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Kimberly from Pennsylvania

The Angels Sang.

by Kimberly from Pennsylvania
As I’ve mentioned before, I look at the Ivey Abitz website just about every day. If I’m having a dreadful sort of day I may even look it at it more than once. Often I see something new before I get the announcement via email.

Thinking it was about time for my daily fix, I punched in IV (that’s all my computer needs) and the new spring collection home page popped up. At that moment I heard angels sing…

…and my then my computer went… black.

Was there something bigger keeping me from seeing these clothes? The IT guys found out about my Ivey Abitz addiction, perhaps.

No. Simply put, we were in the middle of a wind storm and the power at work had gone off. Did I care that there was work to do? No, I wanted to see the Spring Ivey Abitz collection. My cubbie mates will tell you I was near tears calling them over while pointing to my black screen. They had no idea what was wrong with me.

20 minutes later things were humming again and I went back to my computer and punched in Iv and there they were. I think of myself as a pretty jaded person. But really who was I fooling that day. I was gah-gah.

The clothes are so pretty and I wanted every last one of them. Forget that Cynthia and I had worked on a list for my future purchases. I quickly tried to compose a letter in my head to my mortgage company to see if I could take advantage of the new bailout plan to buy ALL the clothes, but realizing that’s not exactly what they had in mind I calmed myself down.

To tell the truth, the Spring collection was taking me off my plan, but I couldn’t help myself. You just don’t see clothes like this, and when you do they are not really available (read – way, way out of my price range).

Pulling out my list, then picturing items I already owned, I chose a couple of ensembles and a few other pieces that I knew I could start IveyAbitzing my current wardrobe with.

I ordered the pieces with confidence because I know they will last for years and mix with most things I have, as well as my future Ivey Abiz purchases.

Oh my, I just can’t wait for my spring order to arrive.

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Kimberly from Pennsylvania

Deciding on an Ivey Abitz Wardrobe with A Little Help from the Designer Herself

by Kimberly from Pennsylvania

I would like to think I’m pretty good at putting outfits together, but in reality I’m probably hit or miss.  When my outfit is a good one it’s pretty great but some of my misses would make me eligible for that TV show with the secret footage. 


One huge mistake is not following the advice from fashion gurus.  Buy an outfit – not pieces. And what do I do? I buy pieces. I know I’m not alone. Many women do this. You end up with a great skirt but nothing really fabulous to wear with it. So not only does the skirt languish in your closet, but by not wearing it you have spent your money in vain.  

And you say you don’t have anything to wear. Now you know why.


No more bits and pieces of clothing for me. This spring and summer would be different. Yes, I vowed.  But now what should I do? After looking at the Ivey Abitz website for like the millionth time I turned to my new best friend. Yes. I decided my new style guru would help me look great and pulled together. After looking at the website and picking some of my favorites I complied a list and sent it to Cynthia Ivey Abitz. 


Through email we talked about my choices, fabrics, my likes and dislikes and of course my budget.  Then she sent me a list of what looked like a wonderful start to building a useful and pulled together look that I can wear for years.

By doing this I would have the basics to look great this spring and summer. But there is flexibility in this list. I originally wanted the Camilla Dress in a winter fabric but decided that a Baedeker Shirt would help me fill in gaps in my wardrobe better. Not only will it always go with my Ivey Abitz pieces but it also works well with my existing clothing. 

The point is I have a guide now. I know if I purchase something off my list (even though I really want everything) it will work.  And that’s what I need in my life. Stuff that works.

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Kimberly from Pennsylvania

My New Best Friends

by Kimberly from Pennsylvania

Not only are the clothing items fabulous at Ivey Abitz, so is the customer service.  I feel like customer service and Cynthia are my new best friends.

Looking at the designs over and over I noticed that there were some velvets pictured on the item pages. I sent an email to customer service and got a speedy reply assuring me that there would be velvets offered very soon.  

Boy and what velvets they are. I just couldn’t decide what to order but did manage to make a decision. A Lydia Layering Jacket in berry (french silk) velvet and a Cozette Skirt in denim.

Cynthia contacted me over a weekend just prior to my jacket going into production to ask if I wanted it lined.  I chose not to, but I loved that she would ask.

I had them shipped to my work address, and when they arrived, ladies were gathered around to see what I got.  I felt like the lucky women who get flowers delivered to the office.

When I opened the boxes (did I tell you how much I love the tissue paper and boxes) people were like “Oh my – how beautiful.”

I had to write immediately and let them know – well done.   

I like being the object of envy…
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Kimberly from Pennsylvania

Transformation

by Kimberly from Pennsylvania

I like the idea of new starts and the transformation they can bring.  Moving around as a child it seemed like I got a chance at a fresh start every year and a half or so.  I always wanted to be someone cool, different than who I was.  But my plans always went awry and I was always just me. 

Continuing the trend as an adult, I left my hometown just outside of Pittsburgh to live in very different places like Washington, D.C., Providence, RI, and Kansas City, each time I was determined to be the “real” me. Along the way I picked up a husband, some good friends, a myriad of pets, a few houses, some pounds, and one – and then eventually another – son.  And while I stayed in the same line of business (advertising) I changed jobs, too. 

In a few years I will be coming up on a half-century mark. I guess I have been transforming into me all this time. Finding Ivey Abitz clothes help me complete the picture of how I want to appear. Unique, pulled together, quality, and with a quirky vintage twist.

Six months ago I left the hot sweaty Midwest and headed back to my hometown.  My goal is to find a quality of life I have always wanted.  My own business and a dream house.  I’m on my way to my own business and I have found a house.

Things don’t always turn out like you think they will. I have stopped trying to find the real me and work with what I have –  the real me.  The business I am building is not what I envisioned.  I had pictured a cute little shop of some sort but in reality my husband and I are opening a fingerboard park and store to compete with a European brand my boys love. We hope to be a success and I think we will be.   Once I can swing my loan I will have my Victorian dream house that will ultimately be a retreat for women looking for time to craft, talk, or just let their hair down without the kids and husbands to worry about.

And when it all comes together I’ll be wearing my Ivey Abitz.

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Kimberly from Pennsylvania

The Phrase Vintage Inspired Clothes

by Kimberly from Pennsylvania

I’m addicted.

In 2008, I made a pledge to wear as little mass-produced clothing as possible and started to seek out individual designers and websites that featured handmade items. 

Little did I know that by innocently Googling the phrase “vintage inspired clothes” one day last summer would cause me to become an addict.

Yes, an addict. Now I know what that term really means.  I have been known to think about rich creamy chocolate in addictive terms but this was different.

I had discovered Ivey Abitz. And my world will never be the same again. 

Florentine Jacket by Ivey Abitz
Florentine Jacket as featured in the Ivey Abitz Fall 2008 Look Book.

I just could not stop looking at the Fall Look Book. I kept going back again and again and finally I decided on a few pieces. Since I wear a lot of black I stuck with that palette. A black & white Florentine Jacket in textured silk and a pair of Mercer Trousers in black Premium Irish Linen were my first choices. How could I go wrong?

Now my agony would truly begin.  I had to wait for my order to be made just for me.
 
After the first few weeks I would keep going back to my order confirmation page and check my order status.  “Order in progress” – how I learned to hate that phrase.  Then I received my notification that my items shipped. I was ecstatic and practically walking on air.
My waiting was not in vain. 

The linen trousers were opened first.  The quality of the linen was superb.  Just lovely. My new pants were a dream.  I held them up and instantly thought of 4-5 ways to wear them. They go with everything.

My Florentine Jacket was a surprise.  It was a combination of cool funky with the raw edged seams and a very lady like vibe. I wear it with everything from a black pencil skirt, funky tights and shoes, to other Ivey Abitz items. 

Needless to say, I was not disappointed by my first purchase from Ivey Abitz. And I can assure you there will be more to come.