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Summer Fashion Goes Nostalgic in Muted Hues from Ivey Abitz

June 11, 2009 - New York City:

Muted hues over black and white

bring nostalgia to women’s clothing designs from Ivey Abitz this

summer. The New York based designer label debuted its newest looks

this week, revealing an ethereal aesthetic with a lightness ideal for

summer.

The Ivey Abitz summer palette is based on hand painted black and white

photographs. Black, grey, cream, and white are the base tones for the

collection. Then muted hues are introduced to suggest the hand painted

photograph look from the early 1900's. The hues include various beige-

pinks called Rouge, a touch here and there of Cottage Green, and just a

hint of a blue called Twilight.

The nostalgic palette is inspired by designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz's late

grandmother, Celia, who was the matriarch of the family.

Cynthia remembers her childhood summers vividly, "Grandma was the

center of vacation at the family summer cottage, and when she told me

stories, I was transported to another era."

Some of her favorite stories were about working in a portrait studio in the

1940's, hand painting black and white photographs before color

photographs were the standard.

Cynthia recalls, "Grandma would describe her process: just enough rouge on a

woman's cheeks or she'd look like a tart and not a lady. Just enough green in the tree or

it'd look like broccoli and not a willow. Just enough blue in the sky or it'd look like a

carpet and not a cloud."

Celia's "just enough" philosophy suggested an authentic approach to life. She wanted

to merely suggest color to the viewer and let imagination fill in the rest. The viewer's

interaction with the photograph made stronger memories, and nostalgia increased

exponentially.

Inspired by her Grandma's painted photographs, Ivey Abitz came up with a palette

that embodies the soft, muted feel of a hand painted photo but still looks vividly

colorful. The effect is evident in the 37 looks featured online at the designer’s website,

IveyAbitz.com.

The collection also captures the feel of vacation. Raw edges and gathers suggest

carefree summer days and waves on the summer lake. Design elements include

appliqued and embroidered dresses, puckered stripe jackets, crumpled frocks, and

raw edged trousers.

Designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz says, "The collection's aesthetic is defining and

memorable, just like I hope the summer is for us all."

The summer designs are made to order in 52 different fabrics. But customers need not

feel overwhelmed by the fabric options. Ivey Abitz provides fabric suggestions for each

design on its website, including a helpful chart with far and close-up images of each

fabric. Sizes range from x-small through x-large, with garment measurement charts for

every design.

About the company

Ivey Abitz designs men’s and women’s historic-inspired and vintage-inspired apparel

for modern everyday wear, made in the U.S. It offers approximately six limited

engagement seasonal collections each year.  Customers buy online at IveyAbitz.com

and through a by-appointment-only studio in New York City. Made-to-order clients

receive their custom garments about a month after ordering. For those with less

patience, rush orders can be requested with a turnaround time of about two weeks.

The price point ranges from $60 - $600. There are no order minimums.

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Ivey Abitz is the creation of artist/designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz and her husband,

Joshua Ivey Abitz, who seek beauty in everyday existence. In a world saturated

with bland cookie-cutter clothing, Ivey Abitz honors the tradition of made-to-order

clothing, bringing quality bespoke designs to everyday life.

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