainly adding to the beauty and wonder that combats the weariness we might sometimes feel in the day to day routine. I know that my day is brightened whenever I wear my Ivey Abitz wardrobe, and this collection has outdone itself in soft-spoken brilliance that shines for all to see.

With Awe and Amazement,
Barbara

Editor’s note: You can see a gallery of bespoke order images taken just before shipping. Visit the Ivey Abitz Orders Gallery.

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Cynthia from Missouri

When the Car Hit Me – Recovery and Hopefulness in Ivey Abitz Bespoke

This is a real story by an Ivey Abitz client, Cynthia from Missouri.

This is the actual Camille Frock by Ivey Abitz that Cynthia was wearing when she was struck by a drunk driver. She has recovered from her injuries.
This is the actual Camille Frock Cynthia was wearing when she was struck by a drunk driver. She has recovered from her injuries.

2017 was, in many ways, a year that I was eager to see end, punctuated as it was in the middle – July 5 – by an accident that left me with a broken knee and torn ligaments. On that evening, I was hit by a drunk driver as I walked across the intersection of two very familiar streets in my hometown. The surreal occurrence set in motion a cascade of events, good and bad. As painful and disorienting as it was, I was lucky. I never hit my head; I never lost consciousness. I was also immediately helped by many kind strangers, who came to my aid: getting the license plate of the hit-and-run driver, calling 911, calling friends and my 14-year old son, holding my head, holding my hand and cheering me on.

Interestingly, earlier that very day I had also received four garments from Ivey Abitz, my first-ever order. I have been trying, for the past two years, to have far fewer items of clothing: to develop a “capsule” wardrobe, where the pieces are the best quality I can afford and are produced in a way that is ethical to both people and the environment. When I’d “discovered” Ivey Abitz, I felt pretty certain that these garments would meet all of my wardrobe aspirations. In fact, I had been so impressed and delighted by the beautiful pieces that arrived on July 5, that in the early afternoon, I had written an email to owner Cynthia:

“…I cannot imagine being more pleased. The craftsmanship, tailoring and design are exquisite… I immediately started trying things on, and have yet to take off the Camille Frock. It may sound odd to say it, but it may just change my life.”

Addy Frock in Lake Tufted Plaid Voile by Ivey Abitz
Addy Frock in Lake Tufted Plaid Voile by Ivey Abitz

Indeed, I was still wearing that Camille frock in Feather Vine Weave, when the car hit me that evening, a fact I was also compelled to convey to Cynthia, in an email just a few days later:

“…the very good news is that I am able to write to you to tell you this incredible story. I am thrilled to bits to be alive! The other good news is that, though the emergency medical team cut off my pants, I quickly undid the buttons and inner tie and convinced them to slide, not cut! my [Camille] frock off of me! Whew. Talk about wearing your garments doing everything and weaving your own story into them!”

And, I started to incorporate Ivey Abitz into my recovery plan:

“The not so good news is that I have a broken knee: lateral tibial plateau fracture with ligament damage, and will have to have two surgeries this summer. I will also likely have my left leg in a bulky brace for about 12 weeks! …I would love to order an Addy Frock or Baedeker Skirt to wear during this uncomfortable period.”

Finally, I added, “By the way, despite being hit by a Camry, flying over the top of a car and skidding across asphalt, I cannot find any damage to my lovely Camille Frock!”

Long weeks of recovery again brought frustrating challenges and welcome pleasures. Dismal, uncomfortable and inactive days were interspersed with loving and helpful friends and family members, whose value in my life came sharply into focus after such an unsettling event. And, my Addy Frock in Lake Tufted Plaid Voile, which Cynthia had so kindly and thoughtfully helped me select, arrived and was worn very happily throughout the summer. It made me feel a bit better whether at doctor appointments or just sitting in bed with my leg elevated.

Heraldry Duster Coat - one of Cynthia's "capsule" wardrobe pieces.
Heraldry Duster Coat – one of Cynthia’s “capsule” wardrobe pieces.

As the year ended, I completed physical therapy, and life was returning to a much more normal rhythm. I also added a few more Ivey Abitz pieces to my wardrobe for fall and winter. And indeed, I’m coming close to the capsule wardrobe I envisioned. I have a small but well-orchestrated collection of pieces that work beautifully together. And, of course, that Camille Frock in Feather Vine Weave is key player in the ensemble!

Limited Edition Holkham Hall Vest - one of Cynthia's "capsule" wardrobe pieces.
Limited Edition Holkham Hall Vest – one of Cynthia’s “capsule” wardrobe pieces.

Though I was certainly ready to close the books on one of my most challenging years to date, I am not without a profound appreciation for lessons I learned in 2017: that every moment is truly a precious gift, especially those moments spent with friends and family; that where possessions are concerned, quality is more important that quantity; and that it’s extremely gratifying to be able to incorporate your values into all aspects of your life – wardrobe included. I’m eager to find what 2018 has in store. I know that where Ivey Abitz is concerned, it will be beautiful.

Editor’s note: Thank you, Cynthia, for sharing your harrowing yet hopeful story. May we all endure life’s challenges with such grace and courage.

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Karen from the Midwest

Journey into a Complete IA Bespoke Wardrobe

Journey into a complete IA wardrobe, and you will find a dream come true. Clients express this sentiment to us during each collection we create. This is a part of one such story.

Meet Karen, an Ivey Abitz enthusiast. Originally from the Western U.S., she moved to the Midwest and has devoted her life to nursing, helping others, and raising her children.

Karen wears her Ivey Abitz Hambledon Duster Coat and Fennefleur Frock on a walk.
Karen wears her Ivey Abitz bespoke Hambledon Duster Coat and Fennefleur Frock on a walk.

Discovering Ivey Abitz, Karen fell head over heels for the aesthetic and philosophy of the collection. Her enthusiasm inspires us as she carefully chooses garments from each collection to build her everyday wardrobe.

Karen wrote us a note recently about her journey into a complete IA bespoke wardrobe. Thanks to Karen for allowing us to share her words with the rest of the world.

Ivey Abitz garments don’t distract from the inner woman, and that is why I love them so much. Our society/culture has in some ways gone to the other extreme and exposed women’s bodies more. Being covered in these garments, I believe, is respectful to me, others, and God. It is abusive to sexualize women and distract from their inner beauty. It disrespects us all.

I love what you said in your recent note: “Authenticity and truth is more attractive than anything else in this world.” It is so true. And I like your philosophy of authentic everyday. I have started to wear my Ivey Abitz garments every day – to the grocery store, library, post office, etc.

Thanks for being one of the leaders of the battle against conformity in our society/culture. You not only believe it, you live it, you provide it for others – it’s wonderful! There is one thing I believe that we should all be one in, and that is one in heart. As long as we are loving, kind, and respectful then we can be one in intention and purpose.

I love and support your mission on Earth. I believe that in 100 years women will cherish an Ivey Abitz [garment] they might inherit or find at an estate sale and they will say, “Who was this Ivey Abitz? She surely made women look classy and beautiful!”

– Karen

Karen wears her Ivey Abitz bespoke Canterbury Cardigan and Fennefleur Frock at the county fair.
Karen wears her Ivey Abitz bespoke Canterbury Cardigan and Fennefleur Frock at the county fair.

Karen wears her bespoke Hambledon Duster Coat and Anabel Frock.
Karen wears her bespoke Hambledon Duster Coat and Anabel Frock.

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Carolyn Hennesy from California

Emmy Winning Actor Carolyn Hennesy Loves her Ivey Abitz Bespoke

Emmy winning actor Carolyn Hennesy showcased her new Ivey Abitz bespoke ensemble along with tin type jewelry handmade by Carolyn herself during an appearance for Hallmark Channel’s “Home and Family.” Show aired 7/7/17.

Carolyn’s Ivey Abitz bespoke ensemble includes the Dennison Frock in Birdsong Embroidered Silk with a pair of Blanchefleur Trousers in Meadow Yarn Dyed Cotton from the recent Spring 2017 Collection.

Mark Steines and Debbie Matenopoulos welcome actors Debbie Allen, Erica Gimpel, Lee Curreri, and Carlo Imperato for the 35th anniversary of NBC’s “FAME.” Erica and Lee treat us to a special performance. Actress and author Carolyn Hennesy joins us. Cookbook author Nguyen Tran cooks delicious garlic noodles. Debbie whips up the ultimate BLT sandwich. Ken Wingard has DIY water blobs. Paige Hemmis creates city lights decor. Orly Shani shows us DIY open hem jeans. Matt Iseman has tips and tricks for our lawn and garden. Dan Kohler breaks down the science of mold and food. Matt Rogers is here with cool camping products. Credit: © 2017 Crown Media United States, LLC | Photo: Alexx Henry Studios, LLC / jeremy lee
Mark Steines and Debbie Matenopoulos welcome actors Debbie Allen, Erica Gimpel, Lee Curreri, and Carlo Imperato for the 35th anniversary of NBC’s “FAME.” Erica and Lee treat us to a special performance. Actress and author Carolyn Hennesy joins us. Cookbook author Nguyen Tran cooks delicious garlic noodles. Debbie whips up the ultimate BLT sandwich. Ken Wingard has DIY water blobs. Paige Hemmis creates city lights decor. Orly Shani shows us DIY open hem jeans. Matt Iseman has tips and tricks for our lawn and garden. Dan Kohler breaks down the science of mold and food. Matt Rogers is here with cool camping products. Credit: © 2017 Crown Media United States, LLC | Photo: Alexx Henry Studios, LLC / jeremy lee

Carolyn-Hennesy-Wears-Ivey-Abitz
Carolyn Hennesy Wears Ivey Abitz in her appearance on the Hallmark Channel’s program Home and Family July 7, 2017. Photo courtesy Carolyn Hennesy.

In this clip of the Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family, Carolyn appears with the cast of Fame – Debbie Allen, Erica Gimpel, Lee Curreri and Carlo Imperato – and cookbook author Nguyen Tran (he made some killer noodles on the program).

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Client Stories Leslie in North Carolina

Go Everywhere and Do Everything in Ivey Abitz

Go Everywhere and Do Everything in Ivey Abitz

This has been a motto for quite some time for us, and it’s a wonderful thing to see it firsthand in our clients’ lives. Comfort and beauty are relevant for hardworking women.

We’d like all of you to meet a new client that has become quite special to us. A farmer, veterinarian, and artist, Leslie has appreciated Ivey Abitz for years and placed her first order from Summer 2016.

Along with these beautiful photos of Leslie working her farm wearing Ivey Abitz, we received a heartfelt note from Leslie included below.

Leslie working on her North Carolina farm wearing her Ivey Abitz Phinneus Coat Dress in Wolfie Grey Crinkled Voile.
Leslie working on her North Carolina farm wearing her Ivey Abitz Phinneus Coat Dress in Wolfie Grey Crinkled Voile.

Leslie working on her North Carolina farm wearing her Ivey Abitz Phinneus Coat Dress in Wolfie Grey Crinkled Voile.
Leslie working on her North Carolina farm wearing her Ivey Abitz Phinneus Coat Dress in Wolfie Grey Crinkled Voile.

My Phinneus Coat Dress arrived today. My fingers brushed its material as I pushed aside the tissue paper wrapping. I was immediately compelled to grasp the beautiful and surprisingly soft steel gray bundle without unfolding it and hold it against my cheek, relishing in its coolness. I let the fabric flow over my hands as I unfolded it and gazed upon my very first Ivey Abitz creation…sigh…..I am truly blessed. Thank you.

-Leslie in North Carolina

Thanks to Leslie – and her husband’s photography – for sharing a glimpse of beauty with all of us.

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Barbara Jean from California Client Stories

A Dream Fulfilled in Paris

By Barbara Jean in California

Barbara Jean in the Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris, wearing Ivey Abitz.
Barbara Jean in the Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris, wearing Ivey Abitz.

It has always been a dream of mine to visit Paris.

When I think of Paris, I find myself imagining all the creative and passionate souls that have walked these streets, sat in these cafes, and lived their dreams out in this city.

When you dream of something so intensely, it is no wonder that the Universe begins to arrange things to bring your dream into reality.

I knew that I would be traveling to Paris to walk those streets myself. What I didn’t know was that my perfect wardrobe for walking those streets would be created by another creative and passionate soul, our dear Cynthia, along with all of the talented hands and hearts at Ivey Abitz!

When I found these clothes, it was immediately apparent to me that they were clothes that were made to be worn, made to be walked in, and I could hardly wait to wear them for my grand adventure in Paris.

When my first package arrived, I had to quickly put my new ensemble on and go for a walk! How good they felt, so comfortable and yet elegant. Timeless, yes, that is the right word for these creations – timeless.

What stood out for me in my experience of wearing Ivey Abitz Bespoke clothing in Paris was a feeling of “traveling through time,” especially as I walked the avenues in the Pere Lachaise cemetery, seeking out the names of those creative and passionate souls that I had admired for their writing, their dancing, their bravery, their love of life. I felt as if I were stepping back in time, walking along with them. It was a truly wonderful moment in time, unrepeatable as moments like these are.

“We’ll always have Paris,” it is said. And so, as I wear my Ivey Abitz wardrobe here in my home in the United States of America, I know that the dream lives here in my own heart.

As I walk my dreams into reality, I will be wearing my Ivey Abitz clothing, traveling into the future while honoring the grace and courage of the past.

– Barbara Jean from California

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Client Stories Liz in the South

An Ivey Abitz Wardrobe in the Beautiful South

By Liz in the Beautiful South

After years of perusing the Ivey Abitz website I am, at long last, an extremely happy new customer. I don’t know why it took me so long to place an order. Clothes are very important to me.

Liz shares part one of her Ivey Abitz wardrobe.
A glimpse at some of Liz’s new wardrobe from Ivey Abitz.

One of my cherished, early memories is of my grandmother making my kindergarten clothes. We went together to look at patterns and choose fabric. Then she created a one of a kind wardrobe that instantly made me the best dressed five year old in town.

Now, at age 59, I’m able to replicate that experience with Ivey Abitz. These are clothes for those of us not interested in participating in fast fashion, who pay no attention to trends, but instead build a consistent wardrobe and look over several seasons. These creations are precious and will last many years. The designs are timeless, the fabrics gorgeous, and the sewing exquisite.

Liz shares part two of her Ivey Abitz wardrobe.
A glimpse at some of Liz’s new wardrobe from Ivey Abitz.

Every time I wear one of my new garments, I notice yet another exceptional detail. And they are so comfortable I can forget I have them on, until one of my friends exclaims over a new jacket or dress and wants to know where on earth I found such a treasure. And then I direct them to the Ivey Abitz site.

I’m a convert!

-Liz in the Beautiful South