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Designer Notes Videos

Featured Fabric – Camilla Cream Plaid Silk Voile

The Camilla Cream Plaid Silk Voile is a wonderful choice for someone who wants an interesting yet subtle fabric for summer. It has an unusual plaid that’s woven – not printed – directly into the voile. We put it thru a special washing process to give it more substance and raise the plaid. Featured at IveyAbitz.com at debut pricing through May 6, 2013.

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Designer Notes photos

Look of Loyalty

Loyal dog with well dressed woman.
Cynthia and Evie wearing the Look of Loyalty

I snapped this on a Sunday walk thru Central Park. Cynthia (left) is wearing the Blanchefleur Duster Coat over the Fennefleur Frock with boots from the Vintage Shoe Company. Evie is wearing her custom made sweater from a knitter in upstate New York. The “Look of Loyalty” theme for this first collection of 2013 is actually a permanent theme of Ivey Abitz life. And I was amazed at how this scene was like one of Cynthia’s watercolor looks brought to life:

Watercolor of Ivey Abitz clothing
A watercolor from the 2013 Collection One by Ivey Abitz
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Designer Notes

Holiday Interview with Cynthia Ivey Abitz

It can be tough to tear a busy designer away from her stacks of fabric swatches for 5 minutes. (Yes, even when you are married to her – which I am.) But that’s what I did on the one week anniversary of the 2012 Holiday Collection. I sat Cynthia Ivey Abitz (CIA) down for a 5 minute interview about her latest collection.

Cynthia's favorite everyday outfit from the Holiday Collection
One of Cynthia's favourite everyday ensembles from the Holiday Collection

What’s the thing you’re happiest with about this collection?

CIA: There’s a simplicity and a complexity to the Milton Vest and Milton Jacket that draws me in. It has very simple lines so it can conform to any shape. That’s the simplicity part of it. The complex part of it is when you look closely at the collar, it consists of many different pieces, and there are many rows of top stitching all around the collar for both structural and aesthetic reasons. That’s the kind of detail that I love in a garment. They’re subtle, and it only takes a few seconds to notice those details.

What’s the most versatile fabric in the collection?

CIA: Our staple linens are our most versatile. They can be mixed and matched with everything from luxurious brocades to a pair of vintage jeans. But the brocades are equally versatile. At first glance, one might look at them and think, “oh, those are too dressy,” because they’re so intricately woven.  Someone might love a brocade but think it’s too extravagant for their lifestyle or for where they live, but it’s really about mixing and matching, and putting it next to our other fabrics like our everyday linens. That dresses it down and makes it wearable for every day.

What makes a good holiday outfit?

CIA: There are so many answers to that question, and that’s the beauty of the collection. With so many options to mix and match within the Ivey Abitz collection as a whole, there’s an answer for me, and there are twenty other answers for twenty other people.

What are you wearing from the holiday collection?

CIA: My favorite ensemble for everyday wear has been the Fitz Vest in Floral Cotton Velvet over the new Phinneus Coat Dress. That over a pair of trousers or a frock, depending on the mood I’m in. It’s a great way to take what many people categorize as an ultra premium luxurious fabric and tone it down for every day.

 

Which of the holiday fabrics to you lean toward?

CIA: I gravitate toward the brocades that are intricately woven. That’s why there are four of them in the collection! I think they lend themselves so well to what Ivey Abitz is all about. They’re beautifully made, intricately woven, made with beautiful premium fibers from the best mills, and they complement the Ivey Abitz philosophy and aesthetic perfectly.

Do you have questions or comments for Cynthia about her holiday collection? Post them in the comments below!

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Designer Notes Videos

Holiday Look Video

The Holiday Look Book in slideshow format. See bespoke Holiday Looks by Ivey Abitz, with a personal message from the designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz. Looks include vintage inspired Ivey Abitz designs in new fabrics, including rich brocades, embroidered silks, and cottons. And even a squiggly corduroy.

 

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Designer Notes Shopping

Embroidered Fabrics Selling Out

The Limited Edition Summer 2012 collection includes 3 elegant embroidered fabrics.

Of the three, Lake Embroidered Silk Charmeuse just sold out, so if you are interested in ordering bespoke Ivey Abitz garments in an embroidered fabric (at 20% off through 08/05/12), then don’t delay.

See all the fabrics from this collection at our fabric chart.

 

Lake Embroidered Silk Charmeuse
Lake Embroidered Silk Charmeuse sold out today.
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Designer Notes

Preferred Patrons Get Fabrics in Advance

Ivey Abitz Summer fabric swatch portfolio
Ivey Abitz Summer fabric swatch portfolio.

 

Today we mailed Summer 2012 fabric swatch portfolios to our Preferred Patrons before the summer collection debut.

This means three things:

  • The summer collection is almost ready!
  • Preferred Patrons will have the swatches in hand before the collection hits the website.
  • Preferred Patrons will have first choice of limited quantity fabrics.

How do you become an Ivey Abitz Preferred Patron? It’s simple: buy from every Ivey Abitz collection.

It is true that many Preferred Patrons are major Ivey Abitz collectors. However, you don’t have to dedicate an entire closet to IA in order to get patron perks. Even if you just buy a scarf from every collection – you’re in.

It’s not about quantity. It’s about a relationship. We love creating garments just for you, and we especially love doing that for you on a regular basis.

Some other perks include special offers not provided to the public. Some examples include

  1. First choice of special fabrics not available on the website.
  2. Complimentary garments for orders that meet a set purchase amount.
  3. Seasonal offers and special discounts.
  4. Rare samples offered for sale.

We would really love to add YOU to our growing list of Preferred Patrons. Won’t you join us? The current collection would be a great place to start.

Connect with us. We’ll announce coming collections in IA News and the Ivey Abitz Facebook page.

 

P.S. You can order your own fabric swatch portfolio from the current collection at our fabric swatch page.

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Designer Notes

Spring Picks and Special Offerings

Spring Picks from Designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz

Be sure to sign up for IA NEWS – the Ivey Abitz newsletter – to get special offers on these and other design/fabric combinations. You can also Like us on Facebook.

Spring pick #1:

Garments in Wolfgang Grey Ribbed Weave and Arthur Brown Ribbed Weave

The ribbed weave is a beautiful opaque fabric that breathes well for warmer days. It can be used in a single layering piece, like in a sleeveless Blanchefleur Frock, and it is perfect for a layering frock or jacket. Best of all, it travels well and hand washes beautifully. We have carried variations of this special fabric for five years now, and it gets better the more you wear it!

Arthur Brown Ribbed Weave

Wolfgang Grey Ribbed Weave

Wolfgang Grey Ribbed Weave

 

Spring pick #2:

Garments in Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave

Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave has a very airy quality to it. A perfect choice for a spring shirt — or even a frock that you’d like to wear well into the summer months. Its uniqueness is delightful. Hand washable and a great traveler.

Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave
Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave

Spring pick #3:

Garments in Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk

Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk is an absolute favourite because it can be worn year round. It’s a lightweight and opaque fabric that is completely breathable. I’ve worn this in 80 + degree weather, and it feels like I’m wearing a lightweight cotton. Hand washable and a perfect travel companion.

Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk
Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk

Spring pick #4:

Garments in Arthur Brown/Cream Checked Cotton Broadcloth

This is the go-to everyday cotton fabric for spring and into summer. A very low-key, yet put-together, kind of fabric choice. Easy care — just throw in a cold water wash on gentle cycle, and it should last for a lifetime with proper care.

Arthur Brown/Cream Checked Cotton Broadcloth
Arthur Brown/Cream Checked Cotton Broadcloth

I hope this is a big help as you order your spring wardrobe. I encourage you to find your own favourites at IveyAbitz.com.

-Cynthia

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Designer Notes

Designer Notes for Look No. 3 ~ Holiday 2011

Look No. 3 ~ Painting from Holiday Look Book

 

The Designs:

This is a great example of wearing an Ivey Abitz jacket as a shirt. The Blanchefleur Jacket in the Pewter Hand Woven Silk becomes a lighter weight piece that can easily be worn indoors. The curves in its bottom hem tie in beautifully to the curving movement along the bottom hem of the Addy Skirt.

The bias cut insets made of striped silk on the Addy Skirt make it the featured piece within the ensemble. The Leo Frock, gently peeking out at the bottom hem, makes an airy base for the look. It gives the ensemble depth without unnecessary bulk. The look is finished with a substantial Lucia Scarf around the neck to counter the wispy netting of the base frock.

 

 

 

 

Look No. 3 Fabrics

 

The Palette: 

The Pewter hues here are wonderfully ambiguous. The Pewter Puckered Striped Silk and Pewter Hand Woven Silk have black threads going through the yarn dyed weave, even though it’s not easy to tell upon first glance of the fabrics. This makes it very easy to mix in black hues into the ensemble. Black shoes and accessories are very easy to wear with these Pewter hues, which is one of the most common colours in a wardrobe. This makes it so easy to blend these versatile pieces into your IA wardrobe.

The Pewter Washed Cotton Velvet is a dip-dyed fabric, so it has a wonderful variation of hues in it. The fabric gives you light and dark Pewter hues, as well as warm and cooler hues.

See Holiday Look No. 3 at IveyAbitz.com.

 

 

Design Line-up: 

Blanchefleur Jacket
Leo Frock
Blanchefleur Jacket

 

Lucia Scarf
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Designer Notes

Designer Notes for Look No.2 ~ Holiday 2011

 

The Designs:

I love to mix the flounce of a feminine skirt with a more tailored and hint-of-masculine look. That’s the purpose of the Holkham Hall designs in a nutshell.

By making the designs in velvets and silks, suddenly, you have options of wearing them to work through the winter months and wearing them to special holiday occasions. They can all be dressed up or down by simply changing your shoes and accessories.

What works so well about this ensemble is that you can have many looks with just a few garments. Wear the vest fully buttoned or partially buttoned. Wear the shirt with or without the necktie. Wear just the shirt and skirt together. Wear the Elliot Jacket buttoned over the shirt. Mix in a pair of more casual trousers and flip up the Holkham Hall Shirt cuffs, and you’ve added an entirely new slant to your new holiday grouping.

 

The Palette:

Look No.2 Fabrics

The Sapphire hues vary greatly from deep jewel navy to lighter greyish blue tones. They all play well off of one another, which is partly what gives the ensemble such variety within the same hue.

I like placing more casual cottons alongside silks that are associated with special occasions. It tones down the idea of silk in an unexpected way and lets you have a smart looking everyday ensemble. Just one necktie in a striped cotton does the trick. Silk is an everyday fabric, in my opinion–especially when it goes through our special washings that soften and decrease the sheen of the silk threads. Since it’s a holiday collection, you have an even better excuse to add a silk garment to your Ivey Abitz wardrobe.

See this look – Holiday Look No. 2 – in the Holiday Look Book.

 

 

Design Line-up:
Holkham Hall Shirt
Holkham Hall Vest
Holkham Hall Necktie
Holkham Hall Skirt
Elliot Jacket
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Designer Notes

Designer Notes for Look No.1 ~ Holiday 2011

 

The Designs:  

This Holiday 2011 Collection ensemble features the new Holkham Hall Jacket, Trelawny Frock, and Lucia Scarf. An Elliot Shirt and Jacket in Onyx French Netting is worn with the Trelawny Frock for coverage on the arms. It gives the ensemble a lovely combination of a lighter, airier, feel alongside the more substantive cotton velvet.

Featured Fabrics in Look No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Palette: 

Look No. 1 is subtle with a striking addition of the Lucia Scarf in the Emerald Textured Striped Silk. The scarf can be worn outdoors or indoors, allowing this pop of colour to be worn throughout the day with the ensemble.

 

Pewter Washed Cotton Velvet ~ Holiday 2011

Fabric Feature: 

Our Pewter Washed Cotton Velvet is perhaps the most subtle show-stopping choice of the collection. The variation of grey hues in this dip-dyed fabric lends itself well to mixing and matching within many ensembles. This fabric is featured in the Holkham Hall Jacket.

Another subtle stunner worth mentioning is the Onyx Hand Woven Silk in the Trelawny Frock. It can be dressed up or down with simply changing your shirt/jacket and accessories. It’s an all-season weight that can be enjoyed year round.

 

 

 Design Line-up: 

 

Holkham Hall Jacket
Elliot Shirt
Elliot Jacket
Trelawny Frock
Lucia Scarf